When the Rainbow Is Not Enough: A Powerful Call to Invest in the Well-being of Black Women and Girls
Media Contact:
Divendra Jaffar, [email protected]
OAK BLUFFS, MA – August 16, 2024 – Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) and Grantmakers for Girls of Color’s (G4GC) Black Girl Freedom Fund hosted an impactful and transformative panel discussion, titled “When the Rainbow Is Not Enough: The Imperative of Investing in Black Women and Girls’ Well-being.” This event, held at the Strand Theatre in Oak Bluffs, brought together an engaging crowd of attendees, including distinguished leaders and trailblazers across various industries, to shine a spotlight on the critical need to invest in the mental health and well-being of Black women, girls, and gender non-conforming youth.
Key discussions focused on the unique mental health challenges faced by Black girls, women, and gender-expansive youth, highlighting the need for inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ Black youth. Emphasis was placed on the urgent necessity of substantial investments in organizations that offer tailored mental health programs for Black women and girls. Additionally, success stories were shared by attendees that have successfully overcome barriers to accessing essential resources and support.
Event Highlights:
- Dr. Tia Dole, Chief 988 Lifeline Officer at Vibrant Emotional Health, underscored the importance of culturally responsive mental health resources and the pivotal role of the 988 Lifeline in offering crisis care tailored to the needs of marginalized communities.
- Dr. Monique Couvson, President and CEO of Grantmakers for Girls of Color (G4GC), spoke passionately about the necessity of mobilizing philanthropic efforts to support girls and gender-expansive youth of color.
- Ledisi, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, Berklee Professor and Graduate, shared deeply personal insights on the significance of mental health support in the arts, culminating in a powerful performance that resonated with the audience.
- Shaun Robinson, Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, activist, and event MC, brought her expertise as an activist and founder of the S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls, adding depth to the discussion with her advocacy for girls’ empowerment.
Lesleigh Irish-Underwood, Chief External Affairs Officer and Head of Brand at Vibrant Emotional Health kicked off the panel discussion by highlighting the critical importance of the partnership with G4GC. Ledisi captured the essence of the event with a poignant reminder: “In times of crisis, we are often told to secure our own life jacket before helping others. This serves as a crucial reminder to prioritize our well-being so that we can uplift and support those around us.”
“Young people tell us what they need, and when they are dysregulated, or in their deepest moments of crisis, they need safe spaces,” said Dr. Monique Couvson, who is co-founder of the #1Billion4BlackGirls campaign, an award-winning author and President of G4GC. “These healing spaces must be real, not performative; and they need to simultaneously address both the structures and the individuals needing wellness.”
We extend our deepest gratitude to Ledisi, Shaun Robinson, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for their sponsorship and invaluable partnership. Their contributions were instrumental in creating a platform that celebrates the strength, wisdom, and leadership of Black women, girls, and gender non-conforming youth while addressing the unique challenges they face in accessing specialized mental health resources.
To learn more about Vibrant Emotional Health, visit vibrant.org, and to support the brilliance of Black girls and gender non-conforming youth, follow the #1Billion4BlackGirls campaign.
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About Vibrant Emotional Health
Vibrant Emotional Health is a non-profit organization that helps individuals and families achieve emotional well-being. For over 55 years, our groundbreaking solutions have delivered high-quality services and support when, where, and how people need it. We offer confidential emotional support through our state-of-the-art contact center and crisis hotline services that use leading-edge telephone, text, and web-based technologies, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Disaster Distress Helpline, Veterans Crisis Line, and NFL Life Line. Through our community wellness programs, individuals and families obtain the support and skills they need to thrive. Our advocacy and education initiatives promote mental well-being as a social responsibility. We help millions of people live healthier and more vibrant lives yearly. We’re advancing access, dignity, and respect for all and revolutionizing the system for good. Visit vibrant.org. Follow Vibrant on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
About Grantmakers for Girls of Color (G4GC):
Fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Grantmakers for Girls* of Color (G4GC) works to mobilize resources and amplify transformative organizing work to dismantle systems of oppression led by girls, femmes and gender-expansive youth of Color. Grantmakers for Girls of Color openly invites partners and stakeholders to co-create an inclusive space in support of girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth of Color across programmatic issues and geographic areas. The Black Girl Freedom Fund is an initiative of G4GC. Learn more by visiting G4GC.org and follow BGFF on Instagram.
The #1Billion4BlackGirls campaign, which was launched in 2020 by eight Black women and femme leaders in activism, academia, the arts, and philanthropy, calls on individual and institutional funders to invest $1 billion in Black girl-serving organizations, who are consistently underfunded. Grantmakers for Girls of Color (home of the Black Girl Freedom Fund), the Ms. Foundation for Women, and Southern Black Girls’ and Women’s Consortium are each playing a critical intermediary role, raising funds and distributing grants to Black-girl serving organizations throughout the country.
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