Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, Pete and Thomas Foundation Highlight Winners of #BlackGirlJoyChallenge Focused on Mental Health and Wellness
Special cycle of the #BlackGirlJoyChallenge ignites a movement that supports and celebrates mental health and wellness through the simple, yet powerful, act of spreading JOY!
WATCH THE RECAP OF THE #BLACKGIRLJOYCHALLENGE CAMPAIGN HERE
“One important revelation that has come from the work that we do is that JOY is a powerful catalyst for positive change,” shares Southern Black Girls Executive Director,
The #BlackGirlJoyChallenge was created by Southern Black Girls to introduce the concept of JOY as a vital component of mental health and self-care for young girls. The initiative is open to eligible applicants residing in the 13-state region within the southern
Applicants are required to describe their ideas for spreading joy with their communities for a chance to receive the monetary award. Once the submission period has ended, all applications are evaluated by the Southern Black Girls Youth Ambassadors and
Previous awardees have organized a plethora of impactful events, including a drive-in movie experience during the pandemic, launched a program addressing period poverty, implemented a robotics teams for Black girls, hosted salon party to teach proper hair care and cool styling/braiding techniques, held a special “Paint Night” party to find joy through art, gathered support for a park restoration so that children have a clean and safe environment to play in, distributed “Blessing Bags” to unhoused people in need, and so much more!
WATCH A FEW OF OUR WINNERS IN ACTION!
ZaNaria Bowen
Age 24,
ZaNaria created a #BlackGirlJoy Mental Health and Wellness Book Fair Extravaganza for her #BlackGirlJoyChallenge. The exciting event took place at a local
Watch ZaNaria’s JOY story HERE!
Milan’s #BlackGirlJoyChallenge was the perfect tee-up for transformation. She hosted the “Winning When You Play Golf: How to Overcome Overthinking & Performance Anxiety When Golfing” half-day golf summit that was designed for physical wellness and the journey of resilience and self-discovery. After facing the intense anxiety of almost losing her mother to COVID-19, this winner found solace on the golf course, so she created the event to not only share her story, but to also help others overcome the same debilitations through yoga and mobility stretches, deep breathing techniques to calm nerves, and insights on preparing healthy snacks to support your wellness.
Mila’s #BlackGirlJoyChallenge proved to be a heartwarming initiative with a mission to deliver hope and support. With a vision of developing a non-profit organization called MH Boxes, Mila set out to deliver special boxes filled with comfort and care to Black girls admitted to mental health facilities. These thoughtful boxes contained an array of items that have provided solace and encouragement during her own mental health journey, such as fidget toys, model magic, journals, and positive messages. Starting with the VCU treatment center, where she found support, this #BlackGirlJoyChallenge experience not only provided tangible comfort, but also empowered Black girls to voice their mental health journeys and inspire hope in others facing similar challenges.
Kristin’s #BlackGirlJoyChallenge was designed to host mental health days at local libraries in her
For a full list of current winners and more details about the #BlackGirlJoyChallenge grant initiative, contact [email protected], or call 334-694-8546 ext. 102.
For more information on the work and impact of the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, visit www.SouthernBlackGirls.org, or follow @SouthernBlackGirls on Facebook, and Instagram and @BlackGirlsDream on Twitter.
ABOUT THE SOUTHERN BLACK GIRLS AND WOMEN’S CONSORTIUM
The Southern Black Girls & Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls) is coordinated entirely by a community of Black women in philanthropy, activism and girls’ work, who hold deep roots in movement-building throughout the southeast. The partnership recognizes their critical role and the importance of centering the lived experiences and leadership of those most impacted by deep-seated injustices. SBGWC consists of four anchor institutions including the Appalachian Community Fund, the Black Belt Community Fund, the Fund for Southern Communities and TruthSpeaks Innovation Foundation. For more information, visit: www.southernblackgirls.org, or follow @SouthernBlackGirls on Facebook and Instagram, and @BlackGirlsDream on X.
ABOUT THE PETE & THOMAS FOUNDATION
The Pete and Thomas Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded by
MEDIA CONTACTS:
[email protected], 770-709-1509
[email protected], 214-403-9852
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SOURCE Southern Black Girls And Women’s Consortium
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