The Soul of Philanthropy: ‘Deeper than your pockets’

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The Soul of Philanthropy exhibit is borne of an unwavering belief that philanthropy is deeper than your pockets and, in fact, that the most potent philanthropy is derived from a blend of what’s within your hands, heart, head and soul. The soul being the core of who you are—the essence of your identity. Besides, what genuine and substantive good could ever come of soulless giving?

As of this week, the exhibit is on display at three venues: NC State University (comprehensive version), Levine Museum of the South (pop-up edition) and WV State University (pop-up edition). Each exhibition presents soulful imagery and narratives to bring to light universal truths about generosity and to inspire conscious giving.

WV Initiative Part of Changing Face of Philanthropy

Coming Up: West Virginia African American Philanthropy In Action

Giving Back Project announcement_WV2016

Gantt Center, NGAAP-Charlotte Host ROSENWALD Film Screening

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The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and 

New Generation of African American Philanthropists invite you to

ROSENWALD

The Remarkable Story of a Jewish Partnership with African American Communities

Film screening with director Aviva Kempner in observance of Black History Month

Tuesday, February 9

6:30 p.m. | doors open at 6 p.m.

Gantt Center at Levine Center of the Arts • 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC

Adults: $10           Gantt Center Members, Students and Seniors: $5

R.S.V.P. via this link


JULIUS ROSENWALD never finished high school yet rose to become President of Sears, Roebuck and Co. and one of the wealthiest men in the United States in the early 20th century. His greatest legacy, however, was philanthropic. Julius Rosenwald gave away what today would be nearly one billion dollars, making him one of the greatest philanthropists of all time. Joining forces with African American communities, together, they built 5300 schools whose alumni are legion. Featured in the film are such luminary alumni as writer Maya Angelou, Tony Award-winner George Wolfe and Congressman John Lewis. In addition to funding schools, Rosenwald also awarded fellowships to a who’s who of Black scholars and artists including Marian Anderson, James Baldwin, Ralph Bunche, Gordon Parks, Romare Bearden and others whose contributions ultimately transformed American life for generations and now benefit and inspire us all.

Unfolding over a century ago, the Rosenwald story illuminates abiding truths about opportunity, visionary leadership, cross-cultural collaboration and community transformation, providing a blueprint for 21st-century philanthropy.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Charlotte Jewish Film Festival and Levine Museum of the New South, which is exhibiting The Soul of Philanthropy now thru Feb 28.

 

 

Come to see philanthropy differently at NCSU

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As luck would have it, the opening of The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited at NC State University coincides with the 95th birthday of my great-aunt Dora, whose son and daughter-in-law are NC State grads. Aunt Dora inspired the exhibit and Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists, and she plans to attend this exhibition opening, which I view as a birthday party and celebration of not only her generous spirit but also that of so many community elders. I cannot wait!

If you’d like to attend, R.S.V.P. here.

‪#‎getyourgiveon‬

 

1621 Days

Four years ago.

Today is October 4, 2015, and this afternoon we’re celebrating the 4th anniversary of the publication and release of the book “Giving Back” at Levine Museum, where the exhibition “The Soul of Philanthropy” is now on display. So much has filled the past four years, and yet it feels like yesterday.

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“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning author

After one thousand, six hundred and twenty-one days, I can, at long last, announce the publication and arrival of Giving Back: A Tribute to African American Philanthropists—a new book that reframes portraits of philanthropy. Hallelujah!!!

Buy the book…and read more about Giving Back on these sites:

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From PhilanthropyNC :: Black giving aims to bridge philanthropy gap

BPM AUGUSTLY BANNER 625X125 (3)Here’s an article recently featured in Triangle Community Foundation’s newsletter in observance of Black Philanthropy Month during August.

Take a look at: Black Giving Aims To Bridge Philanthropy Gap

TCF was an early partner of Community Investment Network (where I now serve as interim Executive Director) when it was formed a decade ago. CIN is celebrating its 10th anniversary conference in Durham in October and TCF is a sponsor.

Many thanks to Lori O’Keefe and Veronica Hemmingway of TCF (@TriComFdn) and Todd Cohen of Philanthropy North Carolina (@philanthropync).

It’s M’birthday!

And again . . .

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“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” — William Shakespeare 

March 15, 44 B.C.: Beware of any friends named Brutus! Julius Caesar laughed off a soothsayer’s warning and was assassinated by his frenemy 2056 years ago today. from Goodreads.com

The Ides of March, while clearly not a good day for Julius Caesar, has inevitably been a great day for me. And today has been no except. More on my birthday weekend tomorrow.

— VF

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guest blog post // Respect, Love and Space: A Culture Revealed

With The Mountaintop, directed by LOU BELLAMY, opening in Charlotte this evening, this guest blog post by Anne Lambert from last spring seemed apropos.

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Tonight, the nonprofit professional theatre company On Q Performing Arts, Inc. is hosting a fundraiser featuring the theatre legend Lou Bellamy. I serve on the board of On Q and am ecstatic to share this recent interview by Anne Lambert with Lou Bellamy on my blog. Enjoy!

Respect, Love and Space: A Culture Revealed
An interview with theatre legend Lou Bellamy, founder and artistic director of the renowned Penumbra Theatre Company

By Anne Lambert

on_q_logoSummer 2012, Charlotte’s Quentin “Q” Talley, founder and artistic director of On Q Performing Arts, Inc., became one of only six theatre professionals nationwide awarded a Leadership U fellowship. Made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Theatre Communications Group, the 2012-13 fellowship provides Q a residency at Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul, MN and professional mentorship from Lou Bellamy, Penumbra’s founder.

An Obie Award-winning director, accomplished actor and sought-after scholar, Bellamy…

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Reclaiming The Root Meaning of Philanthropy

Political activist, scholar and social justice advocate Angela Yvonne Davis (born 26 January 1944) celebrates a milestone birthday this week. I celebrate her courage, voice and journey with this repost.

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  Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’ — Angela Davis

Let’s engage in the radical work of reclaiming the root meaning of philanthropy: love of humanity. Philanthropy, a curious word to many, evokes a range of images, beliefs and emotions. To contemplate its semantics and evolution and then to initiate anew our collective philanthropic practice could prove a seminal undertaking for black America.

This moment hangs ripe. The “season of giving” is near and clears the way to a new year of possibilities. The election of President Barack H. Obama has substantiated, again, the might of black unity. And yet, between the hopes and history making and the thanks and gifts giving are uncharitable acts and vitriol that signal a shift back in time, not forward. Indignities, inequities and injustices do not simply dissipate; instead, we must come together in systematically uprooting them.

With community needs great and…

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Seven Generations and One Hundred, Ten Years Ago

Sharing this blog post again in memory of my cousin and fiercest of family historians Mrs. Nettie McGimpsey McIntosh, who passed on and was delivered home today. Rest in power and peace.

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This is a story about Riley R. McGimpsey (28 Mar 1845 – 20 Apr 1934), my great-great-grandfather, as told to me by my elder cousin Nettie McGimpsey McIntosh for my book Giving Back:

Despite common perceptions, Black men have long been industrious. And evidently my grandfather Riley was as hardworking as men of any race come. I call him a Black entrepreneur, but back then industrious is the word people used.

I archive and keep our family’s history. I have scoured over family artifacts and Census data. Some time in the mid-1800s on the McGimpsey farm in Burke County, North Carolina, a slave named Clarissa gave birth to a son she named Riley. While born into slavery, Riley eventually became a sharecropper who sold his part of the produce—corn, wheat, molasses and such. Documents I have come across show his products sold as far away as Mullins, South Carolina…

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