Through the Eyes of a First-Time Participant

The word family means many things to many people. The Webster’s New Revised Dictionary defines family as “a group of people sharing common ancestry.” For Lillie Sanders, family is not defined by the blood that binds, but by the willingness to give just because, she said, someone was in need.

“I am having a building constructed that has four apartments for victims of house fires,” Sanders shared with participants of the 2007 Community Investment Network (CIN) Conference in the session “A Bed for the Night – A Civic Reflection Conversation. “I need $250,000 for the project. I’m not asking the bank for a loan so that they can dictate how much rent I will have to charge; I’m asking anyone who would like to donate $1. I want these apartments to be available to anyone, whether they have money or not!”

Sanders, director of the Sanders Service Center in Duplin County, North Carolina, was only sharing information about a civic project that is near and dear to her heart and expected nothing more in return. But at the conclusion of the session, people who had met her for the first time that day opened their hearts and wallets. Not because she asked them to, but because of a vision and passion they each share – a civic responsibility to re-connect people to their communities.

Stories of people giving money to complete strangers is not uncommon, but seeing it for myself was totally amazing. Hearing about the generosity that we as humans can display has a profound impact in itself, but seeing it at work is something totally different. This experience was one of several that I encountered as a first-time participant the day that I spent at the 2007 conference. Lessons were everywhere, and the one that I witnessed in “A Bed for the Night” was only the beginning. 

The Community Investment Network hosts a conference each year which focuses on the basic concepts of giving circles, the use of philanthropic tools and the dynamics of community philanthropy as a form of civic participation and community problem-solving. Over three days, members of the nine giving circles, along with representatives from other community organizations, participate in breakout sessions, hear dynamic speakers and enjoy fellowship and networking opportunities.

CIN co-founder Darryl Lester, president of Hindsight Consulting Inc., along with Daria Teutonico of Forum for the Regional Association of Grant makers/New Ventures in Philanthropy, opened the conference with a pre-conference session titled “Giving Circles 101: From Concept to Creation.” Lester shared a brief history of the how the first two giving circles evolved, how the number of circles has increased to nine, and CIN’s involvement in the circles’ development. Participants also received tools on how to organize a giving circle, the philanthropy process and viewed the video presentation “African-American Giving: From the Individual to the Collective.”

As I entered the Sheraton Imperial on day two of the conference, I knew something special awaited me. Walking into the ballroom where the first plenary session was about to begin, I observed men and women of different backgrounds, different age groups and different experiences surrounding me. I sat down at a table and was immediately joined by a gentleman who shared with me the passion of his work in philanthropy. Others began to join our party and he introduced me to them as if I were an old friend. Soon, I was learning more about this cause that I knew so little of just a few hours before.

We settled in for the day’s activities, which began with a powerful address that gave the audience cause for reflection. Community activist, author, businesswoman, counselor and director Margaret Rose Murray, co-founder of Vital Link School in Raleigh, told us that the art to living is giving. “Our lives are here [on earth] as a token,” said Murray, one of Wake County’s most respected and admired educators. “We came here on a special mission. We have to look and understand the significance of giving; giving of ourselves. We must go forth, whether equipped lightly or heavily.”

Described as a “real bridge builder,” Murray added “If many more of us would give in America, we would not have homelessness, people living below the poverty level, addiction to drugs and alcohol, etc. There is so much we have to give, should give, must give. The Holy Bible reminds us, ‘Give and you shall receive.’ When we look down on those struggling and don’t help, it’s a terrible charge. We must inspire each other to give by design because each of us can do more.”

After Murray’s powerful speech during the opening session, participants chose to attend one of three breakout sessions dealing with civic reflection, grant making and strategic roadmaps. I chose to learn more about civic reflection, attending “A Bed for the Night.” Passion resonated around the room as participants shared testimonies of civic engagement projects that are close to their hearts. Stories ranged from giving food and clothes to those in need, to supporting teenagers from single-parent homes, to collecting money for UNICEF. But the story that floods my memory most is the participant whose third-grader organized his classmates to give some of their food to other students so they would have a “good lunch” too.

During the lunch plenary session, I got the opportunity to hear Dr. Emmett Carson, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, who is internationally recognized as a catalyst for progressive change. Recently named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Non-Profit Leaders,” Carson has published more than 75 works on philanthropy and social justice.

Referencing the theme of the conference, Carson asked the questions, “How did we get disconnected in the first place?” and “Why do we need to reconnect?” “In this world of technology, it’s all about me, my world, my space…it’s about the world that I created,” he said. “Having all ‘I’s’ excludes the we and us. There was a time when it used to be ‘we’; there was a shared role. We need to reconnect because the world has changed and we all don’t live in the same communities anymore.”

As I sat there listening to Carson explain civic responsibility and what it says about the “us” card instead of the “I” card, I began thinking about how I could change my focus. “Our community is at a crisis point and we are going to have to talk about and understand it,” he said. “I know it’s hard to talk about when other folks listen in and manipulate it. But you have to recognize the thing before you can own it. We must own it and do something about it! And we must begin to speak up and speak out.” During a time when starvation, genocide, war and other disasters are destroying the world, Carson said we must begin connecting on a more personal level. The Internet allows us to talk with folk around the world but we don’t know the neighbor next door. We need to build relationships and talk with folk. We need to spend time sharing our talents, skills and treasures with each other,” he added amidst a round of applause.

As he brought his remarks to a close, Carson again asked a question. “ ‘What will we put our names to?’ If you don’t take anything else away from this conference, take this…Own it! Hold those who are responsible accountable, even if it’s us [African Americans]!”

Immediately following lunch, participants were offered six afternoon sessions which included topics relating to the tools of giving, principals of community organizing/philanthropy, race/equity and philanthropy, individual giving plans, youth philanthropy, and faith and social activism. The choice was difficult, but I decided to learn more about what young people are doing to change their communities. “Youth Philanthropy” Engaging the Next Generation of Givers” proved to be the right decision. During a time when the media takes pride in publicizing mainly the negative things about the Millennial Generation, it was inspiring to learn and see how they are blossoming as givers, funders and architects of social change.

Five youth philanthropy groups from across North Carolina shared information about their organizations. Students participated in a mock grant making scenario titled “School Bathroom Makeover.” Each group took turns serving as grant recipients and as funders. Grant recipients had to come up with a unique plan to repair the bathroom and the funders had to vote on which recipients had the most interesting plan and was worthy of the $500 grant. The mock dramatization gave a clear understanding of how the students must work together to develop a plan of action, and implement and execute the plan. Who says youth aren’t doing anything constructive?

The afternoon was winding to a close and I had to leave due to another commitment.  But before leaving, I had an opportunity to network and talk with other participants about their conference experiences.

Kathleen Marks of Resourceful Communities in Chapel Hill, also a first-time participant, said the conference was inspiring. “I will share the lessons that I learned with our partners, and hopefully provide them with more tools to continue the amazing work that they do.” The organization that Marks works for assists low-resource communities throughout North Carolina.

N.C. State University student Brent McMiller said attending the conference was a means of expanding his knowledge of what can be done in the community and how it can be done. Currently, the freshman who is a resident of Durham, volunteers at a food bank, rest home and at his church. This was his first conference.

For Yolanda Bynum, a conference presenter with Leading to Change, the conference was an opportunity to meet new people and to learn something she could take back to her family and community. “Giving our time, talents and treasures takes us back to our roots. I remember my grandmother giving someone flour or sugar, or cooking a meal when someone was sick. We have to take care of each other and continue this cycle of giving back.”

Moving Forward

According to Darryl Lester, president of Hindsight Consulting Inc., the 2007 conference reached an entirely different level. “I think we provided folks with ‘how to’s’ and focused on individual problem-solving and tools that folks can use in their circles or other collective giving models. There was something for heady folks as well as those who lead with their hearts.”

Lester feels there was more opportunity for sharing with and among the circles and thinks those who attended left more motivated to keep their circles going. “I think people really connected with how all of this feeds into the broader movement.”

He added that he wants the conference to continue to provide participants with a level of customer service that makes them feel valued from beginning to end. He wants them to get a bang for their buck. “The play was an enhanced edition and drew an audience not part of CIN but who learned about CIN,” Lester said. “I also want to look at bringing in critical thinkers in the community; high-profile folks like Earl Graves – publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine – who think about giving as a way of building wealth.”

Linda Powell-Jones
freelance writer and photographer from Raleigh, NC