This group believes Black women discover energy inside their entry to area and time.

Natalie Collier is the creator of The Lighthouse | Black Ladies Initiatives, a company the place she offers an intimate area of assist and security for Black women and girls.

In keeping with Good Morning America, The Lighthouse makes use of a holistic method to the management growth of Black women and girls, overseeing areas corresponding to elementary academic packages, camps, and funding scientific analysis.

“We need to curate areas of security and solidarity,” Collier mentioned. “Southern Black girls particularly, I believe, are trailblazers in numerous methods, that individuals don’t usually contemplate.”

Angela Grayson, the director of advocacy and organizing at The Lighthouse, mentioned the group does numerous work round constructive programming. “So the issues that we assist girls to empower themselves are the instruments that we give them to have an effect on change,” Grayson mentioned, noting the significance of conducting analysis concerning points that have an effect on Black girls.

She shared how analysis at The Lighthouse enabled an understanding that ladies want postpartum Medicaid protection. “Girls want that protection for as much as a 12 months as a result of girls have been dying in what is named the fourth trimester. We have been on the Capitol reminding legislators that we’re the info. Take heed to us. We all know what we would like and want,” Grayson mentioned.

“We do issues that create a legacy for Black girls to stroll behind us, for Black women to know that there are locations of security and solidarity for them that they’ll relaxation, they are often highly effective, they’ll converse fact to energy, no matter they need to do,” she added.

Cristy Craig and Raquel Thomas each participated within the school fellowship program supplied by The Lighthouse. This system contains serving to college students discover journey alternatives, paid internships, peer assist, and extra. Craig mentioned it carried her mentally and financially as she transitioned into maturity. “They are going to discover a approach by way of their community to align us with individuals who will make our visions come true,” Thomas shared.