August has become a special month at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
After all, the organization’s ‘Give Black, Give Back’ initiative launched following CFMT’s inaugural celebration of Black Philanthropy Month in 2019.
Black Philanthropy Month has been recognized globally since 2011 upon its creation by Jackie Bouvier Copeland, a San Francisco Bay-area social and environmental justice activist.
The focus of Give Black, Give Back has been to support Black-led funds established at CFMT. The initiative is dedicated to fostering collaboration between its fundholders and establishing new partnerships among Black philanthropists and nonprofits with similar aspirations.
Give Black, Give Back’s inaugural Black Philanthropy Month celebration was marked with a reception in a Germantown office space, with donors, supporters, staff and guest speakers in attendance.
Each Thursday this August, Give Black, Give Back has planned a weekly series of virtual panel discussions for Black Philanthropy Month 2022 under the direction of the initiative’s philanthropic volunteer co-founders and co-chairs Kia Jarmon and Lisa Swift-Young, and Audra Cox, CFMT’s Development Manager ,and the initiative’s coordinator.
The event series includes conversations to:
- Encourage Black philanthropy by amplifying funds administered by CFMT.
- Inspire generational wealth-building within Black communities and share best-practices with organizations statewide and in other areas of the country.
- Hear from those in successful collaborative partnerships with individuals and corporations who are seriously engaging in ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ to support communities.
This year’s Give Black, Give Back’s Black Philanthropy Month observance will follow a national theme titled ‘Fierce Urgency of Now,’ inspired by a quote from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
On Thursday, Aug 4, The virtual panel hosted a conversation with Give Black, Give Back co-chairs Kia Jarmon and Lisa Swift-Young on ‘The Significance of Juneteenth to national Black Philanthropy Month.’
Other virtual panels on the schedule include:
- Thursday, Aug. 11: ‘The Power of Investing Now.’ This discussion will include real estate investing, children’s retirement accounts, and how to set up for family success.
- Thursday, Aug. 18: ‘How to Increase Your Organizational Giving—Corporate and Social Responsibility.
- Thursday, Aug. 25: ‘Black Women Lead Giving: Black Women in Philanthropy Across the State and Country,’ and how you can tap in.
- Sunday, Aug. 31: Black Philanthropy Month one-hour wrap-up with Give Black, Give Back Kia Jarmon and a few ‘surprise announcements.’
All scheduled events can be viewed via CFMT’s Facebook Live at <www.facebook.com/CommunityFoundationMidTN>. For more information, go to <www.blackgivingback.com>.
