WHEREAS, The first Black Girl Freedom Week is hosted by the Black Girl Freedom Fund in celebration of Black girls, Black cis and trans girls, Black gender expansive youth, and Black femmes, as well as the vast opportunities available when investments in their futures, leadership, and dreams are made; and
WHEREAS, The Black Girl Freedom Fund was founded to call for an investment of $1 billion in the next decade to advance the well-being of Black girls, young women, and their families; and
WHEREAS, On February 14, 2021, Black Girl Freedom Week will recognize missing and murdered indigenous relatives and demand justice for
Indigenous women, girls, men, boys, LGBTQI/Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender non-conforming people who are target for murder, abduction, and trafficking; and
WHEREAS, On February 15, 2021, co-founder Dr. Monique W. Morris of Black Girl Freedom Fund and Executive Director of Grantmakers for Girls of Color will open the week with actress, writer, and producer Rashida Jones, as well as introduce a conversation on the leadership of Black girls and women to create change; and
WHEREAS, On February 16, 2021, the Black Girl Freedom Fund will host an event on the process of change-making and investment with Teresa C. Younger and Tynesha McHarris, as well as an uplifting musical set with Quiana Parks; and
WHEREAS, On February 17, 2021, Black Girl Freedom Week will host conversations on creating safe communities for Black girls with Fatima Goss Graves and youth activists, as well as on investing in abundant futures for Black girls with disabilities with L. Dara Baldwin; and
WHEREAS, On February 18, 2021, an artistic visioning session with Black girls will be held to emphasize the importance of narratives of Black girlhood, as well as a healing yoga and meditation session with Aimee Cox to honor the birthdays of Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde; and
WHEREAS, On February 19, 2021, the Black Girl Freedom Fund will host conversations on what healing and wellness means for Black girls, as well as conversations on a national policy agenda for Black girls, shared by Toni Wilson; and
WHEREAS, On February 20, 2021, the week will conclude with highlights, celebrations, and a conversation on what a $1 billion investment means for Black girls; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes the week of February 14, 2021 to February 20, 2021 as the first Black Girl Freedom Week to celebrate and honor Black girls and the unique challenges they face, as well as to invest in their safe, free, and successful futures.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Black Girl Freedom Fund, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End