Memphis, Tenn. – The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis (CFGM) will open its annual Black Philanthropy Month celebration with the second annual Powered By Us: Building Black Generational Wealth Symposium on Friday, August 14, at BRIDGES. The free, full day event centers on one goal, giving Black families, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders practical tools to build wealth that lasts across generations.
The day opens with a keynote from Andre M. Perry, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Community Uplift at the Brookings Institution, who will place the symposium’s wealth building conversations in historical context. A lunch plenary follows with the Willis family, whose story illustrates what it means to inherit opportunity and sustain it for the next generation.
New this year, CFGM is introducing The Wealth Lab, a dedicated space where attendees can book one on one working sessions with financial professionals. Participants who register for the symposium can also register for a Wealth Lab appointment and complete a short intake form to get personalized guidance on homeownership, wills, investing, retirement, or starting a business.
Breakout sessions throughout the day dig into what it takes to build and protect Black wealth, including estate planning, wealth building through ownership, investing, financial wellness, Black women and wealth, moving from financial trauma to financial legacy, and how donors can fund Black led nonprofits ahead of Give 8/28.
The symposium builds on the success of last year’s inaugural event, which drew nearly 300 attendees and earned a 97% satisfaction rate. That momentum carried into Give 8/28, CFGM’s national giving day for Black led organizations, which raised more than $2.9 million for 100 Black led nonprofits across the Mid South through LIVEGIVEmidsouth.
“Generational wealth is not just about money,” said Veronica Jamison, Vice President of Philanthropic Services at CFGM. “It is about what we pass down, the assets, yes, but also the values, the wisdom, and the spirit of giving that shapes who our families and communities become. Powered By Us creates a space for those conversations, and people leave with practical next steps.”
(Suggested quote, adapted from CFGM leadership commentary on the symposium web page. Please confirm attribution and exact wording with CFGM before this release goes out.)
The symposium is open to the public and free to attend, though organizers note it filled up quickly last year and encourage early registration. Attendees at every stage of their financial journey are welcome, whether they are just beginning to think about wealth building or looking to deepen their philanthropic impact.
Event Details
Powered By Us: Building Black Generational Wealth Symposium
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: BRIDGES, 477 N. Fifth Street, Memphis, TN 38105
Cost: Free and open to the public
Registration: cfgm.org/bpm
