The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls) is breaking barriers and building dreams. A leader in empowering Black girls and women in the South, the organization announced the launch of its new, innovative Dream Investment Program. The program is a groundbreaking initiative designed to support and elevate Black girl and woman entrepreneurs. This is developed in partnership with Kindred Futures (formerly Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative) and supported with a Kellogg Foundation grant. The initiative will provide 25 current and aspiring business owners with financial investment, business mentorship and entrepreneurial training and education.
Dream Investment Program
“Launching the Dream Investment Program is literally a dream come true,” says Southern Black Girls Visionary Founder, LaTosha Brown. “This program allows us to realize our mission of investing in the dreams of Black girls and women. Our work through this program will be a clear testament to our commitment to building a radical future. We will expand opportunities and create a supportive ecosystem. Black girl and women-owned businesses will thrive and be respected in the marketplace.”
Southern Black Girls is taking a bold step to address the opportunity gap. Program leaders recognize the persistent disparities in access to resources and opportunities for Black women entrepreneurs. The Dream Investment Program will equip participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to build sustainable and thriving businesses.
Partnering for the Dream Investment Program
“It was a natural next step to partner with the Southern Black Girls to launch the Dream Investment Program. We are not only providing financial resources but also fostering a community of support and mentorship, which we know is essential to strengthening the ecosystem,” adds Kim Addie, Vice President of Strategy & Impact for Kindred Futures. “We believe in the power of Black girls and women entrepreneurs to transform their communities and drive economic growth.”
Reports confirm that Black women and girls receive less than one percent of the $4.8 billion in philanthropic investments in the South. This data confirms that Black women and girls receive only 0.5 percent of $66.9 billion from foundations. This totals just $5.48 per woman and girl of color in the United States. The Southern Black Girls intends to raise $100 million over the next decade to financially empower the goals of Black girls and women. They already awarded $10.2M to 250 Black women-led organizations through the Black Girls Dream Fund. They have empowered 800 girls with $408,900 through the #BlackGirlJoy Challenge across 13 southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas and West Virginia.
The impact of the Dream Investment Program
The Dream Investment Program extends Southern Black Girls’ ongoing commitment to fostering economic empowerment and leadership development. This initiative activates the organization’s Innovation Fund grant cycle. This demonstrates the organization’s dedication to exploring new and innovative ways to support Black girls and women.
Interim Executive Director, Chanceé Lundy adds, “As a former business owner, I know firsthand the difficulty in obtaining resources to launch new ideas. It takes commitment to start and build a business. Through the launch of our Innovation Fund and the Dream Investment Program, we ensure Black girls and women are equipped with the resources they need to start and sustain a profitable, wealth-building business.”
Applications for the Dream Investment Program will be open from November 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024. We encourage interested entrepreneurs to visit www.southernblackgirls.org/dream-investment-program for more information and to apply.
For additional questions and inquiries about the Dream Investment Program, contact heygirlhey@southernblackgirls.org or call 678-310-8631.
About The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium
The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls) is a collective of Black women in philanthropy, activism and girls’ work. They hold deep roots in movement-building: LaTosha Brown (TruthSpeaks Innovation Foundation), Felecia Lucky (BlackBelt Community Foundation) and Alice Jenkins (Fund for Southern Communities). Established in 2017, Southern Black Girls has become a disruptor in grant-making. The organization acts as a catalyst to fundraise and provide greater resources toward underfunded organizations that, intentionally, support and empower Black girls and women in the south. The collective leads alongside a diverse array of grassroots and advocacy partners. All actively dedicate themselves to the mission and actively engage in this work across the region. 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 X.
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