In a nation grappling with a profound mental health crisis, the services provided by Black Girls Smile provide a safe space for Black girls, women, and nonbinary youth to find ease and care. Ease acknowledges the importance of restorative practices that promote self-reflection, joyfulness, creativity, cultural affirmation, and community support as essential components for overall well-being in the face of adversity. As systemic racism continues to cast a long shadow over our healthcare system, marginalized communities often bear the burden of limited access to essential mental health support ..read more

For Black Girls Smile media inquiry request contact: Monique Fontenot at ,Media@blackgirlssmile.org PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, October 16, 2023 Black Girls Smile Inc. Promotes Building Community at This Year’s Sisterhood Summit to Address COVID-19 Triggered Social Isolation ATLANTA— To continue the mental health conversations and insights discussed at July’s 'Black Girls are Magic' conference entitled, "Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience: The Path to Empowered Black Girls”, Atlanta-based nonprofit Black Girls Smile Inc. is holding a one-day in person Sisterhood Summit on ..read more

( Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) This past July, Black Girls Smile Inc.’s Founder and Executive Director, Lauren Carson, had the honor to visit our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., to watch President Biden speak on how the administration is working on expanding mental health care access for millions of people. Far too many cannot access mental health care resources because of a lack of medical care coverage, health care policies that do not cover mental health services, or because they can not afford the costs of seeking assistance outside their medical insurer health plans. E ..read more

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 t ..read more

In case you missed it (ICYMI), on July 17-19, Black Girls Smile Inc. held its annual three-day virtual Black Girls Are Magic conference with this year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience: The Path to Empowered Black Girls. Athleisure wear apparel company ,Fabletics sponsored this year’s event. Each day’s session began with a 10-15 minute yoga session presented by BGS partners ,Manifest House and Fabletics to prepare participants for the day’s conversation on their unique journey to mental health wellness. Black Girls Smile Founder Lauren Carson led the event’s conversations, whic ..read more

ATLANTA–Black Girls Smile Chief of Staff Paige Woods appeared on the latest TeacHER podcast with host Kristi Morale, founder of ,The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Woods and Morale discussed how our community and lineage has traditionally been influential on how we take care of ourselves. "...when I think about my ancestry I think about my great grandma Annie and how she was so strong.. For me I'm wondering what did she do to take care of herself to make sure she restored herself? Was she feeling like she was not able to be vulnerable because she was so strong?", pondered Woods. Woods also stre ..read more

For Black Girls Smile media inquiry request contact: Monique Fontenot at ,Media@blackgirlssmile.org For Normani media inquiry request contact: Alexandra Baker at High Rise at ,Alexandra@highrisepr.com PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, July 7, 2023 ATLANTA— Atlanta-based nonprofit Black Girls Smile Inc. is hosting its second annual 'Black Girls are Magic' conference on July 17-19 entitled "Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience: The Path to Empowered Black Girls”. Famed singer and dancer Normani and leading athleticwear brand, Fabletics, are supporting this year by hosting a virtual ..read more

Have you ever heard the quote, “Music has charms to soothe the savage beast”? Well, sometimes that "savage beast” can be our minds. It can be challenging to handle all the responsibilities and expectations placed on Black women and girls. Some studies have shown that music can help with feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, and sometimes sad. Music can help boost dopamine levels, the "love and pleasure" chemical in the brain, to enhance mood and mental well-being. Although effective, it is not a replacement for prioritizing self-care, self-mental wellness assessments, and seeking mental hea ..read more

Tonya is so excited to be pregnant with her first child. She is 6 months pregnant and has everything ready for the baby’s arrival. Her hospital bag and the baby’s car seat are packed and in the car. She already has the crib and baby room set up and has attended every baby class and read every baby book. While she feels prepared, there has been this sense of doom and a feeling of overwhelm that has been looming over her for the last couple of months. She is worried that something will go wrong during or after childbirth. She is also anxious about the financial strain that a new baby may create ..read more

This year's Earth Day theme is "Invest in Our Planet." However, when discussing saving and protecting our planet, we seldom mention how the earth's natural disasters and environmental injustices affect those in the Black community's mental health. This fall marks the 18th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. This Category 5 hurricane sieged on states along the Gulf Coast, including Texas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, with the latter significantly impacted in the southeast region, New Orleans. Storm surges that caused extreme winds and rising water broke the city's levees and cau ..read more