Save the Date: December 2, 2023 The Soul of Philanthropy New Orleans Launch Event & ACLU of Louisiana’s Ben Smith Fete gala at the TEP Interpretive Center
From December 2023 through February 2024, the ACLU of Louisiana and the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Interpretive Center, and a broad range of committed partners will bring the national traveling exhibit, The Soul of Philanthropy (TSOP) to New Orleans. TSOP highlights the history and impact of Black philanthropists across the country and in our state and provides a space for community-centered programming throughout its 90-day run.
Why TSOP New Orleans Matters
The history of Black philanthropy in the United States is often overlooked and underrepresented. This is due in part to the fact that philanthropy has traditionally been seen as a white, elite activity. However, Black people have a long and rich history of giving back to their communities, dating back to slavery.
Recent attempts to censor Black history in education have only made it more important to tell the stories of Black philanthropists. These attempts are part of a larger effort to erase Black history and culture from the American narrative. By celebrating the work of Black philanthropists, we can help to counteract these efforts and ensure that the full story of Black America is told.
The exhibit "Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited"is a powerful opportunity to learn about the history and impact of Black philanthropy. The exhibit features stories of generosity, innovation, and social justice from across the African-American community. It is a reminder that Black people have always been a force for good in this country, and that their contributions to philanthropy are essential to our shared future.
The exhibit is also a call to action. It challenges us to think about philanthropy in new ways and to consider how we can all give back to our communities. In a time when Black history is under attack, this exhibit is more important than ever.
With your support, we aim to center and amplify the powerful history and outcomes of Black philanthropy in this country and inspire a new era of changemakers to get involved in creating a society that is firmly rooted in equity for everyone.
December 2, 2023 - February 29, 2024
TEP Interpretive Center
5909 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
For information on sponsoring the exhibit, please contact ACLU of Louisiana Development Director Maggy Baccinelli at mbaccinelli@laaclu.org
About the Partners
The Soul of Philanthropy - New Orleans is a joint venture between the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Interpretive Center and the ACLU of Louisiana. Leona Tate and Alanah Odoms, both Black women, lead each organization, respectively. Leona Tate is a monumental civil rights leader who, at age six, desegregated McDonogh #19 school with Gail Etienne and Tessi Prevost, on the same day that Ruby Bridges desegregated William Frantz Elementary. Alanah Odoms serves as the first Black leader of the ACLU Louisiana in its 67-year history and has transformed the Louisiana affiliate into a premier civil rights organization in the American South, focusing on the core issue areas of mass incarceration, unconstitutional policing, voting rights, and immigrants’ rights.