A Love Letter to Durham, North Carolina
Donation protected
My name is Tianna Spears. It took me over a year to write about my experience with U.S. Customs and Border Protection while crossing the U.S. border and the brutal racism that impacted my life, health, and career. I no longer work for the U.S. Department of State. I am healing. This is my story- What Do I Want from White People? (An Illustration on Being Black in America)
Many have asked how to help. If you have been deeply moved, shaken, and driven to have difficult conversations with yourself and others, please consider donating. 100% of all proceeds will be evenly divided and distributed (with full transparency) to the listed organizations, nonprofits, and youth programs within the Durham, North Carolina community.
Each organization has greatly contributed to the Durham community across all walks of life, had a personal impact on my life, and two are national organizations that I strongly believe in. I share my personal story with you to inspire conversation within our communities, at our dinner tables, and in our hearts. We are the catalysts for change.
Consider giving back to my Durham community that raised my brother and me, encouraged me to write these stories, and positively impacted so many others. In just two days, over 50,000 people have read my essay, What Do I Want from White People? (An Illustration of Being Black in America) and You Are Beautifully Whole. If each person donates $1.00, we can reach our goal.
Let's keep the conversation going. Thank you for donating. Thank you for reading my love letter.
Take care,
Tianna S.
(Please feel free to share).
Updated on July 10, 2020-
*** 100% of all proceeds will be evenly divided and distributed to the listed organizations, nonprofits, and youth programs in the Durham, North Carolina community. Previously, two national nonprofits were on the list of organization, but after soul searching, I decided to solely focus on the Durham, NC community. I will donate $50 to both BOLD (Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity) and Black Lives Matter from my own personal savings account (not associated with this GoFundMe campaign).
On June 4, I contacted the 12 organizations via email. I received email communication from executive directors and grant officers from the organizations with donation instructions. The total amount raised by July 5 will be divided equally to all 12 organizations.
All funds have been donated as of July 5.
Each organization below has positively impacted my life on a personal level. In a month, the GoFundMe received over $30,000.00 in donations. As of July 5, the GoFundMe total donation was $30,227.00. After the GoFundMe Transaction Fee of (2.9% + 0.30), the amount is $29,201.86.
As of July 5, 2020, each of 12 organizations listed below received a donation of $2,433.49 via check or online.
Please check my blog for a letter from me and receipt of donations- https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/07/10/a-love-letter-to-durham-donation-blog/.
To celebrate the recent DACA decision, additional money will be donated to Pupusas for Education, “a nonprofit that provides last dollar scholarships to undocumented and DACAmented students pursuing a higher education.” You can continue to donate here until I reach our $50K goal.
Organizations:
· Black Girls Code, BLACKSPACE, Boys & Girls Club of Durham & Orange Counties, Community Bail Fund of Durham, Durham Literacy Center (Youth Achievement Program), El Centro Hispano, Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman Masjid, North Carolina Central University Office of International Affairs, SEEDS, Walltown Children's Theatre, Pupusas for Education, and Urban Ministries of Durham.
Blog Links to Whats Up With Tianna (feel free to share).
-- What Do I Want from White People? (An Illustration on Being Black in America) https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/05/30/what-do-i-want-from-white-people-an-illustration-on-being-black-in-america/
-- You Are Beautifully Whole
https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/06/01/you-are-beautifully-whole/
-- A Love Letter
https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/06/02/a-love-letter/
Many have asked how to help. If you have been deeply moved, shaken, and driven to have difficult conversations with yourself and others, please consider donating. 100% of all proceeds will be evenly divided and distributed (with full transparency) to the listed organizations, nonprofits, and youth programs within the Durham, North Carolina community.
Each organization has greatly contributed to the Durham community across all walks of life, had a personal impact on my life, and two are national organizations that I strongly believe in. I share my personal story with you to inspire conversation within our communities, at our dinner tables, and in our hearts. We are the catalysts for change.
Consider giving back to my Durham community that raised my brother and me, encouraged me to write these stories, and positively impacted so many others. In just two days, over 50,000 people have read my essay, What Do I Want from White People? (An Illustration of Being Black in America) and You Are Beautifully Whole. If each person donates $1.00, we can reach our goal.
Let's keep the conversation going. Thank you for donating. Thank you for reading my love letter.
Take care,
Tianna S.
(Please feel free to share).
Updated on July 10, 2020-
*** 100% of all proceeds will be evenly divided and distributed to the listed organizations, nonprofits, and youth programs in the Durham, North Carolina community. Previously, two national nonprofits were on the list of organization, but after soul searching, I decided to solely focus on the Durham, NC community. I will donate $50 to both BOLD (Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity) and Black Lives Matter from my own personal savings account (not associated with this GoFundMe campaign).
On June 4, I contacted the 12 organizations via email. I received email communication from executive directors and grant officers from the organizations with donation instructions. The total amount raised by July 5 will be divided equally to all 12 organizations.
All funds have been donated as of July 5.
Each organization below has positively impacted my life on a personal level. In a month, the GoFundMe received over $30,000.00 in donations. As of July 5, the GoFundMe total donation was $30,227.00. After the GoFundMe Transaction Fee of (2.9% + 0.30), the amount is $29,201.86.
As of July 5, 2020, each of 12 organizations listed below received a donation of $2,433.49 via check or online.
Please check my blog for a letter from me and receipt of donations- https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/07/10/a-love-letter-to-durham-donation-blog/.
To celebrate the recent DACA decision, additional money will be donated to Pupusas for Education, “a nonprofit that provides last dollar scholarships to undocumented and DACAmented students pursuing a higher education.” You can continue to donate here until I reach our $50K goal.
Organizations:
· Black Girls Code, BLACKSPACE, Boys & Girls Club of Durham & Orange Counties, Community Bail Fund of Durham, Durham Literacy Center (Youth Achievement Program), El Centro Hispano, Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman Masjid, North Carolina Central University Office of International Affairs, SEEDS, Walltown Children's Theatre, Pupusas for Education, and Urban Ministries of Durham.
Blog Links to Whats Up With Tianna (feel free to share).
-- What Do I Want from White People? (An Illustration on Being Black in America) https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/05/30/what-do-i-want-from-white-people-an-illustration-on-being-black-in-america/
-- You Are Beautifully Whole
https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/06/01/you-are-beautifully-whole/
-- A Love Letter
https://whatsupwithtianna.com/2020/06/02/a-love-letter/
Organizer
Tianna Spears
Organizer
Durham, NC