Celebrating Black Philanthropy Month 2025: Sankofa Now! Remember. Reclaim. Rise ... Across Connecticut!

Join us for an inspiring, virtual event highlighting the work and impact of Black philanthropy in Connecticut through spoken word and an empowering conversation that celebrates the richness of our culture and history. 

Presented in partnership by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; Connecticut Community Foundation; Fairfield County's Community Foundation; Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and The Prosperity Foundation.

For questions or changes in registration, contact Carmen Burgos.

Spoken Word Artist

Nadia Sims is the Poet Laureate for the Town of Manchester. The poet is focused on spreading her message of grace across Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. Her three books, "A Soft Place to Land," "We Know the Dark" and “Apostle, Interrupted” are available on Amazon and her first spoken word album, "The Weight of Grace" is available on all platforms.

Panelists

Althea Marshall Brooks is the Executive Director of Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership.Prior to BTS, she served as the CEO of Empower New Haven, the Community Services Administrator for the City of New Haven and the New Haven Public Schools Director of Coordinated School Health, where she was responsible for economic development strategies, services that served youth, homeless and public health initiatives.

Kimberly Dumpson, Vice President, Advancement, UMass Amherst Foundation, earned an undergraduate degree from Towson State University and a juris doctor degree from Ohio Northern University. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she is a passionate advocate devoted to issues of educational access and affordability for those from diverse racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds.

Julienne Foy, Executive Director, The Odyssey Family Executive Center, serves on the Stamford Public Education Foundation Board of Directors and is a Founding Member and current Co-Chair of The SOUL Fund, a new Fairfield County giving circle supporting Black led and serving nonprofits. A Licensed Master Social Worker, she obtained her Master's Degree from Fordham University.

Rodneyna M. O. Hart, Deputy Director, Programs & Exhibitions, Amistad Center for Art and Culture, holds a BFA in studio art and an MBA in Business from Louisiana State University. With close to 20 years of experience, she has occupied the roles of director of arts nonprofit organizations, exhibitions manager of museums, exhibitions designer and coordinator, gallery curator, public speaking and DEI consulting.

Moderator

Dr. Leon Bailey Jr., MPA, DMIN, SVP for Human Resources and Organizational Culture, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, holds a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University in Psychology, a Masters in Public Administration from New York University, a Masters of Divinity, and a Doctorate of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary.

About Black Philanthropy Month

Observed every August, Black Philanthropy Month (BPM) is a global celebration and concerted campaign to elevate African-descent giving and funding equity. BPM was incubated and started in 2001 by its Founder, Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland, with the support of Reunity (formerly the Pan-African Women's Philanthropy Network) and officially launched in 2011. A new organizing concept frames the BPM campaign each year. The theme for 2025 is "Sankofa Now! Remember. Reclaim. Rise."