Afro Charities hosts ‘Dreams in Bloom’ fundraiser

By Kendra Bryant
Special to the AFRO

Afro Charities hosted their  “Dreams in Bloom” fundraiser at Cece’s Roland Park on June 6, with proceeds going towards the work of curating and protecting the AFRO Archives.

The collection, overseen by Afro Charities, includes more than 3 million AFRO images, letters and audio files documenting Black history and the AFRO’s 133-year history.

Inspired by the “Dreams in Bloom” theme, the restaurant was decorated with colorful flowers and offered guests opportunities to create floral crafts, including headbands and corsages. 

“It requires a certain level of nurturing in order to grow,” said Savannah Wood, fifth generation descendant of AFRO News founder John H. Murphy Sr. and executive director of Afro Charities. “So with that, it seems like the perfect analogy for the organization at this time as we’re on our way to bloom.”

The event honored Eddie and Slyvia Brown, founders of The Brown Family Foundation. Eddie Brown is also the founder of Brown Capital Management, one of the nation’s oldest Black-owned investment firms. 

“Eddie and Sylvia Brown have made a tremendous impact in Baltimore,” said Robert Matthews, an Afro Charities board member. “They’ve been committed to serving and taking care of those in our city in many different ways, from education to healthcare and beyond. When we think about who they were and who they’ve become, they represent dreams manifested. They represent dreams in bloom.”

The Howard University graduates were recognized for their philanthropy, including a $5 million commitment to establish the Graduation Retention Access to Continued Excellence (GRACE) Grant, which was the largest alumni donation in the university’s history. 

“Giving back is in our DNA,” said Sylvia Brown.“Especially today with what’s all going on at this moment. We give to the young people, as they are our hope.”

The program helps students facing financial hardships to continue their education. Eddie Brown was able to attend the university after a high school teacher covered the cost of his education.  

“It’s not about giving back, but it’s about giving forward for the next generation,” said Eddie Brown. “We were especially interested in helping those less fortunate, because I was once in that boat.”

Attendees included community leaders, local business owners and artists. 

“To be in proximity to the archives and being able to play a part in the restoration of Black  history is the single greatest role you could ever play in your life as a Black person,”said Khalil McFarlane, Baltimore born visual artist. “It’s almost mind blowing to even think about our history being able to be physically felt outside of oral tradition. To see the embodiments of these people we look up to and share love with, but on paper. That’s the thing I really love and appreciate about the AFRO, being able to have that connection to things that are tangible.”

Silent auction items included artwork by Black artists such as “Queen for a Day” by Ainsley Burrows, “The Watcher’s Tale” by Chukwudumebi Amadi-Emina and “Queen Rasta” by Yemonja Smalls. 

The archives will be housed in the Upton Mansion. Built in 1838, the building remained vacant after the closing of the Upton School in 2006 until Afro Charities purchased it in 2021 as part of a $16 million dollar redevelopment.

“There’s so much that we can learn from the Afro Archives in particular because they’re told from the Black perspective,” said Savannah Wood, fifth generation member of the AFRO News founder, John H. Murphy Sr. and executive director of Afro Charities. “When you go back 134 years in history, you don’t usually get that perspective. My hope is that people will do their own research and expand their understanding of the past by using our collections.”

“Afro Charities is the care for, the maintenance of, and the preservation of world history through the eyes of the AFRO,” said Matthews. “We are ensuring that this information is available to the public, researchers, journalists and to continue to make an impact on the lives of all.”

AFRO Archives will open to the public on March 13, 2027, at the historic site.

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