What's next? You tell us!
We are the soul.
TSOP Michigan was a volunteer collective that organized to bring the country’s most coveted interactive celebration of Black philanthropy to the state of Michigan. As practitioners and advocates for philanthropy, we were honored to invite the Michigan community and our neighbors to experience "Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited" and "Detroit Gives Black," an original exhibit curated with Detroit Historical Museum.
TSOP MICHIGAN FAMILY
These individuals supported marketing, fundraising, nominations, pop-up exhibits and programming efforts. We celebrate their dedication of time!
Mobolaji Ayeni | Daija Butler
Tatum Hawkins | Sherelle Hogan Latina Kimbrough | Ken Porter
Tory Martin | Sharnese Marshall
Camarrah Morgan | Cleamon Moorer Michael Randall | DiAnna Solomon Ariel Wilkerson
STEERING COMMITTEE
Nikia Washington, Chair
Collin Mays, Chair
Orlando Bailey
Gail Busby
Meredith Freeman
Rachel Decker
Dr. Marita Gilbert
Mark Greer
Brandon Lane
Tyler Parlor
Courtney Smith
Jeremiah Steen
OUR PHILANTHROPY
To celebrate how we give back in Detroit the TSOP Michigan Steering Committee is celebrating eight local Black philanthropists.
Visit the complimentary exhibit Detroit Gives Black to witness the stories 90 Black philanthropists who paint a picture of how our philanthropy.
The Soul Around Michigan: Pop-Ups
GRAND RAPIDS POP-UP
A pop-up abridged edition was installed and exhibited in Grand Rapids, Michigan
October 22 - November 26, 2022
at
Muse GR
SPONSORED BY
ANN ARBOR POP-UP
A pop-up abridged edition was installed and exhibited in Ann Arbor.
March 10 - March 25, 2023
at
Morris Lawrence Building
The Gallery at Washtenaw
Community College
SPONSORED BY
The African American Endowment Fund
The Soul of Philanthropy: Reframed and Exhibited is designed to:
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Honor, celebrate and sustain rich traditions of giving within African American communities.
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Inspire communities to engage in the work of philanthropists—thoughtfully, strategically and generously.
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Enhance the capacity of African American institutions to present highly engaging and authentic stories from the Black experience and to lead civic engagement activities that benefit the community.
Check out the pop-up exhibit hosted at MUSE Gallery in Grand Rapids last Fall!
On The Exhibit Author & Photographer
Author
Valaida Fullwood
Described as an idea whisperer, Valaida brings unbridled imagination and a gift for harnessing wild ideas to her work as a writer, public speaker and consultant. She is the award–winning author of Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists, a 400–page hardcover book profiling stories of philanthropy among African Americans that was developed with photographer Charles Thomas. Giving Back was named one of the 10 Best Black Books of 2011 and received the prestigious 2012 McAdam Book Award, which celebrates “the most inspirational and useful new book for the nonprofit sector.” In 2014, Valaida was named Lake Distinguished Visitor at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She is a founding member of New Generation of African American Philanthropists and blogs at valaida.com.
Photographer
Charles Thomas
Charles is an artist–photographer, educator and entrepreneur. Formerly education director at The Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography and Film, he is now founding Executive Director at Queen City Forward. Charles is owner of Sankofa Photography and the photographer of Giving Back. Collaborators on the book, Charles and Valaida Fullwood are featured in a TEDx Talk on philanthropy and have developed “The Soul of Philanthropy” exhibition. Charles currently serves on the boards of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and East Mecklenburg High School Foundation and is a member of New Generation of African American Philanthropists. Charles is married to Micaila Milburn and is the proud father of three beautiful boys.
Thank You To Our Detroit Partners and Sponsors!
"Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited" was in Detroit, MI June 2, 2023, through August 27, 2023, at The Detroit Historical Museum and featured 17 programs thanks to the support of amazing community partners.