B L AC K L EG AC Y F U N D : New Name, Same Legacy “WE ARE LIVING OUT WHAT OUR ANCESTORS WANTED US TO DO, AND NOW WE ARE CREATING LEGACY FOR OTHER PEOPLE.” Keyuana Rosemond chair of Black Legacy Fund Advisory Committee
Over the last few years, the African American Heritage Fund Advisory Committee members have been exploring their fund’s strengths, values and guideposts. Through working with a consultant and deep conversations among committee members, we are proud to announce the African American Heritage Fund is transitioning its name to Black Legacy Fund. This intentional renaming is meant to honor the heritage of ancestors, invite a more inclusive understanding of Black communities in Kent County and create a legacy for future generations. The committee members chose this name to honor the many ways that Black communities contribute to society, both historically and into the future. “Legacy is something that we are part of,” says Black Legacy Fund Advisory Committee member Zahna Woodson. “This is something that we are adding to.” For committee member Aleka Thrash, the new name embodies the ideas of collective memory and effort. She says, “Legacy is something we are all striving for.” For more than 15 years, donor partners supported this fund to fuel grant partnerships with organizations that combat summer learning loss. Today, the Black Legacy Fund Advisory Committee wants to build on that legacy and broaden the scope of the fund’s impact. More than just renaming the fund, the committee is preparing to do listening sessions with communities to help inform what this broadening scope will look like. “We’re having conversations about how we take care of our communities, how we take care of the planet and what legacy we want to leave for future generations,” says Keyuana Rosemond, the newly appointed committee chair.
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C e n t e r i n g C o m m u n i t y Vo i c e i n G i v i n g Our Latinx Advisory Committee is working toward establishing a fund. The committee members have dug deep into conversations about defining philanthropy for themselves, understanding that many structures and institutions have not been and are not currently responsive to the urgent needs in Latinx communities. As the committee works to identify the practices and procedures they want to move forward, they firmly believe that all decisions should be guided by the voices of Latinx communities in Kent County. And they aren’t afraid to think outside the box to consider new ways of approaching philanthropy. These deep conversations over the past few years are clarifying their focus for the forthcoming fund. The committee is intentional in its process. By creating committees to dive into each aspect of the fund, they interrogate how the creation and execution might best
support Latinx focused and driven initiatives. They seek an adaptable approach that balances immediate community needs, while also looking at root causes of inequity. The Latinx Advisory Committee thinks about this balanced approach as one might think about their family. How can we support the community’s children today, as well as the children of many generations to come? Laci Resendiz, a Latinx Advisory Committee member, explains the benefit of this approach: “You can see it working now and you can see it building for the future.” As the committee continues to define their model, one thing is certain. Each decision will be rooted in community voice—from that, the committee will not waiver. H.G.F.
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