There are quite a few worthy causes out there for women of color. Two in particular are the Black & Missing Foundation and Black Girls Rock! Inc.. On May 25th, Black & Missing sponsored a 5k walk/run called, “Hope Without Boundaries.” And, many prominent figures in the black community were there including Michael Baisden, Jacque Reid, our own “Shining” inductee, Michaela Angela Davis, and Beverly Bond. The event, though it saw little widespread press, was meant to give back to the black community. So, we are featuring it here to spotlight “Giving” opportunities, organizations, and events for women of color.
The Black & Missing Foundation, Inc. (BAM FI) was started in 2008. According to their site, their mission is to “bring awareness to missing persons of color; provide vital resources and tools to missing person’s families and friends and to educate the minority community on personal safety.” This need was born out of their desire to provide comparable coverage of missing persons as compared to non-black victims. Though this issue seems difficult to talk about, they have been courageous in taking it head on, providing support to families of missing children and visibility to victims in need.
Black Girls Rock!, most recognizable by its annual show on BET, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headed by Beverly Bond. Serving young black women primarily in the Bronx area of New York, the organization seeks to combat negative images of black women by teaching young girls about self-worth. Similar to The Worth Campaign, Black Girls Rock! Uses outreach and community activism to address self-esteem and image issues for our next generation of black female leaders. Primarily focused on the arts, Black Girls Rock has also connected with Proctor and Gamble’s “My Black is Beautiful” Campaign to release a documentary this summer chronicling a young black girls struggle with race, image, and acceptance. The organization’s prominence is a wonderful thing for other nonprofits serving communities of color.
These two groups provide vital services to the black community. The well attended fundraiser, taking place in Fort Washington, Maryland, featured Jacque Reid as the Mistress of Ceremonies, and many stars had the opportunity to come out and show their support. The hope is that events like this one continue on and grow in the coming years.
Still, the lack of press coverage this vital event received is very concerning. It was neither televised nor reported on by many press outlets. Even with highly sought after support from celebrities like Baisden and Reid, the event saw little widespread attention.
In all, the goal for these types of partnerships is a mutual one. As one grows, so do the others. And, as these groups continue to gain notoriety it is almost certain that imperative events like this one will gain as well. The Worth Campaign is similar to these groups, each one serving this vast community in its own way. Each one worthwhile. Let’s get the word out on giving within this community so that others will be inspired to follow the same just example.
