International African American Museum receives second $250K donation from TD Bank

Donation will support special TD Bank Program Series at the museum

The International African American Museum (IAAM) has received a $250,000 gift for education and programming from TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, to sponsor the TD Bank Program Series at the museum. TD Bank’s second gift to the IAAM brings their donation total to $500K, following their initial gift of $250,000 as a founding donor in 2016.

Shelley Sylva, who leads U.S. Corporate Citizenship at TD Bank noted, “Elevating the voices and sharing the untold stories of African Americans is a crucial piece of our collective journey towards inclusivity and equity. At TD, we believe community, culture and education fuels this journey, so we take great pride in our ongoing commitment to support the initiatives of the International African American Museum. The TD Bank Program Series at IAAM is designed to boost access to culturally significant programming highlighting the African American experience – especially by and for those who have historically been excluded. We’re excited to see this incredible effort come to fruition and the positive impact it will have on those it touches.”

The TD Bank Program Series is designed to educate and empower the local community and beyond. Organized into three thematic categories, the curated series provides a cohesive and engaging experience for attendees.

Malika Pryor, chief engagement and learning officer at IAAM commented, “The IAAM is so grateful for the generous support that TD Bank has provided in our opening year, ensuring that we’re able to present a diverse body of programming that engages visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Programming provides the nuanced and inclusive entry points for our attendees to discover the untold stories of the African American journey, which it is our institution’s mission to honor. With friends like TD Bank to help us sustain our efforts, we can and will continue to elevate these critical narratives for many years to come.”

The programs in the series run from January through summer and include:

Between the Lines: Conversations with Award-Winning Authors will feature one-on-one conversations with renowned authors, followed by book signings and receptions. The first author talk of the series, with Dr. Ibram X Kendi, will be held on January 25, 2024, at Burke High School from 6:30 p.m-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for youth. Purchase of the adult ticket includes a signed copy of Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers. IAAM members receive a $5 discount on tickets. Tickets may be purchased here. TD Bank’s support will also be used to sponsor 200 students from underserved community schools to attend the program and to receive a copy of the featured book.

Hard Fought: Honoring Civil and Human Rights Victories of African Americans will take place during January and February. This annual series of dedicated events pays tribute to the perseverance and achievements of African Americans in the ongoing struggle for civil and human rights.

• The first events in this series, the Emancipation Day parade and Onward from Freedom’s Eve, took place on January 1, 2024.
• IAAM KING: A Day of Celebration, will be held on January 15, 2024. The museum will host a showcase of vendors, food trucks, music, and communal fellowship from 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. onsite at 14 Wharfside Street in downtown Charleston. Registration is required here.

Black History Month programs include:

• Jammin’ Journeys on February 10, 2024, welcoming participants to a 90-minute exploration of musical selections, instruments, and movement from across the African diaspora. Quiana Parler will lead a performance and workshop centered on the Gullah Geechee connection to Charleston and the Sea Islands and their intersection with the roots of jazz. As lead vocalist for the internationally and critically acclaimed roots music group Ranky Tanky, Quiana Parler spent weeks at #1 on several Billboard Jazz charts. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth and can be purchased here.
• What’s The Word? is a spoken word workshop and performance series for the month of February, focused on elements of rap, hip-hop, storytelling, and theater, as these artforms have been used to address issues in social justice, politics, race, and community.
• The Spirit of Sankofa Workshop, designed for teens, will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm. Jessica Care Moore, an internationally- renowned poet, activist, and institution builder, will teach writing and performance styles and showcase how to use the power of voice to trace connections between the past, present, and future. Registration is required here.
• On Friday, February 16, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, IAAM will host From Dreams to Reality: An Evening of Spoken Word, honoring the perseverance, achievements, and hard-fought victories of African Americans through an evening of spoken word. The event also features a special performance by Jessica Care Moore. Registration is required here.

The Summer Film Festival will be an outdoor program hosted in the museum’s African Ancestors Memorial Garden, presenting a variety of films that explore stories from across the African Diaspora. Preview activities and details will be announced at a later date.

The International African American Museum (IAAM) explores the history, culture, and impact of the African American journey on Charleston, the nation, and the world, shining light and sharing stories of the diverse journeys, origin, and achievements of descendants of the African Diaspora. Across eleven galleries and a memorial garden with art, objects, artifacts, and multi-media interaction, IAAM is a champion of authentic, empathetic storytelling of American history. As a result, the museum will stand as one of the nation’s newest platforms for the disruption of institutionalized racism as it evolves today. The mission of IAAM is to honor the untold stories of the African American journey at the historically sacred site of Gadsden’s Wharf and beyond. For more information, please visit iaamuseum.org.

About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10.0 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Auto Finance, a division of TD Bank, N.A., offers vehicle financing and dealer commercial services. TD Bank and its subsidiaries also offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/TDBank_US/.

TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. This donation aligns with the TD Ready Commitment. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/tdreadycommitment.

TD Bank is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, a top 10 North American bank. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us.