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漏 rSnapshotPhotos - Fotolia.comRelated PostsAugust is Black Philanthropy Month, and in celebrating that, Christal Jackson held her third annual event,聽, at the <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Kate-Spade-Dinner-Ware>Kate Spade Dinner Ware</a> storied retreat, Martha鈥檚 Vineyard. Jackson, who has almost two decades of experience with non-profits and philanthropy, produced a star-studded event that included the likes of dream hampton, Tour茅, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and MSNBC s Joy-Ann Reid. But Jackson wants people to know that philanthropy can be done at every income level. 鈥淧hilanthropy is not reserved for the super wealthy. It鈥檚 a misconception that you have to have Bill Gates money to be a philanthropist. It鈥檚 based on the principal of love and sharing. If you give $25 to UNCF every year, then yes, you are a philanthropist,鈥?said Jackson. Attendees at this year鈥檚 Philanthropy on the Vineyard spent three days discussing a slew of different topics such as education reform, the My Brother鈥檚 Keeper initiative and global philanthropy. There was also a panel discussion called 鈥淭he Influence of Faith and Philanthropy: Social Justice and the 鈥楴ew鈥?Black Church.鈥?Pastor of Harlem鈥檚 First Corinthian Baptist Church and former congressional candidate Reverend Michael Waldron was one of the featured speakers for that session. When asked how she would define the 鈥渘ew鈥?black church, Jackson gave a nuanced response. 鈥淚 hope that the new black church is socially relevant. It has to be concerned not just with spiritual well-being but the whole person. It has to address the needs of the community. The majority of our <black>people鈥檚] philanthropic dollars goes to the church. If the church is where our dollars go, then the church needs to produce results,鈥?said Jackson. The church is not the only institution that Jackson hopes to bring into a more comprehensive and organized method of philanthropy. With her foundation , Jackson focuses her energy on <a href=http://www.radiorcs.com/page.php?sale=Kate-Spade-Handbags-Sale>Kate Spade Handbags Sale</a> addressing the needs of communities of color by utilizing her vast network of non-profit and for-profit philanthropic entities. 鈥淧eople have been functioning in silos doing great work. You have celebrities making scholarship funds and athletes creating foundations. That鈥檚 all wonderful, but as a community, we can鈥檛 have a real impact if we stay in these silos. We have to communicate, reach out and use all of our available resources. When I first started doing the Vineyard event, I just figured I would tap folks I knew and see how they would respond. I discovered that folks are just hungry to help our community,鈥?said Jackson, who partnered with Wells Fargo for sponsorship of this year鈥檚 event. Jackson has simple advice for those thinking about engaging in philanthropy but are having a hard time deciding which worthy cause to give to. 鈥淪upport what you care about. What鈥檚 important to you? Go back to what resonates with you or to the people and organizations that helped you in the past. You can always go to websites and make sure the organization is properly registered and has its financials in order. Do your own due diligence,鈥?advised Jackson. As far as what鈥檚 next for Philanthropy on the Vineyard, Jackson has her on being the catalyst for powerful partnerships. 鈥淭his year, we had our attendees organize within specific cohorts so that people with similar interests could connect and work together. 聽I travel around the country and hand select every participant. I want to go deeper. I want to find partners to help each other take it to the next level. I want to make certain that <a href=http://www.avanttravel.com/page.php?sale=Michael-Kors-Shirts>Michael Kors Handbags</a> their values reflect the organization. We have to make sure that the focus on who we鈥檙e trying to help is not lost. That鈥檚 our next round,鈥?noted Jackson. Follow Demetria Irwin on Twitter at聽聽and connect with her on聽.
