The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement, a local philanthropic fund started by a group of twenty community-minded African American young professionals, will host its inaugural Community Reception on Friday, Feb. 5 from 6-10 p.m.
"The event will take place at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and the community is invited to come celebrate the start of the fund, meet the founding members, and learn more about some of the organizations working to improve communities in Chattanooga," organizers said.
TSJ Soul Band will provide live entertainment, followed by a short program. A donation secures your admission to the event.
“The Sankofa Fund is important to the Chattanooga community because philanthropy or ‘the concept of giving back’ has always been an anchoring concept in African American history and culture,” says founding member Lakweshia Ewing.
The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement is a membership organization committed to funding and supporting organizations, projects and efforts which improve Chattanooga's communities of color. Sankofa literally means to go back and get what was taken. After the term made its way to the United States, African-American scholars coined the term to mean remembering our past, to protect our future.
The fund is housed at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Members commit to making an annual gift to the fund, volunteering for various organizations, and collectively making funding decisions.
“It is imperative that we look back at the traditions of our past that made us strong and embrace our ability to impact our own communities by paying it forward,” said Carmen Davis. “It is exciting to be part of a group that will pool our financial resources and fund positive change in our communities.”
To make a contribution to the Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement, visit www.cfgc.org.