The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium is awarding $350,000 in grants to 24 community organizations working across 13 Southern states. These grants are intended to support organizations addressing critical challenges faced by underserved Black women and girls, including maternal health, prevention of gender-based violence, and educational support.
The funding initiative coincides with the consortium’s summer "Joy and Justice" tour, a series of community building activities, resource drives, and festivals held in nine cities. Many of the tour stops are scheduled at schools and community centers in predominantly Black neighborhoods. One event is planned at the Virginia Capitol in conjunction with state agency leaders promoting diversity within the state government.
Chanceé Lundy, executive director of the Southern Black Girls Consortium, stated that many organizations focused on underserved communities are experiencing funding shortages. "We’ve seen this retrenchment in philanthropy, and people are not putting resources on the ground," Lundy said. "Organizations are struggling, and we want to make sure that people know that we see them. We value the work that we’re doing, and we want to be able to help fill some of the gaps that they are experiencing."
LaTosha Brown, a co-founder of the organization and voting rights activist, noted that the current political climate presents challenges for these groups. "We’re being punished for who we are," Brown said. She added that Black women’s historical involvement in liberal politics has made them a