It’s one thing to occupy space. It’s another to own it.
As the celebration of Black History month is underway, honoring Black excellence and acknowledging the important contributions made by Black Americans, it’s also important to discuss the systemic barriers and inequities that are still prevalent today.
Land and property ownership across the country remains majority white male owned. In a city known as the Birthplace of Black Entrepreneurship and home to the historic Jackson Ward community, the Richmond community is just now starting to recognize the Black excellence that came before and that exists now. From Maggie Lena Walker, the first woman bank president who helped solidify a sense of place and community in “the Harlem of the South,” to the Jackson Ward Collective who have revived that sense of place and community, it’s time to consider taking an equity lens to our Black history efforts.
This year, Angela Patton, CEO of Richmond-based nonprofit Girls For A Change, is calling for support in a big endeavor. She wants to add her name to the list of Black women property owners in the Richmond region by purchasing the building her nonprofit has been renting for the past five years. In doing so, she hopes to set an example for future generations.
“For five years, Girls For A Change has cultivated an empowering Black space built for Black girls to be seen, heard and celebrated. Now it’s time to own that space,” Patton says.
To achieve this, Girls For A Change launched its One Million Reasons to Build campaign, a $1 million fundraising campaign to purchase the space, expand it by 40% and update the facilities and equipment.
“Owning the building is a fiscally responsible investment, guaranteeing longevity for our programs. Expanded space will allow us to serve more Black girls with needed resources that the current building is unable to fully provide. Owning our space demonstrates to GFAC girls that Black women can own businesses and property and create the spaces we want to address our communities’ needs,” says Patton.
The One Million Reasons to Build campaign is a year-long endeavor with multiple fundraising events and campaigns. GFAC launched it on Dec. 15 to celebrate the CEO’s 50th birthday, asking supporters to donate “$50 for 50 years.” The effort raised $50,000 toward the building campaign. Upcoming fundraisers include a Diva Bag auction with celebrity support, a “Legacy Wall” art installation, allowing donors to be a permanent part of their remodeled space, and a campaign asking supporters to “Donate Your Birthday” on Facebook.
For more than 21 years, GFAC has prepared Black girls for the world, and the world for Black girls. GFAC is one of the first organizations in the country that has supported Black girls — unapologetically — since its inception. They have provided more than 25,000 Black girls with societal, social and emotional support, character development and access to professional and technical skills to thrive in a society that often pushes them to the margins. Black space is crucial to the success of the organization.
“Black women are often portrayed as too much. We do too much, we are too much, and we take up too much space. Because of these societal beliefs, when Black girls and women decide to speak up for themselves, it’s construed as loud, sassy and negative. This feeling of always having to be aware of one’s own behavior to make others comfortable can create feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem and lead to making unhealthy choices. Navigating the world with a mindset that you cannot take up space robs you of the ability to be yourself, love yourself or do for yourself. As a leader, organizer and activator for Black girls, I want to offer a space for girls to be bold, to be loud and most importantly to be seen.
“It's about time we had a sacred and brave space where we can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space we occupy. Within our four walls, we work on and address cultural issues that others would not understand or feel comfortable discussing. We have to have the space to work through issues like colorism, racism, sexism — all the isms — because a lot of times Black girls don’t get that chance. Not in their schools, communities, and for some not even at home. It is important to find communities for Black women and girls while we are on our personal development journey, because the ultimate purpose of personal growth is to ripple through the collective and raise consciousness,” explains Patton.
Help Girls For A Change make history by supporting its One Million Reasons to Build campaign:
- Make a donation on the fundraising page
- Share information about the campaign and your reason for supporting it
- Fundraise for Girls For A Change on Facebook during your birth month or through other platforms or corporate giving initiatives.
Follow GFAC on social media (@GirlsForAChange on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok) for upcoming fundraisers and check in on the One Million Reasons to Build campaign page for updates.
