I really like holidays! Not as a result of they’re a chance to collect with family and friends. Not due to all the nice meals it brings. Not for the spirit of giving. I largely love this time of 12 months as a result of it provides me an opportunity to mirror on the 12 months’s accomplishments and have the chance to decelerate and provides due to YOU. With out the assistance of our employees, contractors, interns, volunteers, program individuals, sponsors, companions, board members and different supporters such as you, we’d not be capable to present the mandatory psychological well being assets to the hundreds of Black girls and women we served this 12 months. What a 12 months WE’ve had!
I say WE, since you all performed a significant half in our applications’ success this 12 months. After I have a look again in any respect we’ve got achieved: from our hearth chat with Pulitzer Prize successful creator Alice Walker, to our Black Women are Magic convention, to our Sisterhood Summit, and ending with a highlight on the “TODAY Present” digital neighborhood platform for the work we do to help younger Black girls and women to point out up as their genuine selves on the planet—I’m in awe. We’ve got way more in retailer for subsequent 12 months.
Subsequent 12 months, Black Women Smile plans to place our program providers in some of the influential locations in our individuals’ emotional growth—the classroom. We may also be launching our Suicide Prevention Program with proceeds from the Morgan Stanley Innovation Award. Lastly, we are going to proceed to evaluate the gaps in psychological well being service accessibility and construct on our applications to fill these deficiencies.
The vacations are additionally a time to mirror on these which can be not with us. With the latest rise of suicidal ideations amongst Black girls and women we all know our work just isn’t performed. We should proceed to assist our neighborhood reverse the stigma of in search of psychological well being providers. We should encourage in search of these providers on the preventive as a substitute of the disaster stage. Lastly, we should help with eradicating among the different challenges, equivalent to financial restrictions, to help with service affordability. Though we’ve got our work lower out for us, we’re up for the problem—Black girls and women are price it!
Wishing you all a Joyful Holidays and affluent New Yr!
Black Women Smile Founder and Govt Director
