Dear Supporters This edition of the Flash Update looks different, and that is intentional. Beginning this year, July is our annual fundraising edition, where we share our Annual Report and focus on the Foundation's biggest fundraising effort of the year. Our goal: raise $50,000 by December 31, 2026 to support 20 more artists and hire our first full-time employee, a Program and Operations...

Dear Supporters - Seven years ago, I stepped away from corporate America. What I've learned is that real opportunity for Afrodescendant artists doesn't happen by accident. It happens through commitment, providing resources, connecting artists to collectors, and a great deal of fortitude in traveling 40% of the year. This month marks a major milestone: 100 artists supported with $140,000 in...

Dear Supporters -Black women artists face pernicious obstacles in the art world. Despite being 6.6% of the US population, they represent just 0.5% of museum acquisitions. They are underrepresented in museum collections, not represented at top galleries, and locked out of access to networks of institutional power. This must change for the benefit not only of Black Women artists but also for the...

OCOTOBER 2025| EDITION 19.0Dear Supporters, We’re thrilled to share that the Foundation received a $43,000 grant from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities (Washington, DC) for general operating support. This grant represents DC CAH's investment in the creative vibrancy of the District (Washington, DC). This recognition strengthens the Foundation’s capacity to empower Afrodescendant...

JULY 2025| EDITION 18.0Dear Supporters , When it was announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) would no longer offer the Challenge America grant program, I knew that this year would be a challenging one for hitting our government grant goals. As a public charity, by IRS standards, a large percentage of our funding needs to come from the public (government grants, private...

APRIL 2025| EDITION 17.0Dear Supporters - At the top of this quarter's Flash Update is Raúl Ortiz Bonilla's Amapola—a crimson hibiscus blazing against a field of gold. I purchased this work of art in 2024 not just as decoration, but as a deliberate investment in the talent within our community of artists. I'm writing from Chicago as I prepare to attend EXPO Chicago, where some of our community...

JANUARY 2025| EDITION 16.0Chicago-based artist Delano Dunn's What's Life Like When You Got Plans recently captured my attention. Through his transformation of historical artifacts, Dunn creates a powerful reminder of the United States' racial history - one that echoes profoundly in our present moment as communities continue to face systemic inequities and violence. His work demonstrates why...

OCTOBER 22, 2024OCTOBER 2024 | EDITION 15.0Dear Artist Community, Supporters, Partners, and Friends: It's my pleasure to share with you that starting with the Foundation's 2024 Results Annual Report, we will depict the financials of the Foundation. As a public charity, we are committed to being transparent in our support of artists and how we steward resources entrusted to us. As an officer and...

JULY 2024 | EDITION 14.0Dear Artist Community, Supporters, Partners, and Friends: I'm back home after spending 103 days on the road as a part of a self-funded development and awareness tour for the Foundation. The trip was a good use of my time, as the Foundation gained new partners, deepened relationships, and engaged artists and supporters alike. This year marks a milestone as we celebrate...

APRIL 2024 | EDITION 13.0Dear Artist Community, Supporters, Partners, and Friends: As I write to you, it's day 13 (April 18) of a 103 day self-funded development journey. The intention of my trip is to seek additional support for artists. The Foundation celebrates its fifth anniversary this year and we are being asked by artists and supporters to do more. As a public charity, at least 1/3 of our...