African American Leadership Council is a network of engaged leaders who seek to harness the power of Black philanthropy and leverage resources to improve our community through the mission of Trident United Way.

Did you know African Americans ages 14-49 are twice as likely to die from heart disease than whites?

Join the Trident United Way African American Leadership Council for the Lunch & Learn: Brown Bag Edition conversation on Heart Disease in the African American Community. Dr. Marvella Ford will be leading the discussion which will explore why these disparities exist and what we are doing about it.

Meet the Keynote Speaker

Marvella Ford, PhD

Professor - Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina

Associate Director of Population Sciences and Cancer Disparities, NCI-designated Hollings Cancer Center

 
She also concurrently holds an Endowed Chair in Cancer Disparities Research at South Carolina State University. Dr. Ford conducts research on the recruitment and retention of diverse populations in cancer research. She has expertise in health behavior intervention design, implementation, and evaluation, and leads several cancer research training grants.

The discussion will include insights from Dr. Ford on the disparities in access, treatment and survival rates in the US. You can read more about our distinguised keynote speaker here.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Sixth Annual African American Leadership Council book drive!

We appreciate the incredible generosity of our community and your support in providing books for children to continue to practice their reading skills during the summer months. The AALC collected 2,322 books, exceeding the goal of 2,200! Volunteers sorted and packed books which were delivered to St. Stephen Elementary School and E.B. Ellington Elementary School, where they were distributed to students prior to summer break.

AALC Lunch & Learn: Brown Bag Edition

Thank you to everyone who attended the AALC Lunch & Learn: Brown Bag Edition! The discussion, focused on mental health, was led by experts Yolanda Sanders, Karen Oliver and Sonya Jenkins who provided insights into mental health issues, coping strategies and resources available in the community. 

Missed the webinar? You can watch the discussion in its entirety in the video below!

AALC Fifth Annual Book Drive

The AALC collected 650 books from individuals, businesses and organizations during their Fifth Annual Book Drive this year! Although the books couldn't be distributed to students in classrooms, volunteers set up distribution centers at local supermarkets to provide books to students from E.B. Ellington Elementary School in Ravenel. We loved seeing the smiles from kids who may not otherwise have books to read this summer. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this possible!

Our Vision:

• We work to solve pressing community issues through Trident United Way’s education, financial stability and heath programs.
• We support Trident United Way with our time, talent and treasure, using our experiences and our voices to make a difference for our neighbors.
• We network and educate to increase our capacity and strengthen our collective ability to create change.

Trident United Way African American Leadership Council consists of African American philanthropists who contribute $1,000 or more to Trident United Way. Members have unique opportunities to see the impact that their financial support and volunteerism have on community issues.

AALC Step-Up Program

For those individuals not quite ready to invest in Trident United Way at the $1,000 level, the AALC Step-Up program allows donors to gradually increase their gift over a period of three years. Step-Up members will make a commitment to increase their Trident United Way gift, giving at least $500 in year one, $750 in year two and $1,000 in year three. Step-Up members are recognized as full AALC members and have access to all AALC benefits.

For more information, or to join Trident United Way African American Leadership Council, contact Mechelle Jackson at (843) 740-7736 x246 or mjackson@tuw.org.