Generational poverty can impact families and communities beyond the apparent financial struggle — there are psychological, educational, health and environmental effects. Black communities suffer from generational poverty at alarmingly high rates.

The official poverty rate of the U.S. Black population reached a historic low of 17.1% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, yet an unequal percentage of Black Americans still battle the effects of generational poverty as the official poverty rate for the country that year was 11.5%.

Tiara Green hopes to make a difference in the Richmond area by raising awareness about health disparities in Black and brown communities while uplifting Black artists and the financial value of black art. Her unconventional approach closes the gap on health disparities and uplifts Black art and artists.

“My husband is an artist, and I’m in the health field, so I’m very aware of the issues in the black community,” Green said. “We are marrying our passions.”

Their nonprofit, Liberated Arts Foundation, hosts an annual gala to raise money for organizations battling health disparities in Black communities. Since the Liberal Arts Foundation was formed in 2022, they’ve donated to four organizations.

Sankofa Community Orchard, an organization that provides healthy food in food desserts, is a past recipient. St. Luke’s Legacy Center, whose initiatives and programs deal with generational trauma in the Black community, is another. Organizations like the Nerd Squad and the Black History Museum, also recipients of the fundraising efforts of the Liberated Arts Foundation, promote education.

“We target organizations that have difficulty getting funding and those that are not getting the recognition they deserve,” Green said. “We look for artists of color because they are underrepresented in art.”

Green and her husband also want to increase awareness of the importance of Black artists and the monetary value Black art holds.

The Liberated Arts Foundation makes a call for artists each year, offering artists of color a venue to display their work.

They look for artists whose work reflects the theme for the year and, after a rigorous selection process, the artists display their art at the foundation’s annual gala. This year, the artists’ works will be on display for a month after the gala at the Black History Museum.

Green, a New York native, came to Richmond in 2002 to attend Virginia Commonwealth University. She met her husband, got married and decided to settle here to raise their family.

“It’s a great place to raise a family,” Green said. “I didn’t want to go any further South, and he didn’t want to go any further North.”

Between her demanding career, running a nonprofit, and raising two boys, Green relishes her downtime.

“I love ‘me’ time, and I will take a day off,” she said. “ I can sit in solitude to decompress. I’ll go to the spa, the movies, or a restaurant to be alone.”

Meet the health industry professional making a difference in her community while promoting artists of color and this week’s Personality, Tiara Green:

Volunteer position: Co-founder and board president of Liberated Arts Foundation.

Occupation: President at Accessia Health.

Date and place of birth: July 17, Long Island, N.Y.

Where I live now: Chesterfield.

Education: Bachelor’s in exercise science with a concentration in community health education from VCU and a master’s in education health promotions from Virginia Tech.

Family: Husband, local artist David Marion, and two boys, Caleb and Aiden.

The Liberated Arts Foundation is: We are a Virginia-based nonprofit rooted in community and art. Each year, the organization focuses on a different health or educational need in the community and curates an art exhibition to create awareness.

Mission: Through art and art-related fundraising events, Liberated Arts Foundation supports the arts, art education, and nonprofit organizations focused on health and education.

When and why founded: The organization was founded in 2022. However, the work began in 2019 when we hosted our first gala. The goal was to combine my husband’s and my passion for art and community. Through this philanthropic endeavor, we hope to be a catalyst for change in the community using the gift of art.

Why the Liberated Arts Foundation is meaningful to me: It is a labor of love — love for community, health and art.

No. 1 goal and strategy as board president: Partner with community-based organizations to enhance their missions through art while educating minority communities on the impact of art.

Biggest challenge: Spreading awareness about our organization. 

Why is it vital for people tohave access to art: Art is a powerful tool that can be used as a form of expression, healing and social change. While it holds monetary value, its significance for Black and brown communities extends beyond finance, fostering cultural identity and empowerment.

How to get involved with the Liberated Arts Foundation: Attend our events, volunteer and donate to support our efforts. Our partners: This year, we are proud to recognize FeedTheStreets RVA and HomeAgain for their tireless work in the community, ensuring that those who are homeless or on the brink of such have access to needed resources.

Upcoming events and details: Our 5th Annual Liberated Flow Charity Art Gala, “Threads of Humanity: The Art of Survival,” on Dec. 7, at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture from 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at liberatedfoundationgala.eventbrite.com.

How I start the day: Every day begins with prayer, a fresh mindset and the thought that the best is yet to come.

The three words that best describe me: Caring, driven, intentional.

Best late-night snack: A bowl of cereal. 

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I love gardening. 

A quote that inspires me: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.” — Marianne Williamson.

The best thing my parents taught me: The power of support — growing up, I witnessed them pour into others, and over time this became part of who I am.

Most influential person: My college professor Joanne Richardson.

Most influential book: “Dare to Lead” by Brene Brown.

Next goal: Grow the Liberated Arts Foundation and provide education on the value of Black art.