Valaida Fullwood is a writer and project strategist. She is the author of Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists – named one of the ’10 Best Black Books’ of 2011 and winner of the prestigious Terry McAdam Book Award as 2012’s most inspirational and useful new book for the non-profit sector. She is also the vision keeper and principal architect for Giving Back: The Soul of Philanthropy Reframed and Exhibited, a museum exhibit that has toured the nation and will be featured at a national conference hosted by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Valaida is a poet and public speaker who has inspired audiences throughout the nation.
This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the burdens and rewards of an idea and the re-framing of a concept that changes community.
IN THIS EPISODE
- Valaida describes herself as an ‘idea whisperer’ and shares the most memorable idea she whispered and to whom.
- She talks about how ‘an idea is salvation by imagination‘ and how she sees herself as spiritual instrument.
- She describes the small town she grew up in and how it shaped all the choices she made next.
- Valaida shares how a conversation she overhead on a bus sparked her major in college.
- She talks about her work overseas and what she learned about herself.
- Valaida describes the burden of bearing an untold story and how an idea landed on her that was fully formed and generative.
- She talks about how she set out to re-frame philanthropy across cultures and communities.
- She shares the impact of the project and how it continues to test and reward her.
- Valaida responds to where her imagination may be taking her next.
Mark Peres shares a personal word that begins this way, “The story Valaida tells of an idea that landed upon her that was fully formed summons another idea about ideas…”