Join us for a free holistic 4-day virtual experience for
Black women transitioning from high school to college
August 10-13, 2023
What happens when you get the support you need, exactly when you need it, from people who have been there before?
You get us: The Black Feminist Freshman Orientation—aka the BFFO. It’s 4 days of affirmation, community, support and sisterhood. Centering you.
Our Intention
The intention behind the BFFO is to provide guidance, support, and love to those who will soon be experiencing the many changes that come with adapting to college.
Topics such as Time Management, Balancing Responsibilities, Building Relationships in College, Black Feminism, Scholarships + Financial Planning, Knowing Your Body, Mental Health, Black Power on College Campuses, and more will be explored through workshops led by Black women with lived experiences and expertise in these subjects.
This is the second installation of the Black Feminist Freshman Orientation and follows a successful pilot year that took place in 2020.
We know that Black women deserve support, and we’re looking forward to offering it with deep care and intention. We look forward to meeting this year’s cohort, learning about them, and loving on them. If you’d like to learn more, please see below.
Vision Casting
Imagine a nourishing space exclusively curated to support the development of young Black women.
Imagine that this same space is rooted in collective care, support, and affirmation.
The space is held virtually, as to account for the global pandemic happening to and around us. There is smiling. There is laughter. Each person brings their full, authentic self, because they know all are welcome.
Imagine that the young folks in transition are given the space to ask their questions. No question is too silly. Nothing is off the table. They bring it all, sometimes with shyness, but it is all brought.
Imagine this space being led by the voices of Black women, because we know what we’re talking about. And these people have been gathered with the specific intention of observing and offering guidance for the initiatory phase that the young people are soon to walk into.
Imagine that the young people meet each other, smile, and learn to relate. They call each other sister (or friend), and stay in touch forever.
Now imagine the young people being checked on regularly. They’ll have people committed for the year. To call on for support. To check on them. To continue the love that has been created in the space.
Stop imagining…
The space has arrived
Support for a New Chapter
Transitioning into college brings new challenges, new expectations, and new responsibilities…
and it allows people the space to explore who they really are.
Many first year students feel alone and often face these challenges without the support of an affirming community. The Black Feminist Freshman Orientation says no more!
We look to the leadership of Black Feminist thinkers, writers, and waymakers who have for decades used gathering together as a portal for healing and progress.
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We understand the importance of culturally relevant and meaningful support.
The kind that doesn't go anywhere. We recognize college as an initiatory phase that does not have to be isolating.
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We understand that there are a lot of unknowns when people enter new life stages.
We know they should be made aware of their options, they should know what's expected of them, and they should experience abundant love.
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We know that everything is better with community.
We have gathered the voices of many to speak life and lessons over 30 young people positioned to enter their first year of college.
Toni Morrison said, “the function of freedom is to free somebody else.”
We know that to attend college in 2023 is a privilege that many will not see. The function of the BFFO is to support attendees so that they are equipped to recognize their freedom, claim it for themselves, and use it to free someone else.
Join us for BFFO '23
We’re Creating a Space that centers and supports young Black women through major life transitions.
The Details
We’ll spend 4 transformational days together.
What: The Black Feminist Freshman Orientation will take place over four consecutive days filled with holistic enrichment curated to support young Black adults in transition. The core of the BFFO are 1-hour interactive workshops covering the topics below—all with the explicit intention of showing the attendees what is possible and what is to come.
When: We’ll begin in the evening on Thursday, August 10th and will end in the afternoon on Sunday, August 13th.
Where: The orientation will take place virtually on Zoom.
What to Bring: Computer (or smartphone) and internet access, a journal for note taking, a pen for writing, comfortable clothing, water, snacks, an open heart, and your full self are all that are necessary to participate in the orientation.
You Will Learn About
DTime Management
KBalancing Responsibilities
aBuilding Relationships in College
W Black Feminism
1 Knowing Your Body
4Scholarships + Financial Planning
UBlack Power on College Campuses
yMental Health and Healing
Your (Free) Admission Includes
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Access to all BFFO Activities
Attendees will have exclusive access to all the workshops, Q&A Sessions, monthly workshops and more!
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Exclusive Access to Workshop Recordings
During the year, you may find that you’d like to revisit a moment from the BFFO. Recordings will be available to BFFO attendees only.
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Follow Up Reading Material
Attendees will have access to follow-up reading material about Black Feminism and other relevant topics.
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Access to BFFO Staff Throughout the School Year
We’ll be here for you, checking on you throughout the year. If you need something, we’ll do our best to support you.
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Monthly Check-Ins Throughout the School Year
Each month BFFO Staff will host Check-Ins throughout the school year with your cohort. Check-ins will consist of relevant workshops and informal sessions to catch up.
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Surprise Goodies
Attendees can look forward to some surprises throughout the year. We can’t tell you what this will look like yet because it would ruin the surprise!
Our Schedule
Workshops each last 1 hour. We’ve carefully and intentionally planned each day of orientation to include time for lunch and rest in the schedule. A more detailed schedule with additional workshop details will be shared with attendees after they’ve signed up.
Day 1: Welcome!
Thursday, August 10
4:30pm – 6:00pm EST
Plus, an (optional) informal Q&A session from 8:30pm – 10pm EST
During this session, all attendees will be properly welcomed and given the tools they need to be successful over the next several days. We will review the tech logistics of the program, set some collective intentions for our time together, and use breakout sessions to start building relationships between the cohort. In the evening, we’ll host an extremely informal session for attendees to chat, ask questions, and get to know each other.
Day 2: First Day of Orientation
Friday, August 11
11am – 4pm EST
Plus, an (optional) informal Q&A session from 8:30pm – 10pm EST
No need to be nervous :) Participants will attend two workshops in the morning and one in the afternoon. There will be a break for lunch. In the evening, we’ll host another extremely informal session for attendees to chat, ask questions, and get to know each other.
Day 3: Second Day of Orientation
Saturday, August 12
11am – 4pm EST
Participants will attend two workshops in the morning and one in the afternoon. There will be a break for lunch.
Day 4: Last Day, Let’s Celebrate!
Sunday, August 13
11am – 4pm EST
Participants will attend two workshops in the morning. There will be a break for lunch. We will end our 4-day experience with a closing ceremony, lots of computer love, well wishes, and see-you-laters for our attendees.
Plus: Throughout the School Year
We’ll host one monthly session on various topics throughout the school year to remain connected. Attendees will select the topics of the sessions.
Testimonials
FAQ
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We welcome all college-bound Black women who feel drawn to be in this community and who want to make a positive impact on the world to join us.
At this time, only those who have completed their senior year of high school and are in transition to college will be able to participate.
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They will leave BFFO feeling seen, supported, prepared, and loved, things that Black women can never get enough of! They will leave having experienced the community of sisterhood that is absolutely needed but often non-existent in Western culture.
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The tentative schedule for BFFO as follows:
Thursday, August 10th:
4:30pm – 6:00pm EST
with optional informal Q&A session from 8:30pm – 10pm ESTFriday, August 11th:
11am EST – 4pm EST
with optional informal Q&A session from 8:30pm – 10pm ESTSaturday, August 12th:
11am – 4pm ESTSunday, August 13th:
11am – 4pm ESTWorkshops will each last 1 hour. Time for lunch and rest have been included in the schedule.
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Think: slumber party, very chill, informal time to get to know other BFFO attendees, ask any questions and/or talk through anything. Nothing is off limits. :)
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Please see above. :)
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Yes, the workshops will be recorded for attendees who cannot attend each session. The recordings should not be shared with anyone who did not attend the BFFO to respect attendee’s privacy and our presenters’ time.
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Yes, we will host gatherings each month during the school year. These sessions will begin in September and end in May. The topics will be selected by participants.
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Access to all workshops, Question and Answer sessions, follow up reading materials, check-ins throughout the school year, and more.
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Computer (or smartphone) and internet access, a journal for note taking, a pen for writing, comfortable clothing, water, snacks, an open heart, and your full self.
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Please reach out to us at hey@ajaimani.com or call/text (240) 619-8223. We look forward to connecting with you.
