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Bethune Program Development Center
As one of the four components of the National Centers for African American Women, The Bethune Program Development Center (BPDC) serves as a clearinghouse and resource for the effective delivery of national and community-based service programs. These programs are designed to support women of African descent in their efforts to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.
Led by Janice Ferebee, MSW (greatniece of Dr. Dorothy Boulding Ferebee, Second National President of NCNW), BPDC will build the capacity of NCNW members and sections to respond to the diverse needs of the African American community, while connecting African American women and families to the resources and support necessary to achieve and maintain their full potential.
Overview
BPDC plans to offer initiatives and programming for girls, ages 9 -18 (including the NCNW Youth Sections for girls 12-18) and young women, ages 19-25 (including the NCNW Collegiate Sections) so that they can successfully prosper, compete, and lead. The wide range of activities available through the BPDC will be designed to help prepare the next generation of leaders and will focus on the following:
- Healthly lifestyle choices
- Personal growth
- Leadership
- Professional development
- Life skills enhancement.
Girls Changing The World Initiative
GIRLS CHANGING THE WORLD: African-American Women Empowering Girls to Prosper, Compete and Lead initiative focuses on making connections and building dialogue between African-American women and girls in local communities all around the country. Our girls are in crisis! According to Janice Ferebee, BPDC Director,
“girls [of color] in the 21st century are faced with challenges that threaten their future including poverty, poor self-esteem and body image, teen pregnancy, high drop-out rates, media exploitation, “mean girls” and sophisticated cyber bullying, and lack of positive leadership and mentoring.”
Despite these challenges, girls [of color] not only can, but do survive and succeed with the support of women who believe and invest in them.
This initiative has several components:
- GLOBAL GIRLS Town Hall Meeting Series
- Female Leadership Pipeline Project
- The “New Girl Network” (for Tween Girls)
Current Activities:
GLOBAL GIRLS Town Hall Meeting Series
Dr. Dorothy I. Height and the Bethune Program Development Center will host the first in a series of GLOBAL GIRLS Town Hall Meetings in Washington, DC for the DC/MD/VA metro area. This GLOBAL GIRLS Town Hall Meeting is the first step in revitilizing NCNW’s work with girls as we move across the country strengthening Black families. The GLOBAL GIRLS gatherings will bring together girls, ages 13-18, from different cultures, including local NCNW Youth Sections, for an afternoon of fun and empowerment. Participants will address their challenges, exchange ideas, collectively mobilize their voices for positive change, and dialogue with adult women about what girls REALLY need to succeed.
Future Activities:
Female Leadership Pipeline Project
In an effort to prepare girls and young women for leadership opportunties in their communities, both now and in the future, the BPDC will develop an inter-generational leadership training program. The goal of this program is to bring girls and women together to learn about leadership for every stage of a female’s life (adolescence; young adult; middle age; elder) and the role that succession planning plays in the effetiveness and sustainability of a good leader and their organization.
The “New Girl” Network
In response to the cries of parents regarding the growing need for tween girls (ages 9-12) to be empowered to deal with the new 21st century challenges and prepare for their teenage years, the BPDC will pilot a program in Washington, DC to support girls and their parents/caregivers to achieve success during this transition age.
We Are Listening
Plans are underway for the “We Are Listening” national unity campaign collaboration with Ashley Stewart, with a focus on intergenerational issues for women and girls of African descent. The campaign will feature gatherings hosted at local Ashley Stewart stores hosted by NCNW Sections around the country. The goal of this partnership is to strengthen and unify the Black community through education and mentorship and highlight Ashley Stewart’s strong philanthropic support.
Past programs of the Bethune Program Development Center include:
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