‘The Human Touch’

Posted on 12 April 2023 by valaida

Just before Christmas, Harrods—the London department store—reached out and commissioned me to write for their magazine. My assignment: Interview and profile CEOs and founders of global luxury and beauty brands that #giveback. From the brilliant founder of UOMA Beauty who … Continue reading →

The Bold Ones

Posted on 31 August 2021 by valaida

So honored to work alongside members of NGAAP! For 15 years, our philanthropic collective has been inspiring action through the power of Black philanthropy. Read NGAAP Gives Back, Gives Black in Charlotte, our Black Philanthropy Month story via QCityMetro.

Provenance

Posted on 14 February 2021 by valaida

Recently, I wrote a piece for the site Appalachian History, sharing family lore. The story centered on my McGimpsey-Fullwood roots in Fonta Flora, a once-upon-a-time fertile farming community in western North Carolina disrupted by man-made Lake James. “Like a descendant … Continue reading →

Charlotte Gives Black on August 28

Posted on 28 August 2020 by valaida

Proud to be a part of New Generation of African American Philanthropists and to lead the collaboration that created #CLTGivesBlack, part of our community’s monthlong celebration of Black Philanthropy Month and a jumpstart to a new future of funding equity in the Queen … Continue reading →

So This Happened

Posted on 5 May 2020 by valaida

Grateful for the recognition and honor of earning the 2020 TRAILBLAZER AWARD from ABFE, the national network of Black executives and professionals in philanthropy. “This is an amazing slate of awardees! They have provided unwavering philanthropic support for Black … Continue reading →

Mother, mother

Posted on 21 April 2020 by valaida

Necessity is the mother of invention. Greek philosopher Plato acknowledged how creativity and ingenuity get sparked by a need or problem. Thirteen years ago, when I wanted to see stories of Black philanthropy elevated and celebrated, the idea for Giving Back was … Continue reading →

When We Give Black

Posted on 7 April 2020 by valaida

Happiness in sharing WHEN WE GIVE BLACK. It’s a new documentary-style film short from The Soul of Philanthropy. It is a reminder that philanthropy is deeper than your pockets. Giving Black is about more than race or color, it is a consciousness and … Continue reading →

sanitized

Posted on 1 April 2020 by valaida

Cleaned so we don’t see crooks, gaps, cracks, dirty deeds and tangled nots and haves ava wood ℘ Haiku to launch us into National Poetry Month 2020. We need poetry now as much as ever. Stay home, if you … Continue reading →

Podcast With An Idea Whisperer

Posted on 21 February 2020 by valaida

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will.” ― George Bernard Shaw So much fun embracing my idea whisperer ways and sharing thoughts about … Continue reading →

2020 Hindsight

Posted on 13 January 2020 by valaida

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” — Zora Neale Hurston Grateful for a decade that included both kinds of years. Summed up, the last decade was all about giving back. The book, the talks, the exhibitions, … Continue reading →

OPINION | What If We Decolonized Charlotte?

Posted on 21 November 2019 by valaida

This piece was published by QCityMetro.com on Nov 20, 2019 to mark National Native American Heritage Month and Charlotte’s observance of National Philanthropy Day. Imagine a new age of ideas, leadership and people power If we’re going to heal, let … Continue reading →

Coming Full Circle

Posted on 24 April 2019 by valaida

Happy to share a new poetical video from The Soul of Philanthropy! Grateful to my friend, the poet Quentin “Q” Talley, who wrote “Full Circle” nearly 11 years ago. I commissioned the poem, initially, for a special event in 2008. … Continue reading →

I Am A Philanthropist

Posted on 16 April 2019 by valaida

“Black Americans have exercised collective giving to finance social resistance in serial struggles for liberation.” That line is from my recent essay, The Sweetness of Circles. In those struggles, the questions Am I Not a Man? and Ain’t I a … Continue reading →

The Sweetest Thing

Posted on 4 April 2019 by valaida

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. — Maya Angelou April 4th is Maya Angelou’s birthday. Values espoused in her writing inspired me to join with Tracey Webb and Akira Barclay to write The … Continue reading →

Giving Black Matters

Posted on 30 June 2020 by valaida

Photo: June 2020 protest against injustice, Charlotte, NC | V. Fullwood

Earlier this month, I spun a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts into an op-ed and posted it on Medium.com. I made an appeal to my Southern city, Charlotte, North Carolina, and hope it’s listening. Below is an excerpt.

By elevating and strengthening Black leadership and voices of groups that historically have been marginalized, our city can make strides in de-centering Whiteness. We must dismantle systems of anti-Black racism that have dominated Southern culture and sustained institutions and structures that perpetuate distrust, oppression, inequity and injustice.

You can read the entire piece here, Giving Black Matters: A Call for Philanthropy That Believes In Our Humanity and Invests In Our Equality.