FOUNDER’S REFLECTION: Celebrating 10 Years of BlackFemaleProject
As I reflect on 10 years of BlackFemaleProject, I swiftly move to gratitude for all of the people who’ve shared their stories, volunteered, donated, and supported. We wouldn’t be here without you, and we need your support now more than ever.
I started BlackFemaleProject because it was important to me to document our stories in real time, not 50 years later. I’ve grounded our research in a commitment to truth telling and the lived realities of the workplace experience for Black women of all ages.
BlackFemaleProject is a research-based organization that seeks to improve work environments and work experiences for everyone. We do this by listening to Black women because Black women’s professional toolkits include a combination of skills unlike anyone else. Given our heightened sensitivity to the complexity of what Black women navigate in their professional journeys, every touchpoint at BlackFemaleProject considers the healing journey and wellness of Black women. We collect data in nurturing and supportive settings, taking great care with those who choose to share their stories with us. Our collections are a resource for those who seek truth, inspiration, and motivation and our programming offers spaces for healing. As part of our strategic approach, we are purposefully positive and apply a truth-telling lens in our communications materials and other public-facing documents, reports, grant applications, and funder conversations.
Our beliefs are shaped by what we see and hear, and we make quick decisions about others based on what we believe to be true. The memories that we hold shape our understanding and the ways we experience the people and the world around us. When we learn more about one another through stories, we have a broader, more representative bank of stories to draw from, and that shapes and changes how we treat one another—generally for the better.
My personal theory of action, which has been realized through my professional endeavors, is the following: If our beliefs are shaped by the stories that we hold in our heads, then it is up to each of us to seek out the stories of others and to also share our own. To welcome more truth into our beliefs, we must take the step to listen to others' stories and—if we can gather up the courage it requires—to share our own stories.
BlackFemaleProject provides a powerful platform for transformational truth telling to happen. This year, we’ll launch a strategic planning process to set priorities and to explore what’s possible for BlackFemaleProject over the next 10 years. Along the way, even in the changing political landscape, we are seeking partners, angel investors, board members, and more! As we head into this next chapter, we invite your presence, your partnership, and your investment. Want to explore the possibilities? Reach out to me today at info@blackfemaleproject.org.
