Last month, as we acknowledged Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Mental Heath Awareness Month with virtual and local offerings, Black Girls Smile's Founder and Executive Director Lauren Carson had the distinct opportunity to join one of BGS program sponsors, Kate Spade New York, for this year's Women Deliver 2023 conference in Kalgali, Africa.
This 3-day global event, held July 13-17, included virtual and in-person conversations on the state of women, with topics such as economics, reproductive rights, and mental health wellness. Lauren participated, alongside a panel of experts in the mental health space, in opening a dialogue on the role mental health plays in empowering girls. The insights from this panel introduced the release of the 'Women and Girls: Empowerment Through Mental Health' global research report produced by Kate Spade New York and Prospira.
That same week we also kicked off our third annual virtual Black Girls Are Magic Conference. This year's theme, "Breaking Barriers Building Resilience: The Path to Empowered Black Girls" provided our over 150 participants with guided ten minute yoga sessions by experienced yogis, deep dives into daily challenges that are currently affecting young Black women and girls' mental health, and tools for daily maintenance and crisis prevention.
With all we've accomplished so far you would think our work is done–not quite! While we may be taking a little break in August to prioritize our mental health, we will soon be sharing our activations for next month for Suicide Awareness Month. Please stay up to date by signing up for our newsletter.