A year ago, when we first started BWNJ, I never imagined we would take off so quickly! My sincere desire was to create an authentic community where Black women could make real and meaningful connections. I’ve often heard about the “crab in the bucket” mentality among Black women; many members even stated they had given up seeking friends due to this belief. However, I disagree. While this mentality may exist in every community, I believe it is not dominant among Black women. What I’ve learned in just one year is that Black women show up, celebrate, support, and embrace each other. We are welcoming!
Since BWNJ's inception, we’ve held numerous events where most women met for the first time. The way we laugh, enjoy each other, and connect makes it seem like we’ve been family for years. If you’ve attended, you know exactly what I mean. It’s truly amazing.
I want to create something we can all be proud of. I envision us coming together, with everyone in the community flourishing. I recognize we have many amazing sisterhoods already, and BWNJ aims to shine a light on and collaborate with all organizations committed to our advancement. We are not a sorority; although we connect Black Sisters we are a Black women’s network in NJ, grateful for every Black woman in our community!
I want to give us beautiful experiences together. This year, I’ve done my best to show you what we can achieve. Can you believe we did all this on Facebook? From beach days to brunches (sugar grits, please), movie events, game nights, the GALA, our end-of-year celebration, business Zooms, and countless connections—we’ve proven our potential. We achieved so much that I wake up excited to connect with all of you!
I never wanted this to be about finances, so I didn’t add a subscription on our Facebook page. However, as we grow, I realize that a successful organization needs dependable resources. I’ve invested much of my time and money in deposits for venues, permits, and our website. If we don’t sell enough, I cover the costs. While the reward of networking and our accomplishments is more than worth it, I want to do even more for us. For instance, I could have chosen a cheaper venue for our Gala and made a profit, but it’s more than profit for me—it’s my passion to give us the best, even at a loss.
To become a sustainable organization, we need resources. Our goal is for the community to cover costs upfront and offer these experiences at affordable rates. It’s time to expand our vision—from a Facebook group to an official movement. It’s time to elevate, involve everyone in every county and town of NJ, create affordable vendor opportunities, host accessible events, and form county-specific groups to expand our networks. We need a free member directory for New Jersey, find Black women willing to represent us in their towns, and have a community resource portal. It’s time for Black women to have safe spaces just for us. It’s time for bigger, better, and greater things. It’s time for the advancement of Black women uniting together!
When you look at this online community built with us in mind, ask yourself: if this was done in one year with scarce resources, imagine what we can achieve in the years to come with everyone doing their part! Together, we have already won! Let’s go!
Join the movement and let's advance this community together.
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