Help Us Create This Space for young Black women to flourish
Name the Villian
It is no secret that the dominant narrative in the U.S. elevates independence over interdependence.
"Most of us are socialized towards independence—pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, working on our own to develop, to survive, to win at life."¹ This has never served nor has it been the traditional way of being for Black people, particularly Black women.
¹ Emergent Strategy p. 83, adrienne marie brown
Scholar Patricia Hill Collins, in her book Black Feminist Thought, reflects on relationships between Black women saying,
“In the comfort of daily conversations, through serious conversation and humor, African-American women as sisters and friends affirm one another's humanity, specialness and right to exist.”
We need more spaces where young Black people are affirmed in their right to exist.
We need more spaces where Black women are taught and reminded how to be in right relationship with each other and themselves.
We need more spaces where the specialness, humanity, and the beauty of Black women and girls can be centered.
This is what the Black Feminist Freshman Orientation is about.
1 Affirmation
h Community
u Support
k Interdependence
The Importance of Bffo
All significant life transitions come with questions.
Mistakes will be made, lessons learned, and if we're lucky, wisdom will be attained. Oftentimes, college is the first season where people are expected to manage all of their affairs and choices outside of the explicit gaze of parents and/or guardians. The Black Feminist Freshman Orientation has been designed to prepare attendees for the next step of their development with tools, relationships, mentorship, and resources that will support them throughout their time in college and beyond.
BFFO provides the invaluable space for young Black women to be seen, heard and supported.
The Black Feminist Freshman Orientation will offer attendees increased clarity, wisdom, and guidance so that they enter their next chapter with foresight, options, and support.
Most importantly they will receive the community of sisterhood that is absolutely needed but often non-existent in Western culture.
BFFO attendees will be initiated onto their path and continue to be guided by the support of mentors committed to walking with them throughout their first year of college.
We know that each attendee will come to the BFFO with their own genius, their own stories, and vast amounts of potential. They will leave BFFO feeling seen, supported, prepared, and loved—things that Black folks, especially Black women can never get enough of!