Through the generous support of the Community Foundation’s Black Equity & Excellence Fund we produced, in April and July, two high-quality, main stage productions that were recorded and streamed.

Knowing that initiatives such as the BE&E Fund believes in your vision helps wounds become assets and lessens the ability for scars to become triggers.

I want Central New York to look like a place that exemplifies an overwhelming love of humans; that we honor one another’s suffering even if we don’t understand it.

"Philanthropy can address many of the issues and problems hindering our march toward forming a more perfect union."

"Philanthropy is not just about giving out handouts (although that most certainly has its place); but is also about teaching the fish how to swim in, so to speak, to effect generational upward socioeconomic mobility."

Graphic image of faces for Black Equity & Excellence Fund

A policy paper outlines our rationale for investing intentionally and publicly in the support and celebration of Black members of our community.

We provided The MOST with $17,250 to launch Future Innovators, an after-school program that brings together local Black STEM professionals and CNY youth.

Collage of Community Leaders

This is not a time to celebrate, but to collaborate. We asked local leaders where the community can go from here to continue progress.

Our country is experiencing an increase in violent, hateful, and deeply alarming acts against the Asian American community.

For Black History Month, we chose to highlight two of our Black Equity & Excellence Fund grantees that were named after historical figures: The William Herbert Johnson Bar Association of CNY and the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company.