Celebrating Black Philanthropy: Love in Action (RECORDED)

Presented in partnership:
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
The Prosperity Foundation

Panelists:
Erik Clemons, CEO and President, CT Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) and CT Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP)
Dr. Chaka Felder-McEntire, Ed.D., Founder and Executive Director, Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc./CT College Access Network
Ashley Hampton, LCSW, Scholarship Committee Chair, Les Treize, Inc.
Andréa Hawkins, Founding Partner, Leading Culture Solutions

Moderator: Dr. Leon Bailey Jr., MPA, DMIN, SVP for Human Resources and Organizational Culture, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

Recap and Recording

What does "Black Love in Action" (this year's national BPM theme) look like? In honor of Black Philanthropy Month, four Black leaders explored this question in a rich discussion hosted by The Community Foundation’s Dr. Leon Bailey Jr. Bringing perspectives from their diverse and extensive professional backgrounds in the nonprofit and private sectors, the panelists explored the strengths of the Black community, the long history of Black philanthropy and how Black love shows up in their work and lives. Watch this engaging conversation in the video above.

What We Heard

• Investing in your community is loving your community.
• Black love is in the unity of collective work.
• Black love has persevered and provided strength despite environments and systems that were created for holding down an entire race.
• Black people have had to create opportunities for themselves.
• Black love takes courage and a spiritual and psychic commitment.
• Philanthropy is about more than giving money. It is also about giving time and pouring effort back to your community.
• For far too long, whiteness has defined and interpreted Blackness.
• White allies are essential because we are all interconnected.
• Hope is the seed of love. The accomplished work and lives of the panelists and other Black leaders provides a deep sense of hope.

Black Philanthropy Resources and Links
The Black Futures Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Black Giving Circle Fund at Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Black Philanthropy Month
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Les Treize at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
The Prosperity Foundation
The Vineyard Project for Black Futures In New Haven

Observed every August, Black Philanthropy Month is a global celebration. A new organizing concept frames the BPM campaign each year. The theme for #BPM2023 is “Black Love in Action."

For questions, contact Carmen Burgos.

Presented in partnership:

Learn more about Black Philanthropy Month at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.