nearly the weekend, nearly 100 individuals from western North Carolina came to the Charlotte Museum of History to talk about a Black charity exhibit.
Prior to the three panelists speaking, the Asheville-based John R. Hayes High Steppin Majorette and Drum Corps performed. Among them was CoThinkk creator Tracey Greene-Washington. Following Hurricane Helene, the Asheville nonprofit distributed microgrants and helps minority groups.
Although $550 might not seem like much, Greene-Washington said it is a lifesaver for someone who has access to drinking water, has been without electricity, and is unable to pay for lights because they were not paid for the first of the month when the hurricane struck.
According to her, the organization distributed 65 grants throughout western North Carolina. The “Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed” exhibit at the museum is an expansion of the book “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists.” Charles Thomas and Valaida Fullwood curated the exhibition and the book.
giving Together’s Ilyasah Shabazz Davis assisted in organizing the panel discussion, which aimed to explain to the primarily young audience what giving means in the Black community.
According to Davis, this is our chance to be brave and consider how we’re contributing and changing the direction of funding to help communities of color and black-led projects.
