GFAC annual Black Girl Rally goes virtual Sept. 26

Girls For A Change will host its annual Black Girl Rally Sept. 26 from noon to 5 p.m. This year’s rally will be a virtual summit to explore how to repair the harm to Black America while engaging in a dynamic dialogue with Black girls.

Each year, Girls For A Change hosts a Black Girl Rally at the beginning of the school year to recruit middle and high school girls to join Girl Action Teams in their community. Girl Action Teams have been creating change in the Richmond area for years, and are responsible for the mural downtown and the father/daughter dance at the Richmond Jail; they were also involved in the development of recent legislation regarding school dress codes.

As the community faces the effects of a pandemic and lives through an uprising and civil unrest, the virtual Black Girl Rally is working toward the same mission of recruiting Black girls and other girls of color and encouraging them to engage in social change projects.

Each rally has a different theme centered around a specific issue facing Black girls; this year the theme is, “You're the answer, not the problem.”

Among speakers and performers who will appear at this year's rally will be recording artist Tiye Phoenix, actress Erica Ash, researcher and educational psychologist Dr. Lauren Mims, Justice for Black Girls Founder Brianna Baker, and Black Lives Matter 804 President and Outreach Coordinator for Voices for Virginia’s Children Chloe Edwards.

“Black families were hit hard by the pandemic and the effects on their daughters may be long lasting. A lot of people dismiss the opinions of our young people and I want them to know that they should be heard. I have invited Black women leaders from across the country who consistently show up and fight for the common good to offer guidance and inspiration. When Black women lead, we all win,” says GFAC CEO Angela Patton.

Girls will participate in an online training and information session, “Change Your World In A Day,” that is purposefully designed for the girls to share their own experiences, develop an understanding of their community at large, and design a social change project.  Rally attendees will exit the event with approaches to tackling issues that have disproportionately impacted Black Americans.

For details or to register for the Black Girl Rally, visit classy.org/event/virtual-black-girl-rally/e299818. Girls participating can earn community service hours and partial or full scholarships to participate in additional GFAC programs, as well as obtaining help with reference letters for college and jobs.

GFAC is also looking for community members to join them as Girl Action Team Coaches; for details, visit girlsforachange.org/make-a-change/be-a-coach.