3 Questions With ... Marlena Jareaux in Celebration of Black Philanthropy Month - WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories - 8/11

 WGC's 2022 "Our Giving, Our Stories" Series in Celebration of Black Philanthropy Month

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to continue our support for Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), observed every August! The primary aims of BPM are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms, for the benefit of our planet, our communities, our organizations and our lives.

​One way WGC is doing this is through WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" daily profile Series each August. Each day this month we are sharing daily profiles of incredible women in our community who are giving in so many ways - in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month. 

​Today, we elevate the voice and story of philanthropist, Marlena Jareaux:

What moves you to give your time, talent and financial resources?
Having a son makes me think about the world that he is inheriting from my generation, and how his generation will coexist with one another. He’d hear me say: “trying to understand people who don’t look like you is an important skill, because even a solo astronaut going to space relies upon a community of people.” I believe many problems are merely iterations of past history (some ugly) still waiting to be solved by us.   

When did you start giving to issues that are important to you?
I became better acquainted with issues of the world while in college, where I was exposed to the various mechanisms to help others through service. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was my match. It was in graduate school where I honed in on issues that were important to me. Every person I encounter who is surprised to hear the local stories of the county’s accurate history regarding enslavement and Jim Crow inspires me to continue.

What advice do you have for those interested in giving back?
Search to see if you can find a good match between your interests and what you see going on around you in the world of causes. Time, talent and money are all important to get from donors, but genuine interest (passion) is critical to find. If it's YOU with the passion to solve a problem and can’t find what you’re looking for… build it! ​

​Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2022.

#givingcircles #collectivegiving #WGCBPM2022 #BPM2022 #philanthropy

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