THE GIVER’S LEDGER August: Changing the Narrative, Honoring HERstory
First Published: Volume I, Issue 6 by NINA NEEDLEMAN | August 23, 2025
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Voices of American HERstory
Inspired by a toastmaster’s speech she gave about abolitionist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Voices of American HERstory Founder Rebecca Now had a period costume made and became a re-enactor of Stanton. She has performed for the Missouri History Museum, the National Park Service, the American Association of University Women, and many libraries, schools, and organizations. From there, she developed a team of re-enactors to educate students and others about women’s fight for the right to vote
Voices of American HERstory presentations fit well into most middle and high school curricula and make excellent discussion-starters for corporate and community groups. By delivering the actual speeches of the 19th century suffragists, the innovative reenactors bring history alive and recreate this critical time period in the women's rights movement..
Programs have further expanded to include Women's History Programs, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and celebrating Women's Equality Day, Women's History Month and Black History Month. Learn more about the programs available and book a program in my blog post.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Changing The Narrative
National Council of Non Profits launches campaign to reaffirm the vital role of nonprofits in American Life. Their focus is on changing the narrative: Ad language, black history and empowerment. Their tag line and website: NONPROFITS GET IT DONE: They fill in the Gaps for America’s Communities.
Kristi Orisabiyi Williams
1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Descendant and Creek Freedmen Descendant
Kristi spoke at the Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum on Sunday August 10th. Her great Aunt Jane was 17 years old when the Greenwood Massacre occurred, but escaped, and went on to be trained by Madame CJ Walker and operate a salon in Greenwood. Aunt Jane often hauntingly recounted her experience to her nieces of the 40 blocks burned down and bombed, and her escape. Bearing witness to this event, and doing her utmost to ensure black history is taught, is the driving passion of Kristi; enflamed by Oklahoma House bill 1775 (passed into law May 2021) which prohibited the teaching of black history. Bill 1775 states those teaching black history would be fired and lose certification.
Kristi declared this was an attack on memory! Black history didn’t start with slavery and didn’t end with the civil rights movement. As a response, she started Black History Saturdays. Launching in Tulsa, Black History Saturdays is a community education program created for the purpose of educating young people, their families, and the wider community toward a more honest and comprehensive understanding of Black history in Oklahoma and across the globe. The goal is to increase public knowledge, promote youth engagement, and equip the next generation of change-makers with historical and cultural knowledge that will inspire them to create powerful impact within their communities.
Additionally, after a trip to Berlin, and crying at the Burned Book museum, she was inspired to start a banned book library – with the goal of carrying all 100 books banned in Tulsa. After meeting and befriending a Kaplan Feldman Holocaust museum volunteer there, she shared her dream of doing this; – and he and his wife donated 3 copies of all 100 banned books! Since then, she has received 1500 donated books for her growing black history library.
Part of what she teaches is that words matter, narrative matters. For example – calling the 1921 Greenwood event a “race riot” enabled insurance companies to deny claims from businesses and homes that burned. Changing the narrative also clarifies definitions. This event was a massacre. Other words to change: Empower – replace with agency; Resilient is another. People experiencing this had no choice; they did what they needed to survive. An African Proverb best sums it up: UNTIL THE LION LEARNS TO TELL IT’S OWN STORY, THE STORY WILL ALWAYS GLORIFY THE HUNTER.
For more on her accomplishments, documentaries and more, visit here: Kristi Orisabiyi Williams
REPORTS OF INTEREST
Spotlight on Jason Purnell and
JSFM’s Annual Report
Jason Purnell, President of the James S. McDonnell Foundation and former Washington University professor, is widely recognized for his catalytic leadership in St. Louis. Author of the landmark For Sake of All report, his work continues to illuminate where our region has been and where it’s headed—rooted in equity and systemic change.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 23 & 24 — Festival of Nations, Tower Grove Park
August 28 — Give 8/28 is a national day of giving focused on uplifting Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofits - organizations that are often underfunded, yet uniquely positioned to meet the needs of their communities. Read more.
August 28 – The Rome Group’s Annual Philanthropic overview: Register here: Annual Philanthropic Overview
September 20 – SOS Tour of Fairgrounds Park – Register HERE