PNC and Preserve Black History partner

Every year, the nation observes the month of February to commemorate the innumerable contributions and achievements of African Americans. PNC recognises Black History Month as well, but its commitment to Black communities, organisations, and individuals extends far beyond the month.

“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are in our DNA,” says Richard Bynum, PNC’s chief corporate responsibility officer. “It has long been at the heart of how we run our business and has guided our economic empowerment efforts.”

PNC’s relationships with national and community organizations are just one example of how the bank helps to preserve Black history while also providing invaluable education and hope for better futures.

PNC

A few of the most prominent PNC-supported community treasures shared their stories about how they work to make Black history and culture accessible to all.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Atlanta

PNC’s involvement with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR) dates back to 2013, when the bank’s Tax Credit Solutions team apportioned $11 million in New Markets Tax Credits to help fund the Center’s construction.

PNC has backed the museum and human rights educational institution over the years by sponsoring programmes that create dynamic and empathy-building life experience while also teaching about the connection between history and the present.

Atlanta, the birthplace of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., is home to the centre, which connects the 1950s and 1960s civil rights movement in the United States to global human rights movements for people of colour, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and other marginalised communities.

“We are thrilled to welcome visitors to celebrate and reflect on this history of bravery and resistance,” says NCCHR president and CEO Jill Savitt. “As we confront persistent modern oppression, Black History Month is an ideal time to reflect on the lives and examples of iconic and unsung activists for strength and insight.”

A timeline exercise for kids and families and a mural created by the late civil rights icon and longtime lawmaker Rep. John Lewis are examples of more contemporary Black history and heritage programmes (D-Georgia). A chat with civil rights activist Ambassador Andrew Young and musical and dance performances have both been a part of events honouring Black history and legacy at the centre. In the 1950s and 1960s, Young—also a former mayor of Atlanta—led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and marched alongside MLK.

We appreciate the PNC Foundation’s assistance and resources for enhancing our programmes and encouraging people from all backgrounds and socioeconomic levels to have thoughtful conversations about racial equity and justice, says Savitt.

The oldest independent African American History museum in the country, the DuSable Museum of African American History, and PNC have a relationship that highlights the depth of Black history and culture.

One of the museum’s guiding principles is to observe Black History Month every month, fostering an endless curiosity that advances the significance of Black history all year long.

Through educational programmes and exhibits, PNC has long supported commemorations of African history and tradition

Perri Irmer, president and chief executive officer of the DuSable Museum, thinks education can help with the lack of understanding that is occasionally still shown regarding the historical impact on Black people.

It’s crucial to realise that Black history is not only American history but also global history, according to Irmer. “Black lives and Black experiences deserve to be more than a footnote in history because they are essential to comprehending the world in which we currently live. Our work here corrects centuries of misunderstanding and undervaluation. For the sake of making our history more accurate and understandable, we are building on deficient curricula and recovering the narrative.”

Through more than $500,000 in charitable donations to the museum as well as through advocacy, such as support for “The March,” a virtual recreation of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1963 March on Washington for jobs and freedom, PNC has contributed to enhancing thought-provoking, socially relevant experiences for visitors of all ages.

Black history and global history are intertwined, according to Irmer. “The fabric cannot be unwoven. One story cannot be told without the other.”

Black History Month

Karamu House has supported the local community for nearly 106 years by fulfilling its mission to produce professional theatre, provide arts education, and present community programmes for all people while honoring the African American experience.

America’s oldest producing Black theatre, which began as a settlement house, is a community institution that serves as a meeting place for people of various racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

PNC has continued to support Karamu House by sponsoring theatre series, arts education programmes, and annual fundraising events that help Karamu fulfil its mission in the community.

Tony F. Sias, president and CEO of Karamu House, agrees that the African American experience is frequently misunderstood or ignored in history.

He claims that the PNC partnership allows Karamu to serve more people in the community and reach larger audiences for a greater impact.

PNC made a $1 million donation to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), a Smithsonian Institution museum that examines American history through the lens of the African American experience, in 2019. The donation is intended to cover operational costs over a five-year period, but the partnership means much more to PNC.

“Given the museum’s relative youth, its presence and reach are setting a new standard for meeting the deep demand to reconcile American history with the realities that have confronted the American people,” says Bynum, who also serves on the museum’s corporate council.

Talking about Race, a portal dedicated to providing tools and guidance to inspire conversations about race, provides a foundation for parents, educators, and others to learn, reflect, and move forward.

The museum has also been detailing the marches and rallies that have shaped the country’s discourse on racial justice, facilitating brave discussions through virtual summit meetings, and contextualising historic election years within the larger context of the struggle for casting a vote rights and political portrayal.

The post PNC Partners Preserve Black History Across Communities first appeared on CSR Today.