Give Creatively this Holiday

Every Tuesday after Thanksgiving, we are greeted with a wonderful reminder that beyond the pomp and circumstance of the holidays, it is truly the season of giving.

Giving Tuesday, or #GivingTuesday as it’s also broadly known, was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the UN Foundation as a direct response to the consumer frenzy around Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The day is a global movement that shifts the focus away from consumer goods, and instead focuses on ways to give back. As stated on the Giving Tuesday official website it is a “global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.”

This Giving Tuesday, we are putting a spotlight on several organizations that share our same goal of allowing people to discover and uncover the best of themselves through creativity. Skillshare will be making a donation to each of the organizations listed below. 

• Black Artists and Designers Guild (BAD Guild): The Black Artists and Designers Guild is a global collective of independent Black artists, makers, and designers. Their mission is to “build a more equitable and inclusive creative culture by advancing a community of independent Black artists, makers, and designers in creative industries.” The organization was founded in 2018 and offers programming and events that create dialogue, take action towards rewriting the narrative behind misrepresentation of Black legacy in design, and brings awareness to the inequitable design culture.
• Black Art Futures Fund: The Black Art Futures Fund is “a collective of emerging philanthropists promoting the elevation and preservation of Black arts and culture.” The organization was founded in 2017 and uses grant making, board matching, and organization-to-donor cultivation to build, advocate, and strengthen the future of Black art. Their vision is to grow emerging philanthropists through structured community, and provide impactful general operating grants to support the future of the work.
• GLSEN: GLSEN champions LGBTQ issues in K-12 education. Founded in 1990, the organization works to “ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.” They have a national network of educators, students, and local chapters to help bring their vision to light. They help develop and advocate for supportive educators, comprehensive policies, inclusive curriculum, and support student GSAs to inspire greater equity in the classroom.
• 100 Cameras: 100 Cameras works with children around the world who have endured challenging circumstances and teaches them how to process and tell their stories through photography.  The non-profit seeks to impact how children view themselves and their role in their community, while offering a platform to sell their photographs (100% of the proceeds funds the most pressing needs in those very communities).

We invite you to explore the missions of the organizations listed, or find ones that resonate closely with what you believe in, and if you are able to, to donate to their causes. And from all of us here at Skillshare, wishing you a wonderful Giving Tuesday and holiday season ahead.