Empowering Future Leaders: The Impact of the 2025 Black Girls Dream Conference in Atlanta

On June 7, 2025, Atlanta hosted the highly anticipated Black Girls Dream Conference, organized by the Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium. This year's conference witnessed a remarkable turnout, with more than 1,200 Black girls, femme-identifying youth, and women uniting from 13 Southern states to explore the theme "She Got Next." The event was not merely a gathering; it was a powerful celebration of Black girl brilliance, designed to offer transformative workshops, networking opportunities, and a rich environment for community building.

LaTosha Brown, the visionary founder of Southern Black Girls, opened the conference with an inspiring message about investing in future leaders. She emphasized, "This conference represents our investment in not just tomorrow's leaders, but today's changemakers. We're creating a powerful ecosystem where Black girls and women can access the resources, mentorship, and community they need to turn their boldest dreams into reality."

The conference featured over 80 interactive workshops addressing critical topics such as mental health, social justice, science and technology, financial empowerment, arts, culture, and wellness. One of the highlights was the involvement of Dove, the co-founder of the CROWN Coalition, who sponsored several signature experiences. They included the popular "Roots to CROWN" hair braiding workshop, which celebrated natural beauty and cultural heritage, and aligned perfectly with Dove's ongoing mission to promote a respectful and open world for natural hair.

This year also marked the first-ever "She Got Now Awards," which recognized extraordinary achievements by young Black women. Among those celebrated were Calcea Johnson and Na'Kiya Jackson, who made history by solving a 2,000-year-old mathematical proof; Jasmine Carson, an NCAA Women's Basketball National Champion; and Trinitee Stokes, a talented actress and singer who became the youngest student ever admitted to Emerson College at just 14 years of age.

The event also showcased the Global South Health Advocacy Program, spotlighting women from the African diaspora committed to advocating for health investments that affect Black women worldwide. Additionally, the Dream Investment Program awarded funding through the Southern Black Girls Innovation Fund in partnership with Kindred Futures. This initiative supported 15 young entrepreneurs under the age of 18 and 10 early-stage entrepreneurs with investments ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, helping them to launch their businesses.

The Black Girl Defense Fund recipients were acknowledged for their impactful community-led projects aimed at protecting the rights of Black girls, alongside the winners of the #BlackGirlJoy Challenge, who each received grants to promote joy within their communities.

Chanceé Lundy, the Executive Director of Southern Black Girls, highlighted the conference's significance in empowering participants, stating, "Here, Black girls and women are not only celebrated but empowered to dream without limits. Through powerful workshops, inspiring speakers, and authentic sisterhood, they gain the tools, confidence, and community needed to lead, innovate, and transform their futures."

Youth Ambassadors took center stage as conference leaders, sharing their transformative experiences. Dakota Young, a first-time Youth Ambassador, expressed her impressions, saying, "I really enjoyed the conference and the welcoming atmosphere of it all. It exposed me to diversity in my culture. I am honored to be a part of such a great organization."

Reflecting on the strong sense of community, Alauna Armstead, a young entrepreneur from the Dream Investment Program, shared, "The community of black girls and women is so amazing to see. I have felt so loved and supported by everyone. I truly hope that every black girl can experience this feeling of being uplifted."

The State of Georgia recognized the importance of the conference through proclamations issued by State Representative Inga Willis, who honored the work of Southern Black Girls and presented the Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award to co-founders LaTosha Brown and Alice Eason Jenkins.

The "She Got Next" campaign aims to raise $100 million for Black girls and women, a testament to the organization's commitment to disrupting the traditional philanthropic model in the South, where Black women and girls have historically received less than one percent of regional philanthropy.

Through participatory grantmaking, community partnerships, and effective movement building, Southern Black Girls are focused on transforming narratives and creating pathways for Black girls and women. For more details on the Dream Conference and ongoing initiatives, visit Southern Black Girls Dream Conference.

About Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium

Founded in 2017 by LaTosha Brown and her colleagues, the Southern Black Girls and Women's Consortium aims to fund initiatives for Black girls and women in the Southern United States. The organization has awarded over $10.2 million to more than 220 Black women-led organizations and provided nearly $500,000 in grants to over 800 girls via programs like the #BlackGirlJoyChallenge. The consortium operates across Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, utilizing participatory grantmaking approaches that elevate Black girls' voices while focusing on racial justice, education, health and wellness, economic mobility, and leadership development.