Prior to leading Queen City Forward, he served as the education director of The Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography and Film. He serves on Charlotte’s Arts and Culture Advisory Board; is Vice Chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Board of Trustees; is an active member of New Generation of African American Philanthropists (NGAAP) giving circle; and serves on the board of the Joshua Project, a rites of passage program for young men. Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University. He lives in Charlotte with his wife, Micaila Milburn, and their three sons.
You have a background as a photographer and entrepreneur. How does being an enterprising creative influence your current work in philanthropy?
My background as a businessowner and photographer suits my work now because grantmaking is highly entrepreneurial—seeing possibilities, seizing opportunities, taking risks. As a funder, I must explore creative solutions to some wicked and challenging problems. And as with artists and photographers, there's a lot of relationship building. It’s important to get to know the leaders and organizations serving the community. These are all elements that translate from my other endeavors and help me in the work that I do in philanthropy.
Having an appreciation for artists has also been influential because part of Knight Foundation’s grantmaking is in the arts sector. I’ve been an artist who has received grants and been denied grants, which gives me a certain level of empathy and understanding with artists and creatives as grantees. That connection also carries over with organizations working in other sectors.
You work at Knight Foundation with colleagues working in communities across the country. What's something other cities are doing that you'd like to see in Charlotte? And what's something in Charlotte that your colleagues would like to see in their cities?
My colleagues across the country are learning from the work in Charlotte around the idea of relational philanthropy, trust-based philanthropy, how to approach grantmaking with a lens towards equity. They also are learning the importance of understanding the systems that are having an impact on the work that we do. My colleagues are seeing a possibility in Charlotte that I hope has an impact in some of the other Knight cities. I know that Detroit has been directly influenced by our work in Charlotte.
Conversely, Detroit has some things I would like to see more of in Charlotte. I wish we had more community-based organizations in Charlotte. That is, community development corporations (CDCs) or community development financial institutions (CDFIs). I see that other communities have a neighborhood-based infrastructure that helps carry the voice of residents and influence development in their community.
Organizing is another element that I'd like to see more of in Charlotte. Community organizing and the professionalization of organizing, that's something I see in cities like Durham and Chicago that have a longer history of organizing. I think that would be a tremendous help for our city and our state.
And then the other area is around what I'm learning from San Jose, where I’m currently working as the interim program director. The City of San Jose is on the cutting edge around equity, digital services, digital engagement, and privacy in data. I’d love to see that level of thinking and innovation around integrating technology and maintaining resident privacy in our city government.
What's your happy place and why?
My happy place is…let's see…really, it's my bedroom. My bed is a very happy place for me to regroup and gather energy. It’s the place where I read, reflect, meditate, do a little exercising, practice yoga. I also enjoy taking walks. We have a green area in our backyard, an old, abandoned golf course, so I enjoy walking and being in nature. My aspirational happy place is fishing. I say that because I don't get to do it enough. I'd love to do more fly fishing in the next year.
You're a native Charlottean, what's one insight you'd offer to a newcomer wanting to get civically engaged?
We have several leadership programs in Charlotte. Leadership Charlotte is a great way to know what's happening and to build connections with 40 or 50 class members. Community Building Initiative and its Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) also provides great opportunities to get connected and in the know. Involvement with the Arts and Science Council (ASC) is also advised because it provides solid board training for folks interested in serving on a board. And while they may be boring at times, City Council and County Commissioner meetings are where you can really hear what's happening in the community.
What motivates you to do the work you do?
What motivates me to do this work—at Knight Foundation, with NGAAP (New Generation of African American Philanthropists), and some of the men's work that I do around rites of passage—is all based upon how I grew up in Charlotte. I grew up with a single mom in a community that had fewer resources than most. I went to a good high school with teachers who cared about me and guidance counselors who looked out for me. In essence, my work centers on building pathways for young men who look like me and who may start out with a lack of resources. I work to build paths and ladders for these young men and others to find themselves and to realize the dream they have for their life.
The systemic inequities in our education system are also a motivation. It feels like we are leaving behind a lot of people in the U.S and in Charlotte. We would be a stronger nation if we provided high-quality education to all children, particularly Black and brown children who often lack the access. We are leaving behind entrepreneurs, inventors, contributors to our society, because we are not a focused on and committed to all children. There's such an opportunity to grow Black social and financial capital that would add to the U.S., economically, socially and politically, making us one of the best countries in the world. We're leaving that on the table. These are the things that motivate me to work to advance my community.
