Although Essence Music Festival is known as a huge star-studded event with great music and fabulous parties, there are also some great things happening at the event. Proctor & Gamble’s My Black is Beautiful (MBIB) collaborated with Black Girls Rock! (BGR!) and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to start an initiative called “Imagine A Future”. The program’s mission is to positively impact the lives of one million black girls over the next three years.
During a time where young black girls are battling with self esteem and their image, Imagine A Future will be tackling issues dealing with black beauty and its influences, including people, fashion, music, education, and pop culture. Over the weekend, the program started with a bang, distributing several book awards totaling $3,000 to black female students in New Orleans where the festival took place. There’s also a $5,000 merit scholarship up for grabs and another $5,000 check was written to the program Girl Up NOLA.
“The Imagine a Future initiative is right in line with our mission to give African American students a fighting chance to succeed both academically and personally,” said Dr. Michael Lomax, President and CEO, UNCF. “We truly believe in creating strong minds, and we know the emotional health of our students is also a key success measure for them as they enter the post-college world. It is with great enthusiasm that we partner with Black Girls Rock!, as well as My Black is Beautiful to offer solutions for girls so they can become self-sustaining, happy leaders.”
“At Black Girls Rock!, we are committed to youth empowerment, mentorship and the positive portrayal of black girls and women in media,” said Beverly Bond, founder and executive director, Black Girls Rock! “We’re so excited to take the Black Girls Rock! movement to the next level by collaborating with both My Black is Beautiful and UNCF. Together, we will reach and broaden the lives of black girls through enriching educational opportunities as well as uplifting once-in-a-life time experiences that help give our girls a sense of pride, purpose and possibilities.”
These 3 organizations combined look like they’re going to certainly make a huge different when it comes to black girls and how they view themselves in such a positive light. What do you think about this new initiative?
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