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Founder and Executive Director of Brotherhood/Sister Sol Khary Lazarre-White, Tamron Hall and Malik Yoba at VOICES 9, the annual benefit for Brotherhood/Sister Sol in New York City.

By Akira Barclay, NY Contributor

NEW YORK, NY—The Brotherhood/Sister Sol hosted its ninth annual VOICES benefit on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at New York City’s ESPACE. The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is a non-profit, youth-development organization that provides holistic and long-term academic, mentoring and support services to Black and Latino youth in the New York City area.

This year’s honorees were Grammy Award-winning Singer and Bassist Esperanza Spalding and Susan L. Taylor, editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence Magazine and founder of the National CARES Mentoring Movement. Spalding, who humbly received The Frida Kahlo Award for Innovative Creativity remarked that her honor felt “inverted,” as if she were there to honor the youth of the Brotherhood/Sister Sol. In her acceptance speech, she advised the audience to take notes from the youth in attendance. To have the same courage they had to look at themselves, acknowledge the need to improve, and grow to become the citizens they want to be. Taylor received the Ella Baker & Cesar Chavez Award for Positive Community Development.

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Honoree Esperanza Spalding and Cidra M. Sebastien

The evening was hosted by MSNBC news anchor Tamron Hall, and celebrity DJ and Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond provided the soundtrack for the night. The evening brought out numerous VIPs, notables and celebrities, including former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, City Council Member Inez Dickens, and actor Malik Yoba. The night featured a special performance by Tony Award-nominated actor Norm Lewis, best known for his lead role in Broadway’s Porgy and Bess and his recurring character, Senator Edison Davis, on ABC’s Scandal. Other highlights of the evening included spoken-word performances and reflections by current participants and alumni of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, including Elizabeth Acevedo, Abraham Velasquez, Luke Nephew, Frank Lopez and Nicholas Peart. Peart, is a vocal opponent of New York’s stop and frisk procedure and has become the face of a class action lawsuit against the NYPD.

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Paul E. Butler, Norm Lewis, Esperanza Spalding and Rahsan Lindsay

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Celebrity DJ and Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond

VOICES is The Brotherhood/Sister Sol’s annual benefit that highlights the achievements of Black and Latino youth, as well as the civic and philanthropic contributions of its honorees. The event provides an extraordinary opportunity for Brotherhood/Sister Sol’s supporters to celebrate the organization’s commitment to helping young minorities develop into critical thinkers and community leaders. Sponsors of VOICES 9 included Omnicom Group, Heinz Foundation, Blackrock, The Ores/Schorin Family and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol provides a comprehensive array of individualized services and support networks, including a four-to-six year Rites of Passage curriculum, after-school care, counseling, summer camps, job training, college preparation, employment opportunities, community-organizing training and international study programs to Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Although The Brotherhood/Sister Sol is locally based, its reach is national. The organization has published assorted curricula and trained over 200 educators across the globe on its evidence-based approach to developing well-rounded and successful individuals.

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Dr. Obery Hendricks, Khephra Burns, Honoree Susan L. Taylor and Malik Yoba

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Susan L. Taylor is presented with her award by Khary Lazarre-White.

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Guest, Norm Lewis and David Dinkins

In a candid appeal for financial support, Fundraising Chair Charles N. Schorin noted that $6,500 sponsors a youth in The Brotherhood/Sister Sol program for a year. A gift of $2,500 can provide a partial scholarship that can make the difference between a youth being able to attend college or not.

About The Brotherhood/Sister Sol:
Founded in 1995, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol (BHSS) provides comprehensive, holistic and long-term support services to 350 youth annually, who range in age from eight to twenty-two. BHSS offers wrap- around, evidence-based programming. The organization focuses on issues such as leadership development and educational achievement, sexual responsibility, sexism and misogyny, political education and social justice, Pan-African and Latino history and global awareness.

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol’s theory of change is to provide multi-layered support, guidance, education and love to its membership, to teach them to have self-discipline and form order in their lives, and then to offer opportunities and access. BHSS has earned national recognition for its evidence-based model, receiving awards that include Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network Use Your Life Award, and awards from such institutions as the Ford Foundation, the New York Women’s Foundation, Abyssinian Development Corporation, Oracle, the New York State Department of Education and Brown University’s inaugural Alumni Association Young Public Service Award.

In 2010, The Board of Directors of The Brotherhood/Sister Sol was chosen out of thousands of nonprofits in New York City as one of five finalists for the inaugural Brooke V. Mahoney Award for Outstanding Board Leadership. When asked about the success of the organization’s high functioning and diverse board, Founder and Executive Director Khary Lazarre-White emphasized the importance of having a focus on long-term strength and infrastructure and recruiting members who are committed to the organization and have access to resources. The Brotherhood/Sister Sol uses an intensive vetting process to build its board, which intentionally reflects the rich diversity of New York City.

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Khary Lazarre-White, Nicholas Peart and members of BHSS

For more information, please contact development at fundraising@brotherhood-sistersol.org or visit http://www.brotherhood-sistersol.org.

Photo credit: Mike Dunckley

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Recognized leader in philanthropy, innovation and public-private partnerships joins Obama Administration

WASHINGTON, DC – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has announced that Michael Smith will join their agency as Director of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) beginning in July. SIF mobilizes public and private resources to find and grow community-based nonprofits with evidence of strong results. To date, the Fund has awarded $137 million to nonprofit organizations addressing areas such as of economic opportunity, healthy futures and youth development. CNCS states that Smith’s selection underscores President Obama’s strong commitment to this ground-breaking program that his Administration launched just three years ago.

Michael comes to CNCS after having served as Senior Vice President for Social Innovation at the Case Foundation where he was a member of the senior leadership team and led social innovation strategy, including investments, programs and partnerships. He guided the Foundation’s entrepreneurial approach to giving, designed and managed creative campaigns to expand giving and engagement and played a key role in the design and management of numerous highly regarded public-private partnerships with the Case Foundation’s co-founders, the Obama and Bush Administrations, and leading corporations and philanthropies. He recently led the Case Foundation’s Be Fearless Campaign.

Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS stated, “I’ve known Michael for many years, first meeting him when he worked with Jean Case and me on the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. His passion for strengthening communities in need, his creative and innovative approach as well as his gregarious and collaborative nature have made him a joy to work with over the years, and gives me great excitement about his leadership of the SIF.”

Michael shares, “I am truly humbled to have the opportunity to join the Obama Administration, serving alongside such a dedicated team at CNCS and the White House so committed to changing lives and transforming communities. I could not be more excited to tackle the opportunities and challenges facing the Social Innovation Fund and our trailblazing partners. As community needs increase and traditional funding sources shift, innovative approaches, uncommon alliances and fearless leaders will be the mark of communities and institutions that thrive. I look forward to working with our team to build on the tremendous work already done by the SIF – doing more of what works and disrupting, retooling and reimagining the rest.”

Source: Press release/CNCS

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Christina Lewis Halpern, Demetria L. Lucas and Ellen Chube attend Diversity Affluence's Secret Supper Club on May 30, 2013 in New York City.

Second dinner series supported launch of inaugural Women with Purpose Global Summit

NEW YORK, NY – On May 30th, fifteen distinguished women gathered in New York City for the Diversity Affluence Secret Supper Club. The gathering, in partnership with Amethyst Entertainment, was to help launch the inaugural Women with Purpose Global Summit taking place in St. Martin/St. Maarten from June 18th – 22nd. The evening was sponsored by Cadillac.

The event stimulated intellectual and social discourse among guests focused on discussing mentorship, philanthropy, paying it forward and leaving a legacy. Guests included Eboni Gates, VP of Charitable Donations for RBC Capital Markets, Sthu Zunga, President of South African Tourism, WABC News Reporter Sandra Bookman, and Ellen Chube, VP and Chief of Staff to the Chairman & CEO of Ariel Investments among others. After two hours of heartfelt, open and honest conversation, the sponsor surprised guests with a one week lease of a Cadillac.

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Tai Beauchamp, Eboni Gates, Kimberly Carpenter and Chloe Drew

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Sandra Bookman and Sthu Zungu; Karen Proctor and Andrea Hoffman, founder, Secret Supper Club

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Cadillac is the primary sponsor of the Women with Purpose Global Summit where Diversity Affluence Founder and CEO, Andrea Hoffman, will be leading a roundtable discussion on philanthropy. Other summit speakers include Iyanla Vanzant, Judy A. Smith and Soledad O’Brien.

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Joyce Mullins-Jackson, Tai Beauchamp, Jocelyn K. Allen, Susan Brady and Valerie Norman Gammon

Theinaugural Secret Supper Club was held in October 2012 in Washington, DC that was attended by the city’s most notable African American male business executives and nonprofit leaders. The men have continued to stay connected through an online group, have formed business partnerships and are working to identify mentoring initiatives to support.

About the Secret Supper Club

The Secret Supper Club (SSC) is an influencer and social impact program. Conceived by Andrea Hoffman of Diversity Affluence, this invitation-only dinner is dedicated to fostering new and deepening existing friendships among same gender of affluent and influential business leaders.

SSC is not a business forum. Its aim is to stimulate intellectual and social discourse among guests focused on discussing mentorship, philanthropy, paying it forward and leaving a legacy.

SSC was born out of research Diversity Affluence conducted in 2009 among affluent African American men and women. Research insight indicated that this powerful and growing demographic desires to spend more quality time with like-minded peers discussing topics of substance.

For brands who are interested in sponsoring a Secret Supper, contact Diversity Affluence by visiting diversityaffluence.com. For more information about the Women with Purpose Global Summit, visit womenwithpurposeglobalsummit.com.

Photo credit: Stephen Knight

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Last year we profiled David McGhee as the first Insider for BlackGivesBack’s Black Men and Boys Series. At the time, David was program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint, and he shared tips for mentoring young black males. Today he is a professor and founder of 16th Letter Consulting, a nonprofit and leadership development consulting firm.

David recently had the opportunity to be a contributor for The National Urban League's 2013 State of Black America Report: Redeem the Dream on the subject of mentoring. His essay, Mentoring Matters: Why Young Professionals and Others Must Mentor was written to promote the positive benefits of mentoring.

He states, “Mentoring, in its purest form, is having the ability to be proactive in our personal and professional relationships, not just reactive. The goal was to let readers know that mentoring isn’t something that is nice, it is something that is necessary. As you know, mentoring has the power to change the trajectory of human life – from the fortune 500 corner offices, to the neighborhood corner in Flint, Michigan. While we know that our own education and insight takes us to great heights, having a mentor helps one see, and achieve, that much more. Mentoring, in essence, is one of the highest forms of leadership; the type of leadership that calls for us to think beyond ourselves.”

Read David’s essay here (begins on page 162) and connect with him by visiting www.davidmcghee.org and follow on Twitter @DavidRMcGhee.

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By Akira Barclay, NY Contributor

New York , NY – On Wednesday, May 8th, The International Youth Leadership Institute (IYLI) held “Open the Doors to the World,” their 24th Year Anniversary Benefit at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Proceeds from the benefit supported the IYLI Summer Fellowship Program that gives high school students the opportunity to study abroad in Africa, Latin America, or the Caribbean.

Photojournalist, Chester Higgins, Jr. was the special guest and honoree for the evening. IYLI Director of Programs, Irijah Stennett, presented him with IYLIs’ Global Citizenship Award. Guests were served delicious Mexican hors d‘oeuvres by La Palapa, a complimentary international wine bar and beverages including Gruvi Juices provided by Dr. Bert J. Benjamin, CEO of Sensation Juices, Inc., and scrumptious desserts by DOCD Southern Desserts and Financier Patisseries. Music was provided by Casa Mantequilla.

Special guests joining the IYLI board of directors, fellows, alumni and volunteers included Radio Host Daa’iya El-Sanusi of “The Garden of Tranquility and Contemplation” on WHCR Radio –90.3 FM on the campus of City College, Twana Adams, Stage Manager for “Conversations with Chuike” and Adrian Toscano, Independent Videographer & Photographer.

IYLI Executive Director Dr. Michael Webb, pictured right with honoree Chester Higgins, Jr., acknowledged and expressed his great appreciation on behalf of IYLI by sharing, “It is wonderful to share a night of celebration with our alumni and alumni parents, along with friends, volunteers and current fellows and their family. Altogether, these are the folks who make up the IYLI family.”

In 2013, Fellows will study in Senegal and Brazil. Learn more about IYLI by visiting http://www.iyli.org/.

Related post: Youth Board Member of IYLI Shares Why She Gives Back

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Honorees Carrie Mae Weems, Swizz Beatz, Donna Karan and Peter Beard, and Tommy Hilfiger at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner 2013 in New York City.

By Stacey Trammel, Contributor

NEW YORK, NY – Kasseem ‘Swiss Beatz’ Dean, Grammy award winning musician and producer; and Carrie Mae Weems, Internationally known visual artist were two of four recognized for their contributions to the arts during Tuesday’s Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner held at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York City. Other honorees were world renowned photographer and writer Peter Beard and American fashion designer and multiple Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awardee Donna Karan.

An avid painter and art collector, Beatz has expanded his portfolio of creative work from hip-hop music to promoting or designing for brands like Aston Martin and Reebok. Per TheGrio, Dean is philanthropically minded due to his donating funds and becoming actively involved with organizations such as the Bronx Charter School for the Arts and the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation. He’s married to musician Alicia Keys, also known for her giving efforts as co-founder of Keep A Child Alive Foundation. Keys was honored at last year’s Gordon Parks Centennial Gala.

Weems’ works incorporate photography, text, fabric and interactive media to tell rich, complex stories that explore topics such as family traditions, racial and gender injustice and politics. Her exhibitions have graced the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and The Studio Museum in Harlem in New York City; Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, Seville, Spain; Africus Institute for Contemporary Art, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Museum of the African Diaspora (MOAD) in San Francisco. Two of her pieces are currently featured in “30 Americans,” a traveling exhibit of works from emerging and established African American artists.

Also attending the gala were a list of luminaries from the entertainment, arts, fashion, corporate, media and philanthropy circles: NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony; model and actor Tyson Beckford; UK singer-songwriter Estelle; and fashion designers Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein. Other guests included actress and Cooking Channel personality Debi Mazar and ABC’s “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara.

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“It was a pleasure to honor individuals embodying the artistic passion and vision for which Gordon Parks was known,” says Diana Revson, Director of External Affairs, The Gordon Parks Foundation. The gala raised $500,000 to further its cause of “permanently preserving the work of Gordon Parks and other artists, (making) it available to the public through exhibitions, books and electronic media and (supporting) artistic and educational activities in which he had an interest during his lifetime.”

To learn more about The Gordon Parks Foundation, The Studio Museum in Harlem’s current exhibit of Parks’ “A Harlem Family 1967” running through June 30, 2013 and future exhibits showcasing his works including recently discovered images from the “Segregation Series,” visit gordonparksfoundation.org.

Pictured: Dyllan McGee, documentary filmmaker and board of directors, Gordon Parks Foundation and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., scholar and editor-in-chief, TheRoot.com.

Photo credit: Patrick McMullan and Stacey Trammel

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By Valaida Fullwood, Charlotte Contributor

Music Camp Gives Youth A New Way to Play Over the Summer

Charlotte, NC — American jazz aficionado and tuba player, Allan Jaffe once said, “New Orleans is the only place I know of where you ask a little kid what he wants to be and instead of saying ‘I want to be a policeman,’ or ‘I want to be a fireman,’ he says, I want to be a musician.”

That could soon be the case in Charlotte, too, if New Orleans native and Charlotte newcomer Lonnie Davis has her way. Davis is founder and president of a nonprofit organization called Jazz Arts Initiative (JAI). Through JAI, she is satisfying an appetite for jazz and elevating local tastes for the classic and wholly American art form. Davis also is cultivating a new generation of homegrown jazz musicians in Charlotte.

“Together we hope to nurture future audiences, preserve the tradition of jazz music and operate as a catalyst for cultural enrichment and music education that brings creative inspiration to the lives of those in the Charlotte region,” says Davis about her nonprofit. Founded in 2009, JAI is dedicated to the promotion, education and preservation of jazz.

To that end, JAI is now preparing for its summer JazzArts Music Camp, which runs June 24-28. The day camp provides comprehensive music training program for students in grades 7-12 from across North Carolina. Musician Donald Harrison Jr. is the 2013 JazzArts Music Camp Guest Clinician. Student musicians will learn and gain from their weeklong experience with Harrison, a world-renowned saxophonist and music educator.

Davis notes, “We are extremely honored to have the legendary Donald Harrison Jr. teaching our campers this summer. This will be a rare opportunity for students in our region to learn from a performer and educator of his caliber. Donald has mentored some of the greatest young jazz artists today, and I am sure that the students attending this year's JazzArts Music Camp will gain countless lessons and insight from this master musician.”

Guest clinicians in past years have included Delfeayo Marsalis, celebrated trombonist and NEA Jazz Master Award recipient, and Jamey Aebersold, a renowned jazz arts educator. Welcoming all instruments, the camp has a curriculum that covers jazz history and listening; jazz theory; improvisation; composition; master class instruction; small combo performance; faculty concerts; and student jam sessions. A culminating public performance closes the camp on the evening of Friday, June 28.

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Delfeayo Marsalis performs at JAI

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Donor contributions help support the summer camp. To generate additional funds, JAI recently launched a new performance series called The Jazz Room @ The Stage Door Theater. The series recreates an aura of classic jazz from a bygone era and is featuring some of the most gifted contemporary musicians in the region such as pianist Chad Lawson, trumpeter Mark Rapp and trombonist Tyrone Jefferson. Proceeds benefit the camp, school-based outreach and a range of JAI programs.

JAI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission centered on “connecting the cultural community and developing an audience for jazz through quality education, performance and musician support.” Davis, an accomplished jazz flutist, runs the nonprofit and leads her own ensemble, the Lonnie Davis Quartet. Her husband Ocie Davis serves as the nonprofit’s artistic director and is an internationally recognized musician, educator, and composer. For information on JAI events and ways to support its mission, visit www.TheJazzArts.org or call 704-336-9350.

Story submitted by Valaida Fullwood
Described an “idea whisperer,” Valaida brings unbridled imagination and a gift for harnessing wild ideas to her work as a writer and project strategist. She is a founding member of Charlotte’s New Generation of African American Philanthropists and author of “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists.” On Twitter, follow @ValaidaF and @BlkGivesBackCLT.

Photo credit: Provided by Jazz Arts Initiative

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Event celebrated contributions of famed artist LeRoy Neiman

HARLEM, NY- The Council of Advisors of The LeRoy Neiman Art Center recently hosted its 2nd annual fundraiser, "Art Splash, Larger Than Life" that honored Muhammad Ali, Councilwoman Inez E. Dickens, Business Leader Walter J. Edwards and Restaurateur Londel Davis.

The evening featured an awards ceremony, exhibition, buffet dinner, cocktails and a silent auction that celebrated the legacy of famed artist LeRoy Neiman and his vision to provide arts education to young children of Harlem.

While sipping wine, attendees viewed an extraordinary exhibition of works by celebrated artists including Romare Bearden, Faith Ringgold, Janet Byrne, Otto Neals, Ramona Candy, Donovan Nelson, Al Johnson, Pau DEO, Curtis James, Tafa, Sir Shadow and the Center's benefactor, LeRoy Neiman that included his famed portrait of his friend the great Muhammad Ali.

Following warm welcomes by Howard Teich, Chair, Council of Advisors for The LeRoy Neiman Art Center and Marline Martin, the Center's director along with touching remarks by two of the Center's students Emma Blankenship and Fatoumatta Jallow, the awards took place.

The legendary athlete and activist Muhammad Ali was honored with the organization's LeRoy Neiman Humanitarian Award. Unable to attend the event himself, Mr. Ali's daughter Miya Ali accepted the award on her father's behalf. NYC Councilwoman Inez E. Wilkins received the Community Service Award presented by fellow Council Member Robert Jackson. The Image Award was presented to Walter J. Edwards, CEO, Full Spectrum of NY and Chair, Harlem Business Alliance, Inc. by Lloyd A. Williams, President, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce. The Business Award went to pioneering Harlem restaurateur Londel Davis, owner of Londel's Supper Club and was presented by Curtis L. Archer, President, Harlem Community Development Corporation.

Dinner sponsors included Billie's Black, Dinosaur Bar B-Que, Foridita, Island Spice & Southern Cuisine, Lido Harlem, Quality Cakes, Tonnie's Minis, Yatenga French Bistro & Bar and Norma Jean Darden's acclaimed Spoonbread.

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Councilman Robert Jackson, Honoree Councilwoman Inez E. Dickens, Marline Martin and Howard Teich

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Honoree Londel Davis; Leslie Wyche and Donel Davis

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Scott Tucker, Howard Teich, Tracey Brooke Rowell and Lloyd A. Williams

Special kudos to artist and designer Scott Tucker, a Council of Advisors member, and special events whiz Tracey Brooke Rowell who conceived the fundraiser as a way to bring the community into the vibrant life of The Center.

About The LeRoy Neiman Art Center

Located at 2785 Frederick Douglass Boulevard near 148th Street in central Harlem, The LeRoy Neiman Art Center was launched by a generous gift from the renowned painter LeRoy Neiman and on-going support from The LeRoy Neiman Foundation, corporations, individuals and other organizations.

The Center includes a 2,000 square foot gallery space and rear workshop area where quality arts experiences in daytime, after-school and Saturday programs for all ages are offered. In addition, The Center is proud to host a 29' wall dedicated exclusively to the art of LeRoy Neiman. The Center welcomes schools and tour groups, and provides youth and the community with creative classes and exposure to the arts.

Top photo: Miya Ali (left) accepts award for her father, Muhammad Ali.

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Ed Foster-Simeon (left) with First Lady Michelle Obama at a U.S. Soccer Foundation event.

Our latest Insider is a U.S. Navy veteran and a champion for soccer as a vehicle for youth development and social change. Ed Foster-Simeon is president and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a leader in sports-based youth development that has awarded over $59 million in financial support to soccer organizations and field building initiatives nationwide. He first began working with the foundation as a volunteer in 2004 and served on several key committees, including the Executive Committee. At the grassroots level, Foster-Simeon possesses over 20 years’ experience at the local, state and national levels of soccer in the United States as a former Vice President of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association and past president of Prince William Soccer, Inc. — a 3,000-player recreational and travel club in Northern Virginia.

Under his leadership, the foundation was named winner of the 2010 Steve Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy which is presented by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In 2011, the foundation received a prestigious federal Social Innovation Fund award to advance its work using soccer as a vehicle to improve health outcomes among children in low-income communities.

Prior to being named CEO, Foster-Simeon served as Deputy Managing Editor at USA TODAY where he was responsible for Washington, Political and Foreign news operations. During his 15 years there, Foster-Simeon opened the newspaper’s Beijing bureau and organized and executed coverage and logistics for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read on to learn how he transitioned from journalism to the non-profit sector, issues areas where the foundation is having the greatest impact, his advice to aspiring non-profit CEOs, and how you can get involved.

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Education: Bachelor of Science in Journalism, University of Maryland University College

Community Involvement: Board of Directors, Campaign to End Childhood Obesity; Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame; Member, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) Scaling What Works Advisory Group

You first began at the U.S. Soccer Foundation in 2004 as a volunteer. Four years later, you were promoted to president and CEO. What first brought you to the foundation and how did your advancement progress within the foundation?

I'd been involved in soccer as a volunteer ever since my eldest son started playing 25 years ago when he was just four. I went from being drafted as a coach, even though I did not play soccer growing up, to serving as travel team manager and eventually President of the 3,000 player youth club in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. I was later elected Vice President of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association and eventually asked to serve on the Board of the U.S. Soccer Foundation where I served on the Executive Committee and chaired a number of ad hoc committees. Those volunteer positions gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about the organization. In the meantime, I was advancing my career in journalism at USA Today. When my predecessor at the Foundation told me he was retiring, he asked if I would put my name in for consideration. The Board conducted a national search and I was fortunate to be selected. My wife told me I would be crazy not to pursue the position since it would allow me to pursue full time my personal passion for the game and the positive impact it can have on the lives of children.

In 2011, the foundation received a federal Social Innovation Fund grant award to advance its work using soccer as a vehicle to improve health outcomes among children in low-income communities. Please share more about this grant and your progress to date.

In 2011, the U.S. Soccer Foundation was awarded a grant from the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), on behalf of the Corporation for National and Community Service, to support programs that promote healthy lifestyles and reduce obesity rates for children in urban underserved communities. The U.S. Soccer Foundation was one of five intermediaries to receive an award from SIF in 2011 – and with this award, we were able to replicate and expand our program, Soccer for Success, in 2012. By the end of the 2012-2013 program year, we will nearly double the number of cities and children we serve through our Soccer for Success program. More information about Soccer for Success can be found here.

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What are some of the issue areas that the foundation's grant making is having the greatest impact?

Children in urban, underserved communities need a safe place to play and positive programming surrounded by caring, consistent adults that can help them lead healthy and happy lives. The Foundation’s grants are designed to support organizations that are utilizing soccer in a positive way and provide children with a safe place to play.

By supporting community based organizations that share our philosophy, we help grow the game in underserved communities and provide sustainable, impactful programming to children nationwide. The most dangerous time for children are the hours immediately following the close of school and many underserved communities lack the resources to provide youth programming. Many of the programs we support help to provide children with a safe outlet during those critical hours and have a low-cost barrier of entry so that all children have the chance to play a sport that encourages positive development. We help children develop the soccer skills they need to enjoy and excel at the game on the field and to develop the life skills they need to succeed off the field.

Additionally, many urban areas lack the green space available to play outside. By providing funding to support the building or enhancing of innovative field projects nationwide, we give children the opportunity to play this wonderful sport, in a safe area that can help their physical and social development.

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What advice do you have for an aspiring president/CEO of a national non-profit organization?

Non-Profit CEOs have to be artful jugglers of three key priorities -- organizational culture, the organization's impact in communities and getting the most out of your Board of Directors. Few excel at all three, but that's what we should strive for. A couple of other points I try to keep in mind:

You need a growth mindset, one that embraces challenges, learns from criticism, and persists in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
In pursuing goals it's important to strike the right balance between a sense of urgency and patience. You need both.
Understand that in the non-profit world the real knowledge is in the community. It's among the people you seek to serve.
It also helps to be both strategic and opportunistic. You need a well thought out plan, but you need to remain nimble enough to act on opportunities you didn't plan for.

The same skills that lead to success in business are needed to succeed at running a non-profit. The big difference is that non-profits have multiple bottom lines. In addition to pursuing revenue and controlling expenses, you also have the bottom line on the organization's mission. What impact is the work you are doing having in the communities you serve? That is a critical measure of success.

How can readers get involved to support the U.S. Soccer Foundation?

There are a few ways that readers can get involved with our work. We encourage them to visit our website to view our different programs (http://www.ussoccerfoundation.org/our-programs/) and contact Wylie Chen, our Director of Programs & Grants (wchen@ussoccerfoundation.org) to learn more about how to get involved. Anyone can donate funds or new and gently used equipment to our programs, to help us grow the game and provide children, who might not have had the chance to play otherwise, the opportunity to play soccer. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Anything else you'd like to share?

It has been quite a transition from the newsroom to a non-profit board room. Having the opportunity to use soccer in a way that goes beyond winning and losing to improve health and social outcomes among our children is incredibly rewarding and the kind of work that can make a real difference in under-resourced communities. It truly is a blessing being in a position to serve.

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Group portrait of New Generation of African American Philanthropists featured in Giving Back, which was published by the giving circle.

Award winning Charlotte giving circle reaches milestone, reflects on accomplishments and revs up for what’s ahead

Charlotte, NC — With a roomful of 60 people to generate ideas and momentum, seven years ago, 17 Charlotteans embarked on what was the founding of New Generation of African American Philanthropists, a giving circle known as NGAAP-Charlotte. A great deal has occurred since the initial gathering on June 8, 2006 at The Wadsworth Estate, including ten new members joining the circle.

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Ed Franklin, a project manager at Bank of America and member of NGAAP-Charlotte, sharing information about the giving circle at a community forum in February.

Through grant awards, community service, civic engagement and leadership, NGAAP-Charlotte has invested nearly $200,000 to benefit local nonprofit organizations and the broader community. The circle’s mission is “to promote philanthropy—the giving of time, talent and treasure—among African Americans in the Charlotte region, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life within our communities.” Its grants have supported nonprofits working on shelter and support for the homeless, skills and jobs for the unemployed, financial literacy for girls, mentorship for Black boys and healthcare for the uninsured.

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NGAAP-Charlotte produced and published the award-winning book Giving Back, which was released in October 2011.

To inform and engage more people around Black philanthropy, NGAAP-Charlotte launched the Giving Back Project in 2007. The civic engagement initiative aims ultimately “to ignite a movement of conscientious philanthropy by empowering a generation to recognize their power and responsibility to give back.”

Under the project, NGAAP-Charlotte produced and published Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists, which earned the 2012 McAdam Book Award. The giving circle also is beneficiary of sales from the book. Every book purchased keeps giving, since proceeds support the circle’s grantmaking and civic engagement—and since the stories themselves will inspire readers to give.

This weekend, during its 7th anniversary celebration, a guest asked whether the circle has a suggested reading list. Favorite reads among circle members include: theessay“Four Traditions of Philanthropy” by Elizabeth Lynn and Susan Wisely; the seminal study and book A Hand Up: Black Philanthropy and Self-Help in America by Emmett Carson, Ph.D.; Tracey Webb’s blog BlackGivesBack.com; and, of course, the circle’s own book Giving Back.

“It is hard to believe that seven years have passed. I am so proud to be a member of New Generation of African American Philanthropists and of our accomplishments. But more important, I am excited about our future and the impact we will make in the world of philanthropy,” expressed Cathy Peterson, a registered nurse and founding member.

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NGAAP-Charlotte members Meka Sales, Dawn Fisher and Diatra Fullwood

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Charles W. Thomas and Valaida Fullwood, photographer and author of Giving Back and members of NGAAP-Charlotte

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Meka Sales, a program officer at The Duke Endowment and member of NGAAP-Charlotte, at a Giving Back book reading

Attracting new donor-members is an ongoing interest of NGAAP-Charlotte, and residents of the Charlotte region are invited to inquire about membership. The circle comprises men and women from a variety of backgrounds, sectors, walks of life and generations. Since 2006, circle members have included: Men Tchaas Ari, Renee L. Bradford, Heather Carty Ward, Deborah Charles, Rashad Davis, Tonya Edwards, Dawn Fisher, Ed Franklin, Diatra Fullwood, Valaida Fullwood, Melandee Jones, Ohmar Land, Eric Law, Tameka Lester, Clarence Lyons, Patricia Martelly, Fontella McKyer, Jennifer Miles, Vernetta Mitchell, Cathy Peterson, Meka Sales, Jenene Seymour, Jehan Shamsid-Deen, Idris Talib, Annette Taylor, Charles W. Thomas, Jr. and Keysha Walker.

NGAAP-Charlotte is one of 14 giving circles nationwide, composing the Community Investment Network.

Story submitted by Valaida Fullwood
Described an “idea whisperer,” Valaida brings unbridled imagination and a gift for harnessing wild ideas to her work as a writer and project strategist. She is a founding member of Charlotte’s New Generation of African American Philanthropists and author of Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists. On Twitter, follow @ValaidaF and @BlkGivesBackCLT.

Photos by Charles Thomas and Micheel Sales

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Event designed to offer solutions for L.A.’s nearly 5,000 system involved black male youth

Actor and BLOOM spokesperson Larenz Tate Will Tweet Live From The Event – Follow @LarenzTate To Ask Questions

LOS ANGELES – The California Community Foundation (CCF) will celebrate the one-year anniversary of its Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men (BLOOM) initiative with a town hall meeting at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College on Wednesday, June 26, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Actor and BLOOM spokesperson Larenz Tate will tweet live from the event and will take questions via twitter, @LarenzTate.

A blueprint initiative for other cities across the nation, BLOOM is a five-year, $5 million grantmaking initiative focused on black male youth between 14-18 years of age in South Los Angeles who have been involved with the Los Angeles County probation system.

“There’s a moral imperative to act on behalf of our young people,” said Robert Lewis, BLOOM Initiative Director. “Ultimately, BLOOM cannot fail. Too many eyes are watching across the country. We could light a fire for a BLOOM Detroit, BLOOM Chicago and BLOOM New Orleans.”

Today, approximately, 5,000 black male youth are under probation supervision in Los Angeles County. BLOOM’s goal is to help 1,200 youth complete high school and 1,000 youth become gainfully employed by 2017. A possible ripple effect could mean a 10 percent decrease in the number of black male youth on probation in the county. This translates into a significant financial impact on Los Angeles County. To house a youth in a probation camp, Los Angeles County taxpayers pay $100,000 per youth, per year. BLOOM’s potential impact on Los Angeles County would save the county approximately $50 million, by 2017.

The California Community Foundation’s BLOOM initiative is the only philanthropic organization in the nation specifically focused on black male youth involved with the probation system. BLOOM youth are under the direction of BLOOM’s community partners, which include Brotherhood Crusade, Los Angeles Urban League, Community Coalition, Youth Justice Coalition and Youth Mentoring Connection. In addition, BLOOM will add several more youth-serving community partners later this month. These partners will be announced to the community at the event.

Information will also be available for parents, guardians, service providers and concerned citizens on how they can get probation-involved youth enrolled in BLOOM programs and help steer these youth toward educational and employment success. In addition, a number of celebrity advocates have been invited to join this important discussion.

During the past year, BLOOM has enrolled more than 170 youth through its community service partners. BLOOM has also partnered with multiple businesses within Los Angeles County to provide BLOOM youth with job opportunities and/or internships. Partnering companies include: AEG, Metro Transit Authority, Martin Outdoor Media, Buffalo Wild Wings and many more.

The CCF/BLOOM Town Hall Meeting is free and open to the public. For more information on BLOOM or to RSVP for the event, visit www.calfund.org/BLOOM. Follow BLOOM on Twitter at @BLOOMSouthLA and “like” BLOOM the BLOOM Facebook page at http://Facebook.com/BLOOM.CCF. Los Angeles Trade Tech College is located at 1937 S. Grand Ave, North Tent, Los Angeles, 90015.

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Clothier William Wilson (r) with Justin Kutcher of Fox Sports at the Pre-Pairings Party of the William Wilson Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament on May 20, 2013 in Charlotte, NC.

Family violence motivated clothier William Wilson to become a man cut from a different cloth

Charlotte, NC —While growing up, William Wilson felt the emotional pain and powerlessness of seeing his mother abused. He vowed his family’s suffering would not be in vain and committed to becoming successful so his mother would have a man in her life she could be proud of. Wilson's mother fortunately escaped the situation, but her story is an exception.

Today Wilson is an accomplished clothing designer, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Accepting only five new clients each month and operating by appointment only, the U.S. Navy veteran and University of Arkansas alumnus has become one of the most exclusive, private clothing designers in the country.

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Ben Simon of Windsor Jewelers, an event sponsor, and guests Denada Jackson and Felisha Davis at the William Wilson and Jetpool Pre-Pairings Party

In 2010, Wilson founded the William Wilson Foundation (WWF) to raise funds to fight domestic violence. WWF supports programs that help empower victims of domestic violence to change their circumstances. Its signature fundraising event is the William Wilson Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, which took place May 21 at Carolina Lakes Golf Club, a par 72 championship course. The field included 25 avid golfers and 25 celebrities, most from professional sports.

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Celebrity golfers Bill Lester of NASCAR/Grand Am Racer and Omarosa Manigault of The Apprentice at the William Wilson and Jetpool Pre-Pairings Party

On the eve of the golf tournament, Wilson hosted a pairings party with fellow U.S. Navy veteran Ryan Stone, the founder and chair of Jetpool, LLC, a private jet management firm. Wilson and Stone boast that the annual event is one of the most sought after tickets in Charlotte. Inside a jet hangar on May 20th, golfers and guests attending the Jetpool Pre-Pairings Party mingled over drinks and food. Sponsors Jetpool and Rolls Royce Motor Cars of Raleigh showcased private jets and Rolls Royce models in which guests took seats and lots of photos.

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Guests Tasha and Michael Burks inside a private jet at the ‘hangar party’

Turning Point, a domestic violence shelter, and Autism Speaks, a research and advocacy group, are the two nonprofit organizations that benefit from funds raised by the Pre-Pairings Party and tournament. During the party, the hosts spoke poignantly about their respective cause and charitable organization and urged guests to give. Wilson has said he realizes he cannot save the world, but by contributing to Turning Point and empowering victims of domestic violence he knows firsthand that he can help a generation and save a family.

“I’ve always tried to give back. I made a pledge to myself as a kid that if I ever got to a point where I was making any kind of money then I would always try to help out wherever I could,” said Wilson. “Start out with a dollar here, and then it just builds. I always try to give.”

One of the largest shelters in the southeastern United States, Turning Point is an 11,000 square foot, 42-bed facility, located in Monroe, North Carolina. It began serving women and children affected by domestic violence in 1985.

“A domestic violence shelter such as ours operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and is incredibly expensive because we’re never closed,” said Naomi Herndon, executive director of Turning Point. “Law enforcement shows up in the middle of the night, on Christmas Day, at any time. Financial donations help us to stay afloat and to educate the community—taking this silent killer out of the shadows and into the light. When William reached out to us, we were delighted.”

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Guests Bradford Picot, Steve Weissman of ESPN SportsCenter and Justin Kutcher of Fox Sports at the ‘hangar party’

Wilson’s story and foray into business are remarkable. He taught himself about the custom clothing industry via the Internet and even with no contacts in the fashion industry, he established William Wilson Clothing. Within two and a half years, his designs were seen on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards in 2010 and 2011. Grammy nominee Calvin Richardson was named “Best Dressed on the Red Carpet” in 2010, while donning Wilson’s wear.

Wilson has gone on to design clothing for the Oscars and the Emmy Awards. He is the “Official Clothier for Charlotte Motor Speedway Club” and designed the official member jacket for the Speedway Club. He also designs the champion's jackets for the Coca-Cola 600, Bank of America 500, Sprint All-Star Race; the winner’s jacket for the Bronko Naguski Award; and the tournament champion’s jacket for the Chiquita Classic on the PGA Web.com Tour.

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Golfers Adonest Dean, Mike Solarte of News 14, William Wilson, Eric Bostic and Tom Womack of Major League Baseball at the 2013 William Wilson Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament

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Kelly Golden, Angel Wilkes, Chad Kerr, Carla Paxton and Andrea Beach at the 2013 William Wilson Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament

Story submitted by Valaida Fullwood
Described an “idea whisperer,” Valaida brings unbridled imagination and a gift for harnessing wild ideas to her work as a writer and project strategist. She is a founding member of Charlotte’s New Generation of African American Philanthropists and author of “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists.” On Twitter, follow@ValaidaF and @BlkGivesBackCLT.

Photos provided courtesy of CapturedbyKevin.com

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Apollo Legend Hall of Fame inductee, Chaka Khan and Paul Tudor Jones, Co-Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Tudor Investment Corporation and Apollo Theater board member on stage at the Apollo Spring Gala 2013

New Legends Hall of Fame Inductee Chaka Khan joined on stage by Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Jessica Parker and Erykah Badu

Harlem, NY – The Apollo Theater, one of the nation’s greatest cultural treasures, held its 8th annual Apollo Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 10, 2013. Tastemakers from both business and entertainment gathered to support the Apollo’s educational programs in New York City, preservation of the non-profit Theater’s unparalleled legacy and its current initiatives for emerging artists. The Gala raised $1.5 million for the theater’s performing arts, education and community programs.

Erykah Badu presented Chaka Khan with the Apollo’s highest honor. An international music icon and an American institution, the ten-time GRAMMY® Award winner is the recipient of numerous awards for her extraordinary achievements in music and entertainment. In 1999, she established the Chaka Khan Foundation, which includes a variety of programs and initiatives that assist women and children at risk. This year, 2013, marks the 40th anniversary of Chaka’s career in music and entertainment.

The cultural icon joined past inductees including Lionel Ritchie, Etta James, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Patti LaBelle, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Gladys Knight, Little Richard, and Ella Fitzgerald, in the Apollo Legend Hall of Fame. After the gala, Ms. Khan was presented with her plaque which will be installed on the Apollo Walk of Fame under the Theater’s iconic marquee on 125th Street in Harlem.

During the event, several artists took the stage, including Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Holliday, Deborah Cox and Alexandra Burke, to honor Ms. Khan and her induction by performing some of her greatest hits. In the evening’s finale, Ms. Holliday, Ms. Burke and Ms. Cox joined onstage for a stunning performance of Ms. Khan’s 1978 classic, “I’m Every Woman.”

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Wayne Brady, Emmy Award-winning comedian and star of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, hosted the evening.

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Alexandra Burke, Jennifer Holliday and Deborah Cox perform at the Apollo Spring Gala 2013

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Singer, Mary J Blige performs at the Apollo Spring Gala 2013

Sarah Jessica Parker presented Time Warner, Inc. with its Corporate Award, accepted by CEO Jeff Bewkes in recognition of the company’s generous support of the Apollo. Carol’s Daughter Founder & President Lisa Price received The Percy E. Sutton Civic Leadership Award, named in honor of one of New York City’s legendary leaders and a champion of Harlem and its cultural institutions. This award is given to an individual or group who has demonstrated extraordinary support for and understanding of the value of the arts.

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Time Warner CEO, Jeff Bewkes accepts the Corporate Award presented by Sarah Jessica Parker, at the Apollo Spring Gala 2013

Among the celebrity attendees were Rosie Perez, Jeffrey Wright, Michael Williams, Debra L. Lee, Ron Perelman and Ana Chapman, Marcus Samuelsson, Wendell Pierce and Tamara Mellon.

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Paul Tudor Jones, CBS This Morning Co-Anchor Gayle King, Apollo Theater president and CEO, Jonelle Procope and Sonia Jones

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Actor, Wendell Pierce with friend and Apollo Theater board member, Marcus Samuelsson

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CEO of BET, Debra L. Lee and Paul Tudor Jones

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Jimmy Choo Co-Founder, Tamara Mellon, OBE (right) and guest

The evening included the gala concert and awards ceremony, produced by Ron Weisner for Ron Weisner Entertainment, and a post performance party featuring a stylish lounge created by celebrity event planner Bronson van Wyck.

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The Apollo Theater gratefully acknowledges its Spring Gala Sponsors: Time Warner Inc., MacAndrews & Forbes, Macy’s, BET Networks, BNY Mellon, The Coca-Cola Company, Chase, and TVOne. Special thanks to American Airlines, Belvedere Vodka, Bronson van Wyck, Bite, Magnolia Bakery, Rogers Eckersley Design, and Manhattan Magazine.

Featured tweet from the event:

Tonight was everything to me, I grew up attending shows at the @ApolloTheater& now I'm a grown up & I support the gala! #apollogala
— bevysmith (@bevysmith) June 11, 2013

Source: Press release/Apollo Theater
Photo credit: Shahar Azran

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By Tokiwa T. Smith
San Francisco Bay Area Contributor

The College Bound Brotherhood 2.0 will celebrate the accomplishments of young college bound Black men throughout the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday, June 19th at a special graduation ceremony. The event will be held at 6pm at the Oakland Museum of California.

Young men across the country can join the celebration online by posting pictures in their caps and gowns to the Brotherhood’s Tumblr blog, along with a brief caption about the college or university they are attending.

“A college degree is a staple of success in the 21st century. We are excited to celebrate the emerging talent of college bound Black men in this unique way. These are the next entrepreneurs, professionals, leaders, and contributors to our communities” said Cedric Brown, managing partner of the Kapor Center for Social Impact.

The Kapor Center for Social Impact (formerly known as the Mitchell Kapor Foundation) has joined forces with the College Access Foundation of California to establish the College Bound Brotherhood 2.0 (also known as the Brotherhood), which is expanding community partnerships to advance college success for African American young men.

The Marcus Foster Education Fund serves as the intermediary responsible for guiding the vision and strategy for the Brotherhood. The partnership is investing more than $1 million in grants and other resources to support the Brotherhood’s efforts to reach 500 African American young men this year. The Brotherhood will also provide $150,000 in scholarships to high school graduating African American males who will enroll in college in the fall of 2013. The scholarship application process for 2013 closed on June 7, and scholarship awardees will be announced at the graduation ceremony.

To RSVP for the ceremony, please visit: http://brotherhoodgradcelebration2013.eventbrite.com.

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Abyssinian Meeting House in Portland, Maine (Photo credit: Katie Uffelman)

2013 List Includes the Mountain View Black Officers’ Club in Arizona and the Abyssinian Meeting House in Portland, Maine

Washington, DC – The National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced its 2013 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places®, an annual list that spotlights important examples of the nation’s architectural, cultural and natural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage. Among the historic places with African American significance are:

Abyssinian Meeting House– Portland, Maine. The Meeting House was the spiritual center of life for generations of African Americans in Portland, but it needs an influx of funding to keep that story alive for generations to come.

Mountain View Black Officers’ Club– Fort Huachuca, Ariz. One of the few remaining World War II-era military service clubs in the United States built specifically for African-American officers, the Mountain View Black Officers’ Club faces demolition by the U.S. Army, which has blocked efforts to list the property in the National Register of Historic Places.

“For more than a quarter century, our list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has called attention to threatened one-of-a-kind treasures throughout the nation and has galvanized local preservationists to help save them,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “From Gay Head Lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard to Kake Cannery in Alaska, to the beloved one and two-room schoolhouses of Montana, this year’s list reflects the diversity of America, its historic places, and the variety of threats they face. As it has over the past 26 years, we hope this year’s list inspires people to speak out for the important places in their own communities that help to define our nation’s past – and enrich its future.”

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Mountain View Black Officers’ Club in Fort Huachuca, Arizona

The remaining sites included on the 26th Annual List of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places® list are the Astrodome - Houston, TX; Chinatown House - Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Gay Head Lighthouse - Aquinnah, MA; Historic Rural Schoolhouses of Montana– Statewide; James River - James City County, VA; Kake Cannery - Kake, Alaska; San Jose Church - Old San Juan, Puerto Rico; Village of Mariemont - Cincinnati, Ohio; and Worldport Terminal at JFK Airport– Jamaica, New York.

Learn more about how you can support these 11 historic places and hundreds of other endangered sites at www.PreservationNation.org/places.

Press release/National Trust for Historic Preservation

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Damon Jiggetts, Reginald Gordon and Robert Dortch, founders of the Ujima Legacy Fund (Photo credit: Jay Paul)

A new giving circle created by and for African American men has launched in Richmond, VA – the Ujima Legacy Fund. On May 23, 2013, the circle awarded its inaugural grant of $20,000 to Partnership for the Future to support the organization’s mission to help motivated students with limited resources transition to their top-choice colleges and to the workplace. “We are truly honored,” said Charleita Richardson, president and CEO of Partnership for the Future. “Being recognized by the Ujima Legacy Fund will show our youth that the community cares about their success.”

The circle’s founders, Robert Dortch, Reggie Gordon and Damon Jiggetts, created Ujima as a way for friends, family members and colleagues to get involved in the Richmond community. Nineteen men joined the giving circle with contributions of $1,100 each, pooling their charitable dollars to generate greater impact.

Ujima’s beginnings grew from conversations and meetings in their local barber shop. In an op-ed written by the group’s founders, they share:

“The meetings were successful and, much to our surprise, cathartic. The discussions and debates were insightful, emotional and candid, far from the typical style of discourse among men. Some men came to the meetings wearing work boots, others came to the meeting wearing bow ties. The attendees were men from various walks of life and socio-economic levels, but all connected by a common racial ancestry. We challenged each other, debated perspectives, celebrated individual accomplishments and analyzed the best way forward for African-Americans in our community, particularly those trapped in the cycle of poverty.

After several months of meetings, we were all talked out and the tone of the meetings shifted to the creation of action steps. The meetings in the barber shop ceased and a few of us became the successor committee that would work on an idea to catalyze the energy from the barber shop meetings. We decided the time had come to rekindle the spirit of the beneficial societies that were plentiful around the turn of the 20th century that leveraged the largesse from the African-American community to help those in need in that community.”

The group was inspired by the generosity of Thomas Cannon who was called the “poor man’s philanthropist,” an African American postal worker of modest means who donated thousands of dollars to deserving individuals.

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Their grantmaking focus is to support one organization annually that empowers youth of their region through education-related initiatives, with a particular emphasis on underserved youth. In addition to giving money to support agencies that create pathways to success for young African-Americans, the founders hope that the circle will provide a vehicle for African American men to learn more about philanthropy and become advocates for transformative, results-oriented, poverty-annihilating strategies and programs.

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Ujima awards inaugural grant to Partnership for the Future

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Ujima is the third giving circle to partner with The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia, following Impact 100 Richmond for women and the Richmond Giving Circle for young professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The Community Foundation provides grantmaking expertise and administrative support for the giving circles, allowing members to grow their circles and identify the best nonprofits that fit their funding criteria.

While celebrating a successful first year, Ujima’s vision is to continue to grow and broaden its impact on the community. “Many of the men in Ujima are unsung heroes who come from all walks of life and work tirelessly to contribute to making Richmond a better place,” stated Robert Dortch, Ujima co-founder and member of its leadership team. “This inaugural grant is just the beginning and we hope that others will join us in this effort to support the education of young people,” added Damon Jiggetts.

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Members of Ujima Legacy Fund

For more information and to join, visit http://www.tcfrichmond.org/give/give-together/ujima-legacy-fund/. Connect with the Ujima Legacy Fund on Facebook here.

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UNCF Board Members and Member Institution Presidents: Milton H. Jones, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Certus Bank; Lester C. Newman, Ph.D., President, Jarvis Christian College; William P. Gipson, Senior Vice President, Global Diversity and Research and Development, P&G; Tamara Harris Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Haramat Group; Michael L. Lomax, PH.D., President and CEO, UNCF; Teresa Sebastian, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Darden Restaurants; David H. Swinton, Ph.D., President, Benedict College; and Ernest C. McNealey, Ph.D., President, Stillman College.

By Stacey Trammel, Contributor

Washington, DC – UNCF (United Negro College Fund) formally unveiled its’ new headquarters in the historic Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC during a ribbon cutting ceremony held on Thursday, June 20th. The office space at Progression Place, a mixed-use office, retail and residential project at 1805 7th Street, NW is conveniently located just blocks away from the storied Howard University and policy makers on Capitol Hill.

The office holds several amenities including UNCF’s College Knowledge Center, a 5,000 square foot resource center offering students standardized test preparation, college application and financial aid assistance, and internship and job placement assistance, among others. The Progression Place project in which UNCF is housed now serves as a flagship and economic engine for the continuing resurgence of the surrounding community.

Many were in attendance to celebrate the building dedication and hear remarks from UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax; DC Mayor Vincent Gray; and DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who dubbed the block “the education corner in the nation’s capital.”

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UNCF board members Tamara Harris Robinson, Vice Chair and Teresa M. Sebastian

Earlier this month, UNCF hosted US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former UNCF executive director Vernon Jordan at the Department of Education Lyndon B. Johnson Building in Washington to introduce the city to “Better Futures,” a national multimedia public service campaign. The initiative is focused on closing the African American college completion gap currently at twenty-one percent, versus the national average of 30%.

In the recently released UNCF Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute report “Building Better Futures: The Value of a UNCF Investment,” data shows those who have received UNCF scholarships have a 60 percent five-year graduation rate, five percent higher than the national average. Analysis shows that the value of a UNCF scholarship recipient’s five-year graduation rate is 25% higher than the average of all African Americans graduates. And for every $5,000 the organization provides to a freshman via scholarship, that recipient’s likelihood of graduating from college increases by an impressive 8%.

The campaign “transforms the idea of donating to a cause to a more powerful idea of investing in the future, including the introduction of a ‘stock’ for social change where people can see the direct social return of their investment.” It also introduces an update to the organization’s iconic slogan “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste, But A Wonderful Thing To Invest In ®” and will incorporate “television, radio, print, outdoor and digital PSAs featuring students who have personally benefited from UNCF sharing their poignant stories of success” so donors can see the direct impact their funds have on UNCF scholarship recipients.

“For more than four decades, the “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing to Waste ®” campaign has been the engine that has helped more than 300,000 students earn college degrees. This new iteration represents a new kind of philanthropy, one that doesn't urge a gift, but an investment in our country's young people,” Dr. Lomax stated during the “Better Futures” launch.

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Progression Place, UNCF’s new national headquarters in Washington, DC
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Alex Padro, Executive Director, Shaw Main Streets; Robert Pincus, Vice Chairman, EagleBank; Adrianne Todman, Executive Director, DC Housing Authority; Chip Ellis, CEO, Ellis Development Group; Victor Hoskins, DC Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development; Michael L. Lomax, UNCF President and CEO; Vincent Gray, DC Mayor; Jim Graham, DC Councilmember; and Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC Congresswoman

To learn more about the new campaign, and other initiatives such as The UNCF Gates Millennium Scholars Program and UNCF Institute for Capacity Building, visit www.uncf.org.

Photos by Stacey Trammel/Buzzology

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Ron Pressman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, TIAA-CREF; Honoree Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, TIAA-CREF; Sandra Timmons, President, A Better Chance; and Honoree Theo Killion, Chief Executive Officer, Zale Corporation

Anniversary event honored Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President & CEO of TIAA-CREF and Theo Killion, CEO of Zale Corporation

NEW YORK, NY -- A Better Chance, a national nonprofit that recruits academically talented and motivated students of color and guides them toward a variety of educational opportunities, held its 50th AnniversaryA Better Chance Awards on June 11, 2013 to commemorate five decades of increasing substantially the number of well-educated young people of color who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. The event took place at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

A Better Chance honored Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., the President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA-CREF and Theo Killion, an A Better Chance Alumnus, and the Chief Executive Officer of Zale Corporation. A Better Chance also recognized the 2013 A Better Chance Scholars who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and a steadfast determination to succeed and gave special recognition to representatives from the first 16 A Better Chance partner schools.

“Roger is a long-time supporter of A Better Chance who has demonstrated a commitment to creating educational opportunities for talented young people,” said Sandra E. Timmons, President, A Better Chance. “Theo is an alum whose ambition epitomizes A Better Chance's mission and impact. He’s a leader who has demonstrated a commitment to helping young people achieve their dreams.”

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Theo Killion, Chief Executive Officer, Zale Corporation; Ernest Fair, Managing Director of Investment Products at TIAA-CREF (and A Better Chance Alum, Kent School, 1970); Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, TIAA-CREF; Celeste Vega, Director, Product Lifecycle Practices at TIAA-CREF (and A Better Chance Alum, Milton Academy, 1984); Ron Pressman, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, TIAA-CREF; Sandra Timmons, President, A Better Chance; Judith Berry, Associate Vice President, Strategic Initiatives; Bertha Coombs, Business and Financial Reporter, CNBC (and A Better Chance Alum, Milton Academy, 1980)

A Better Chance, www.abetterchance.org, is the oldest and only national organization of its kind changing the life trajectory for academically talented youth of color via access to rigorous and prestigious educational opportunities for students in grades 6-12. A Better Chance carries out its mission through its signature College Preparatory Schools Program, which recruits, refers and supports about 500 Scholars at more than 300 member schools nationwide annually. A Better Chance has been opening the doors to greater educational opportunities since 1963. Since its inception, more than 13,000 alumni have been given an A Better Chance opportunity. A Better Chance is headquartered in New York and has five regional offices.

Source: Press release/Photo credit: Bob Gore bobgore.smugmug.com

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Hank Williams (center) with guests at a NYC event for Platform.org hosted at the home of Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn.

Platform.org to host inaugural TED-style summit at MIT Media Lab, July 12-14th

In November 2011, Hank Williams, technologist and entrepreneur, was profiled in the CNN “Black In America” series, The New Promised Land - Silicon Valley. Its focus was on the lack of diversity in the high-tech sector. That experience and the media aftermath had a profound impact on Hank, motivating him to make a difference.

“Given the fact that there is an alarming lack of both racial and gender diversity among people engaged in the innovation economy, it merits significant attention,” says Hank Williams. “Every bit of growth that matters in our economy is being driven by things like digital technology, algorithms, physics, materials science, bio-tech, and computing, and that growth is overwhelming all other sectors. In 2012, the innovation economy is the economy. So if all of the significant growth that we can expect going forward is coming from fields in which vast blocks of people have essentially no participation or engagement, then we’re clearly heading for trouble.”

Hank’s belief is that to fix this problem we need to do two things. First we must massively increase the number of people from underrepresented groups that aspire to engage in the innovation economy. Then we must eliminate the barriers that prevent engagement, or if not, help people navigate around those barriers. As a solution, Hank founded Platform.org, a nonprofit organization with the mission to address these issues.

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Guests at the NYC Platform.org event

On July 12-14, 2013, the organization will host the Platform Summit, a groundbreaking networking event and conference on innovation with an emphasis on communities historically underrepresented in the innovation economy, especially blacks, Latinos, and women. The Platform Summit will gather the world’s foremost thinkers and doers to explore new ideas and support increased engagement and wealth creation in this highest-growth sector of the economy. The 2.5 day summit will be held at the world renowned MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, MA. This intellectual and business playground will enable attendees to think big and commune with luminaries in a relaxed yet stimulating environment.

Respected supporters, including General Colin Powell, Hollywood power brokers Christy Haubegger and Charles King, music impresario Quincy Jones, and technology industry legend Mitch Kapor, have joined the movement.

Hank’s mission is a long-term one that will not be achieved in a single year. But his first step is to build Platform.org into an entity that singularly stands for this issue. His goal is to inspire the next generation while also demonstrating to the mainstream — to the gatekeepers, to the powers that be — the talent, insight and opportunity that exists within these underrepresented groups.

Hank shares, “We can no longer afford to leave 70% of our population out of the solutions creation business, which is the purview of the innovation economy. I believe Platform.org is critically important if we are going to, as a nation, secure the best possible future. We need a more open discussion of the issue of race in technology. Also, if we don’t fix this problem, it’s going to accelerate an already dangerous level of wealth inequality in our country.”

To learn more, visit Platform.org. For summit non profit and group ticket rates, contact Andrea Hoffman at Diversity Affluence, andrea@diversityaffluence.com.

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Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III presents Kathryn C. Chenault (center) with the Harlem Renaissance Award and artwork created by student Kaitlynne Easley at the Harlem Renaissance Day of Commitment Leadership Breakfast this month.

By Akira Barclay, Contributor

New York, NY –Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC), the nationally renowned and consistently innovative not-for-profit organization dedicated to renewing and reclaiming the spirit of community in one of New York City’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods, celebrated the Harlem Renaissance Day of Commitment (HRDC) Leadership Breakfast on June 19th. The event was attended by over 600 of New York’s most influential business, civic and political leaders, and is an opportunity for ADC, its longtime partners, friends and constituents to come together and celebrate more than two decades of extraordinary accomplishments that have contributed to the electrifying revival of the Harlem community, and to spark new strategies for future growth.

Held in the Great Hall at Shepard Hall, on the campus of City College in the historic Hamilton Heights section of Harlem, the event was hosted by Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, Pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church and ADC Chairman. The Leadership Breakfast celebrated ADC’s Education Pipeline—a holistic approach to increasing and improving opportunities for young people to benefit from a quality education continuum. Prestigious Renaissance Awards were presented by Harlem school children to: Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Starbucks (award accepted by Rodney Hines); internationally acclaimed actor, activist and Harlem resident, Harry Belafonte; and The Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg. Kathryn C. Chenault, longtime ADC supporter and dedicated advocate of educational support for Harlem’s children, received special recognition for her service to ADC and the Harlem community.

The Harlem Renaissance Awards presented to honorees were works of student art created through the Integrated Arts Curriculum at Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, curated by Principal Dawn DeCosta. Kindergartener Saniyah Ward’s work was presented to Harry Belafonte, Howard Schultz received art created by fifth-grader John Easley, Mayor Bloomberg received an artistic expression from 10-year-old Kevin Bosket, and fifth-grader Kaitlynne Easley’s painting was presented to Kathryn Chenault.

Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III made a special presentation in celebration of Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning & Social Change’s 20th Anniversary. Dariel Vasquez and Kamhali Scott, both Thurgood Marshall Academy students, spoke personally about the impact on their lives made possible by the support of ADC and the 2013 honorees.

“How to improve the world is what all those we are honoring here today with the ADC Renaissance Award represent,” said Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III. “They’re known as entertainers and business people, but their major concern is philanthropy—they all want to improve the human condition. We thank them for their unwavering dedication to the children and families of Harlem, and for their partnership in the enrichment and strengthening of our community. As we continue to improve our public schools, we will continue to make sure that our young people have the ability to live an abundant life.”

“I want to thank Reverend Butts, the Abyssinian Development Corporation and the Abyssinian Baptist Church for their tremendous partnership over the past 12 years,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “Some organizations and some people complain, and some people do something about making the world better. This is a role model for all of us about how to take the bull by the horns. Graduation rates are up by 39 percent since ’05, and our dropout rate has fallen by half to a new all-time low. There are few better examples of the great things happening in our schools than at ADC’s Thurgood Marshall Academy.”

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Honoree Harry Belafonte and Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III

“This day honoring ADC and what it does in the field of education for our children is a quantum leap from the circumstances that I grew up with in Harlem,” said Harry Belafonte. “It is indeed good to know that responsible citizens have stepped up to the plate to make sure that many of our children, who have grown up disenfranchised and crudely dismissed from the pavements of opportunity, are being cared for through the programs we are celebrating today, and the institutions such as these led by Reverend Calvin Butts. How rewarding it is to look out and see so many young people getting a foothold in life.”

About Abyssinian Development Corporation

In 1989, Abyssinian Development Corporation (ADC) was chartered by a group of volunteers led by Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, from the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, in response to the deteriorating living conditions in Harlem's neighborhoods. These individuals committed themselves to battling homelessness, abandonment of buildings, drug traffic, lack of safe open spaces, diminished economic opportunities, and the disintegration of families. For nearly 25 years, ADC has worked to rebuild and strengthen the socioeconomic fabric of the community through implementation of its mission to improve the quality of life for Harlem residents. ADC accomplishes this by increasing the availability of quality affordable housing; delivering human services, particularly to the homeless, elderly, families and children; fostering economic revitalization; enhancing educational opportunities for youth; and building community capacity through civic engagement. For more information, visit: www.adcorp.org

Related post: The 2009 Harlem Renaissance Ball

Source: Press release

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