The modern world is full of extremes. As we witness and experience drastic political, social, and environmental crises, we continue to be surrounded by beautiful examples of love, resistance, and hope.

In our world, Black women are a total standard of excellence. The style, the grace, the melanin, the beauty! But the wider world we live in doesn’t always see it the same way. External projections and false narratives often try to position Black women in a less favorable light rather than acknowledging and honoring our natural state of glory.

One of the core reasons that Precious Stroud started BlackFemaleProject was to offer guidance and insights for younger Black women, in hopes that they’ll be better prepared to navigate their professional journeys. While we all have to learn our own preferences and limitations through experience, many of us would have benefited from more transparent information about what patterns we might encounter.

We all have varied levels of comfort speaking up. For some of us, it requires a serious pep talk to psych ourselves up to be comfortable sharing what’s really on our minds. For others, it’s second nature and often the easier alternative to keeping our thoughts to ourselves. Many of us likely fall somewhere between these two extremes, and no matter what our general comfort level is, different contexts and situations can impact how prone we are to speak up in any given moment.

BlackFemaleProject emerged organically in response to the pervasive and systemic barriers that Black women face in conventional workplaces. This system was not designed with our well-being in mind. Unless we’re stepping into spaces that were designed by us and for us, there’s a good chance we’ll face circumstances and institutionalized oppressions intended to discourage us and lead us to reconsider our paths. Sometimes, that reconsideration might be just what we need. But what’s crucial is that we’re able to make our own decisions about what we want rather than allowing the system to strip us of our agency and lead us astray.

As human beings in general—and especially as Black women—we have the gift of endless examples of those who came before us overcoming the most dire of circumstances, guided by faith in something greater than the here and now. We don’t take for granted what it means for our ancestors to have stayed the course through adversity so that we could have the opportunity to live.

Many of us experience the feeling of being expected to dim our light in order to fit in or get along. At BlackFemaleProject, we believe that compromising our authenticity in this way is not only a disservice to ourselves, but also to our community and the world around us. Think about an orchestra. It’s the variety and distinctness among the different instruments that creates the beauty, depth, and richness of the music. Imagine what an orchestra full of one instrument or playing only one note would sound like. Harmony is beautiful, and only truly arises from cooperation among difference…

BlackFemaleProject came to be in response to our Founder’s experience of workplace stress leading to physical sickness. Over the past 10 years, we’ve learned that far too many Black women across industries have similar stories.

Does this strike a chord for you? If so, what are your plans for keeping yourself healthy as you achieve your professional goals? If not, what strategies have worked for you to maintain a sense of balance amidst the demands of life? Like our dear friend Dr. Phyllis Hubbard, we believe that any symptoms or challenges we encounter contain within them information that can help us find more alignment…

As we come off a blissful Black History Month, full of refreshing opportunities to connect with our growing community, we are so present to the unstoppable power of Black women. We’re incredibly grateful to be inspired on the regular by a diverse network of Black women of various professions, generations, interests, and identities. Whether we find commonalities or differences, this vast network helps us tap into a sense of belonging and become more fully ourselves.

Questions of sameness and difference are so often oversimplified. We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that, as Black women, we inevitably share perspectives and inclinations.

Checkout the wellness resources we’ve found for a more connected and balanced January.

Questions of sameness and difference are so often oversimplified. We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that, as Black women, we inevitably share perspectives and inclinations.

As the season of coming together, acting generously, and expressing gratitude continues, we’re feeling especially grateful for the Black women who came before us—the women whose stories continue to serve as lamp posts as we navigate our own journeys.

Whatever space we step into, Black women bring our unique and innovative flair along with us. We’re known for crafting creative solutions and figuring out how to call in abundance when resources seem limited.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of working with BlackFemaleProject is the ways our work culture embodies the values we emphasize through our programming and communications. We know that the best way to inspire the women in our network to believe in a different kind of work life is to model it ourselves.

All people deserve to have relationships, networks, and workplace environments where they feel comfortable being themselves. For Black women in particular, the importance of identifying spaces where we can show up and add value without dimming or contorting ourselves is vital. As we’re rarely granted the grace to be our full, glorious selves without consequence, BlackFemaleProject curates the spaces we need, and we invite other women to join us in finding refuge.

There seems to always be an abundance of messages coming at us in terms of how we should show up in the world. In this context, where there are perceived rewards for adhering to social expectations and norms, it takes intentional effort to operate from our own centers.

In our hemisphere of the globe, summer is a warm and vibrant time. The cold of winter fades into the background and it becomes easier to connect to a sense of brightness and boldness.

What lessons can we gain from a flower fully in bloom? What can we learn from its brightness, boldness, and openness? How can we reflect the way its presence can elevate the spirits of all who witness it?

Just as our houseplants require certain conditions in order to grow and thrive, so do we! Have you given thought lately to the elements of your environment that are within your control? Allow the beautifully blooming reminders all around at this time of year to help you stay grounded in self-care so that you, too, can flourish as your most authentic self.