Happy sums up how I’m feeling about tonight’s event with the members and supporters of the African American Legacy (AAL) at The Chicago Community Trust. I’m also looking forward to sharing the stage with Liz and Don Thompson, founders of Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education, and Xavier Ramey, senior assistant director for social innovation and philanthropy at the University of Chicago. It’s certain to be a good night.
Coming up next week and pretty excited about it! I’m eager to tighten connections with and learn more about the work of the African American Legacy, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust. Chicago is such a spectacular city, and after the 30th I’ll share updates on my visit.
All you have shall some day be given; Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors. — Kahlil Gibran
Remarkably, on a sunny and springlike Saturday afternoon, more than 50 people came to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture on February 22 for a panel discussion on planned giving! An uncommon conversation, particularly in Black communities.
The five panelists at the “What Will Be Your Legacy” forum led an informative discussion and the audience was focused and engaged. You can read about the event at BlackGivesBack.com: Black Philanthropy Panel Discussions in Charlotte Continue With ‘What Will Be Your Legacy?’
This slideshow below includes a dozen photos from the event, which was co-hosted by New Generation of African American Philanthropists and Gantt Center.
Along with the rain, wonderful news continued pouring in over Labor Day weekend. In addition to Giving Back being featured on the blog PHILANTHROPY 2173, I learned the book may be released two weeks earlier than expected (!) and got to see a final printout of the book jacket. My long labor of love is finally taking full form.
And if that weren’t enough, Nelson Bowman—a fundraising expert, author on HBCU alumni giving and collaborator with Dr. Marybeth Gasman—provided this advance praise for Giving Back:
“Valaida Fullwood’s Giving Back provides full exposure to the philanthropic treasures we as African Americans have always shared but are rarely credited with in discussions of African American philanthropy. This photographic masterpiece, which certainly tells a story, gives viewers an opportunity to develop their own story as well. What a way to learn!”
— Nelson Bowman, III, director of development, Prairie View A&M University
My gratitude grows daily, and I can barely wait until the book’s public release. VF
