Spotlight on Tracey Webb
YPNation is rounding out Black History Month by spotlighting an outstanding "Young Professional of Color" each day this week. Today's pick is Tracey Webb – a philanthropy enthusiast and grant writer who started the blog "Black Gives Back," which chronicles charitable efforts in the black community.
Why is the YPNation spotlight on Tracey Webb?
Webb, a self-described product of a lineage of givers, has been volunteering and working for nonprofits since her youth. Today, Webb continues to do so through her writing and the philanthropic organization The Black Benefactors, which she founded in 2005. What makes Webb unique is her particular effort to showcase blacks who are supporting each other through community service and grants. Webb told Black Voices, "As I moved further along in my career, I noticed that a lot of the organizations that I worked with were serving African Americans, while the people who were on the boards of directors, and the people who were raising the fund, were white." Webb sees her blog as an opportunity to bring to the forefront the often lesser-known efforts of black philanthropy.
How did Webb get her feet in the game?
After earning a master's degree in psychology from Howard University, Webb went on to work directly with teen parents, substance abusers and the homeless. From there, she moved towards philanthropy and grant-making.
The Black Benefactors got its start in 2005. It describes itself as a social investment club, or a giving circle, that aims to give grants to initiatives involving the African American community in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Despite its name, membership is open to all races. The organization recently gave out its first grant in the amount of $10,000 to First Generation College Bound -- an African continuum theatre company, and youth foundation.
In 2007, she started her blog "Black Gives Back," through which she has reported on the great work of numerous charitable foundations, including rapper/producer Kanye West and The Kanye West Foundation, and R&B singer Mya’s The Mya Arts and Tech Foundation, which seeks to educate inner city and suburban youth in the arts and technology. Webb writes on her blog that she has "witnessed many societal ills facing the black community: the effects of crack addiction on families and children, black women and the HIV epidemic and gang violence among others," and dedicates her blog "to African Americans who care about our community by dedicating their time, talents and treasure to help those in need."
Who is Tracey Webb’s favorite philanthropist?
Well, she has more than one and no, they are not celebrities. Webb shared her accolades with Black Voices for these philanthropists:
Oseola McCarty: a woman who worked washing dishes and saved up her money for years. When she passed away, she left $150,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi for students to further their education.
Eddie and Slyvia Brown: This prominent African American couple has a building in their name at the Maryland Institute College of Art to which they donated $7 million. In addition, Eddie Brown has donated $5 million to the Baltimore public school system specifically to help African American students.
Check out what else is going on in the world of black philanthropy at Blackgivesback.com.
Follow this series! Check out the profiles of Vashtie Kola, party promoter, former music label executive and designer, Jamail Larkins, pilot and First Ambassador for Aviation & Space Education, and Leanna Archer, 14-year-old wunderkind who started her own line of hair and body care products.
(Photo credit: Arnett Gill; C.C. 2.0)