August doesn’t really celebrate many holidays – here in Texas, it’s mostly known for tax-free weekend and back to school. However, the entire month of August is all about being charitable. Why? Because August is Black Philanthropy Month! Thanks to The Dallas Morning News and FWD DFW, we were able to speak with 2019’s Philanthropist of the Year, Akilah Wallace. “Black Philanthropy Month was started back in 2011 by Dr. Jacqueline Bouvier Copeland and the Pan-African Women’s Philanthropy Network.” According to Akilah Wallace, the movement didn’t become a national issue until 2013 when Valaida Fullwood and Tracey Webb gave this month its platform and awareness. Wallace herself is a fellow philanthropist! She’s the Executive Director for the nonprofit organization Faith in Texas, who does community outreach for North Texas. However, her passion project is Heritage Giving Fund which she founded and considers it her “community service.” … And within this month is a big date – 8/28. Not only is this date historical, it’s also Black Philanthropy Month’s holiday – Black Giving Day. Similar to North Texas Giving Day or Giving Tuesday – Black Giving Day is a day to give back to those charities and nonprofit organizations that are sometimes the only resources many people of color have for information and help. “This is an opportunity for black-lead nonprofits to make a call to action for financial contributions across the nation to support their organization.” Every little contribution counts and you don’t have to just donate money – think about donating your time and skills too! It’s a time for you to help those who help others. Excerpted from CW33. Read the full article and view the interview here.

August is Black Philanthropy Month, which was first observed in 2011 and scaled nationally in 2013. Still, too few people have heard of what is essentially a call to action to recognize and support the efforts and impacts of charities in Black communities. To kick off Black Philanthropy Month in Dallas, FWD>DFW and CW33 introduced viewers to Young Black & Giving Back Institute 2019 Philanthropist of the Year Akilah Wallace. “This is a month where we celebrate and honor the contributions of not only individual and institutional philanthropists but also the organizations that are on the ground who are carrying out the work, the Black women and men who are leading nonprofits who are fully committed to ensuring that the resources that are needed to grow and sustain and rebuild our communities are available,” Wallace told CW33 journalist Andy Nguyen about Black Philanthropy Month. Excerpted from Dallas Morning News. Read the full article here.

Dallas faithful looked to the deaths of Black people past and present on Saturday to shout “Never again!,” while others eyed the future in calling for turning the current tide of emotions and energy toward institutional change and higher voter turnout. A second day of Juneteenth rallies began with a march — or as pastor Ray Jordan put it, “a pilgrimage” — organized by the multi-faith group Faith in Texas, largely silent save for the occasional hymns that Jordan himself led. … “We march and our feet become the beat of drum crying out to God, ‘Never again,’” said Jordan. … Stop No. 1: the intersection of Main and Akard streets, where, in 1910, an angry mob dragged Allen Brooks by a rope tied around his neck and hanged him before a massive crowd. The march continued through Dealey Plaza and past Martyrs Park — where, in 1860, three black men were hanged from trees over the Trinity River as a warning to slaves and abolitionists — and ended on the steps of the Frank Crowley Courts Building, where speakers cited the 2018 death of Diamond Ross in police custody as an example of ongoing, deadly inequity in the city. … Around a dozen different congregations — along with people who independently joined the procession — participated in the protest. “It’s really important to show solidarity,” said pastor Stacey Brown of Elevate Ministry. “We want to show that despite creed or color or denomination or religion, that we’re all coming together in the name of justice.” Excerpted from Dallas Morning News. Read the full article here.