Metro Government Proclaims Aug. 13 as Give Black, Give Back Day during Black Philanthropy Month
Give Black, Give Back, an initiative of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT), continues to recognize Black Philanthropy Month with the announcement of grants to help support Nashville’s historically black colleges and universities.
Throughout the month of August, Give Black, Give Back has been releasing videos as part of the Changemakers interview series featuring next-generation philanthropists Courtney and Ever Grey Hale, Fisk Jubilee Singers director Dr. Paul Kwami, and influential award-winning Nashville journalists Rosetta Miller-Perry and Dwight Lewis.
Complementing the Changemakers interview series, the Give Black, Give Back advisory committee, led by CFMT development manager, Audra Cox, was moved to provide inaugural Changemakers grant funding to Nashville’s four historically black colleges and universities (HCBU): American Baptist College, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Tennessee State University.
Changemakers Interview Series
Pictured: Dr. James Hildreth – Meharry Medical College, Dr. Glenda Glover – Tennessee State University, Dr. Vann R. Newkkirk Sr. – Fisk University, Dr. Forrest Harris –American Baptist College
Nashville’s HBCUs have a rich history as changemakers:
- Nashville is known as Music City, after all, not because of country music but because of the internationally renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers® from the late 1800s to present day.
- American Baptist College students John Lewis and Bernard Lafayette were integral to the Civil Rights Movement beginning in the early 1960s, joined by Fisk student Diane Nash and others.
- Meharry Medical College was the first medical school for African Americans in the South. Current Meharry President, Dr. James Hildreth, is part of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.
- And Tennessee State University, the state’s only HCBU that’s a public school, has produced leaders in such fields as science, technology and politics but may be best known for its Olympic gold medal-winning women’s track team, the Tigerbelles and their trailblazing coach Ed Temple, and for being the alma mater of talk show host-turned media mogul Oprah Winfrey.
This year’s grants are made in honor of the interviewees from Changemakers interview series: Dwight Lewis for American Baptist College; Dr. Paul Kwami and the Fisk Jubilee Singers® for Fisk University; Rosetta Miller-Perry for Meharry Medical College; and Courtney and Ever Grey Hale for Tennessee State University.
“These inaugural Give Black, Give Back grants are intended to give deserving students a leg up in their pursuit of becoming the future Changemakers in Nashville and beyond,” CFMT’s Cox said. “In the words of the late Congressman John Lewis, ‘We are one people, one family, the human family and what affects one of us affects us all.’”
Pictured: Next generation philanthropists Courtney & Ever Grey Hall with the late Tia Barbour-Hale, loving mother, wife, and occupational therapist; Fisk Jubilee Singers® with Dr. Paul Kwami. Retired, award-winning journalist Dwight Lewi;s. Tennessee Tribune Publisher & CEO Rosetta Miller-Perry.
The Give Black, Give Back initiative was 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 is to support Black-led charitable funds established at CFMT. The initiative is dedicated to fostering collaboration between its fundholders and to establishing new partnerships among Black philanthropists and nonprofits with similar goals and aspirations.
Give Black, Give Back has planned a host of events for Black Philanthropy Month 2021 under the direction of co-founders and co-chairs Lisa Swift-Young and Kia Jarmon alongside CFMT’s Audra Cox. This event series includes conversations to encourage Black philanthropy and inspire generational wealth-building within Black communities.
Black Philanthropy Month 2021 Remaining Event Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 12: Give Black, Give Back Conversations: Honoring Black Philanthropists with Black Philanthropy Month’s global architect, Valaida Fullwood, with co-hosts Kia Jarmon and Lisa Swift-Young (Facebook Live).
Friday, Aug. 13: Give Black, Give Back Day as proclaimed by Mayor John Cooper and the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
Friday, Aug. 13: Inaugural Give Black, Give Back Changemakers grants presented to four Nashville-based Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Fisk University (In honor of the Fisk Jubilee Singers and Director Dr. Paul Kwami), Tennessee State University (in honor of Courtney and Ever Grey Hale), American Baptist College (In honor of Dwight Lewis) and Meharry Medical Center (In honor of Rosetta Miller-Perry).
Monday, Aug. 16: Release of Changemakers Interview: Dr. Paul Kwami, Musical Director and Curb-Beaman Chair of the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Thursday, Aug. 19: Give Black, Give Back Conversations: Honoring Self-Care with The Healing Trust’s Jennifer Oldham and TRILUNA Wellness Co-CEO Ashley Brooke James, with co-hosts Lisa Swift-Young and Kia Jarmon (Facebook Live).
Monday, Aug. 23: Release of Changemakers Interview: Next Generation Philanthropists Courtney and Ever Grey Hale, founders of Super Money Kids by knowledgeBANK.
Wednesday, Aug. 25: Philanthropy Together’s The Excellence Of Black Philanthropy: Engaging the Next Generation. Register Here
Monday, Aug. 30: Give Black, Give Back: Black Philanthropy Month Wrap-Up.
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About The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
The Community Foundation exists to promote and facilitate giving in the 40 counties of Middle Tennessee and beyond. It does this by accepting gifts of any size from anyone at any time and by empowering individuals, families, companies, nonprofits, and communities to respond to needs and opportunities that matter. The Community Foundation works with people who have great hearts, whether or not they have great wealth, to craft solutions that reflect the intentions and goals of their charitable endeavors. For more information, call 615-321-4939.
