The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative (BSWC) is a network and advocacy organization committed to empowering Black women serving as executive directors in the Southern United States.
Established in 2021, BSWC assembles a team of dynamic Black women executives to address pressing issues like economic justice, political empowerment, healthcare access, and social equality, which disproportionately affect Black women in the South. The organization offers resources, support, and a platform for Black women to advocate for themselves and their communities. Through strategic partnerships, campaigns, and community engagement, BSWC endeavors to foster a positive and safe environment, empowering Black executives to drive change and amplify the voices of Black Southern women.
The organization boasts a diverse leadership team, including Kendra Cotton, CEO of the New Georgia Project; Nsombi Lambright, executive director of One Voice in Mississippi; Ashley K. Shelton, founder and president of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice; Reverend Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida; and Tameka Greer, executive director of Memphis Artists for Change.
Since its inception, BSWC has allocated over $7 million to Black women-led organizations across the South, prioritizing leadership development and training programs for Black women.
Despite facing the persistent challenges of white supremacy, including voter suppression tactics and biased redistricting maps, the BSWC remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting voting rights for Black women. As legislative efforts across the South have attempted to diminish the voices of Black citizens at the polls, BSWC is ramping up its efforts to vigorously combat these measures through community-centered organizing, voter education initiatives, and their targeted Get Out the Vote-style campaigns aimed at empowering communities directly affected by voter supression.
“We often say in organizing spaces…
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