October 28th

#Standing4BlackGirls Community Action to end Rape Culture and Sexual Violence Rally

Please join the #S4BG coalition on October 28th in our continued push for visibility, funding, and justice for Black women, girls and gender expansive youth who are disproportionately harmed and dying from this nation's epidemic of misogynoirist violence.

Speakers, performers and vendors include WLP youth, Suzette Shaw, Dr. Ronda Hampton, Kathy Evans, Young Women's Freedom Center, Honey Blu, Ife Jie, Nina Rose Bailey, Planned Parenthood L.A. and more.

FACT: Black girls and women continue to have the highest rates of domestic violence, sexual violence, rape, sex trafficking and death by intimate partner/family homicide in the city of Los Angeles and in the nation. Despite these abominable stats, there is little political will or urgency on the part of mainstream Black elected officials and community to address these issues.

INFO and SPEAKER PARTICIPATION

Lizette Nsilu, Awardee:

Hutchinson Prize for Excellence in Social and Political Writing

On Sunday, October 8th, WLP youth writer-activist, King-Drew alum and El Camino College student Lizette Nsilu was awarded the first annual $1000 Hutchinson Prize for Excellence in Social and Political Writing. Lizette's winning essay focused on domestic violence against African American women and girls. She was also lauded for her numerous articles and commentaries on missing and murdered Black women, colorism, suicide, and misogynoir in the media. The award was presented by author Earl Ofari Hutchinson of the Urban Policy Roundtable and is designed to encourage youth journalists and commentators to write and publish their own work.

Victim Shamed and Blamed: Domestic Violence and its Toxic Effect on Black Women and Girls

By Lizette Nsilu

Domestic violence is something nearly 1 in 2 Black women experience in their lifetime. It is a topic that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Here are some things a high school senior would like to address about it:

There are many reasons why women may be scared to exit out of violent or toxic domestic relationships. Survivors may fear for their children as well as the risks of being a single mother. They might have financial concerns, fear victim shaming or religious stigma or lack of support from their communities.

Powerful Art, Powerful Healing

By Jessica Robinson

On August 4, 2023, WLP sponsored the "Our Art, Our Healing, Our Power" art institute at the Stoneview Nature Center in Culver City, CA. High school and middle school students from Los Angeles joined in a safe space to explore Art as a tool for healing, empowerment, and fun.

MORE @WLP Blog

Sikivu was recently featured on Slauson Girl Speaks podcast commenting on the skyrocketing rates of violence against Black women and girls, apathy in the City of L.A., and #S4BG campaign demands.

Mental Health Resources for African American Girls and Women:

Black Girls Smile

Provides gender-responsive and culturally-affirming mental wellness education, resources, and support geared toward Black women and girls.

#Standing4BlackGirls Wellness Initiative

Provides free, culturally responsive individual therapy for Black girls and women ages 14+ and BIPOC LGBTQ+/gender expansive youth in L.A. County in partnership with Open Paths Counseling in Inglewood, California.

Wellness Action Recovery

South Carolina-based suicide prevention nonprofit run by Black female suicide survivor Fonda Bryant.

Sadie Nash Leadership Project

Provides experiential social justice education to over 500 young women and gender-expansive youth in New York City and Newark.

Therapy for Black Girls

Provides culturally responsive national resources for therapy, counseling, and outreach in addition to a mental health blog and podcast.

Virtual Homegirl Podcast, Episode #9: Dealing with Life Challenges

Virtual Homegirl WLP youth commentators Dafne Embaracadero (King-Drew), Kim Ortiz (CSULA), Esther Abraham (King-Drew), Liz Tecuapetla (Cal Poly Pomona), and Brianna Parnell (SMC) discuss coping with life challenges like academic and mental health anxieties, procrastination, “imposter syndrome”, grief, and gaining closure in life and relationships. “We as young people have the power to overcome our mental health barriers. There are ways to take control of our lives and live them the way we want to.”

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

[www.womensleadershipla.org]