The goal of Wednesday’s panel discussion in Charlotte’s low-income West Boulevard Corridor was to provide people with answers to some of their queries about what getting involved in philanthropic endeavors may mean for their community.
At the West Boulevard Library, more than a dozen people of the community assembled. They heard experts discuss how charitable contributions don’t always have to be large sums of money. People who live in the predominantly Black neighborhood on West Boulevard say it frequently takes the form of organizing, helping out neighbors, and volunteering. Among the panelists was Charles Thomas from the Knight Foundation. According to Thomas, generosity in the Black community is more than just sending a check.
It’s the minor actions we take. According to Thomas, we can help one of our friends by lending them our time or by bringing someone in to provide them with shelter. Traditional giving can take numerous forms and is founded on ideas that go beyond what we usually consider to be philanthropy.
The Levine Museum of the New South held the event on Wednesday, and the other panelist was Valaida Fullwood. The Soul of Philanthropy, an exhibition created by Fullwood and Thomas, is currently on display at the Charlotte Museum of History. The exhibit investigates the definition of generosity in African American and Black communities.
Additionally, Fullwood and Thomas are the authors of “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists.” According to Fullwood, she wrote the book in part to change people’s perceptions.
“We are a very generous people, and it’s in our DNA and it’s just what we do,” Fullwood added, refuting the myth that Black people don’t contribute or that we only have our hand out.
One of the event’s organizers, Karen Sutton of the Levine Museum of the New South, stated that one of the goals of the gathering was to influence the opinions of certain locals.
According to Sutton, many people believe that having a lot of money and riches is a prerequisite for being a philanthropist, and occasionally they may not consider themselves to be philanthropists while constantly giving freely of their own. I wanted to make sure that everyone departed with a positive perspective and a sense of their own philanthropy.
Tereke Taylor attended the event; she has lived in Charlotte for almost three years. Taylor stated, “I wanted to learn more about philanthropy and community, and what I can do or how I can possibly persuade or encourage others to do more.”
The Levine Museum of the New South’s organizers said they plan to hold additional discussions on subjects that are relevant to the local community.
