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Black women are assigned identities both inside and outside their community, whether labeled an “angry Black woman” or a bitter “baby mama.” Black women have the misfortune of not being provided with space and opportunity to explore themselves for themselves. The result has been Black girls and young women who grow up and do not know who they are, what they believe, and what they enjoy. We believe identity is vital to the healthy development of Black girls and young women. 

We believe that through connection and growth, we can give our girls the space they need to explore who they are as individuals.

Our Core Values

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The Four Agreements

At The Collective Identity Mentoring, we believe one cannot form a healthy identity without personal freedom. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom is a book written by Don Miguel Ruiz. It's based on ancient Toltec (Indigenous people of Mexico) wisdom and provides insights into overcoming self-limiting beliefs. A transformative book for many of our board members, we've adopted these agreements as the core values for mentees and mentors. By encouraging our girls to follow these four agreements, we are confident that they will find their personal freedom and get closer to living an authentic life.

Why do Black girls need mentors?

Mentorship between Black women and their younger counterparts is long overdue. Young Black girls are in desperate need of mentoring. In school settings, they're perceived as problematic adults rather than children, and are subsequently over-policed and under-protected by teachers and school administrations. In the corporate world, they encounter microaggressions daily, and they are perceived as "angry" when being assertive. Uninvited and unwanted hair touches frequently violate our personal space, and we are most likely to be the only Black woman sitting at the table in the workplace. Despite Black women being one of the most educated groups in America, Black women only represent 4% of executive management in the workplace. Lack of diversity at the executive level is a significant contributor to the shortage of mentors for young Black women entering the workforce. Mentorship creates diversity, and there is value in variety.

We have identified three barriers that interfere with the healthy development of a Black girl.

How does this mentorship program provide support to young Black girls and women?