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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 and strengthen the Black community.
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 that focuses on African American women, their health, education, economic empowerment, and leadership development, stressing the empowerment of girls, ages 8 -18 (including the NCNW Youth Sections) and young women, ages 19-35 (including the NCNW Collegiate Sections), to successfully prosper, compete, and lead. The wide range of activities available through the BPDC will be designed to help women improve their lives, strengthen their communities, and prepare the next generation of female leaders and will address the following:
- Healthly lifestyle choices
- Personal growth and intergenerational communication
- Leadership development
- Professional development
- Life skills enhancement
WOMEN & GIRLS CHANGING THE WORLD
WOMEN & GIRLS CHANGING THE WORLD focuses on African American women and girls in local communities and around the country working together to create positive change in their communities and the world.
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 for the health and sustainability of our communities.
This initiative has several components:
- Women’s Issues
- Intergenerational Communication
- Reproductive Health Awareness
- Health & Obesity (for women and children)
- GLOBAL GIRLS™ (girls 8 -18)
- Life skills and leadership development
- The New Girl Network™ (young women 19-35)
- Leadership, professional development and personal enhancement
CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
- “WE ARE LISTENING” – Unity Campaign
The Unity Campaign, in collaboration with Ashley Stewart Stores, will focus on intergenerational dialogues designed to help close the gap between young women under 35 and older women in the African American community.
- Health Initiatives
- Education & Economic Empowerment Initiatives
The GLOBAL GIRLS™ programs will bring together girls, ages 8 – 18, including local NCNW Youth Sections (girls 12-18), for activities, cultural enrichment, empowerment and life skills development. Activities may also include international cultural and educational exchanges.
The inaugural meeting of the GLOBAL GIRLS™ took place on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at the NCNW Headquarters. The Global Girls Town Hall Meeting attended by over 50 girls and 20 adults from the community and NCNW Youth Sections – No. Virginia Section, FAME Section, Washington Section and Philadelphia Section.
FUTURE ACTIVITIES:
- The Female Leadership Pipeline Project (FLPP)
The Female Leadership Pipeline Project is a multiplatform outreach effort to prepare girls and young women of African descent (African-American, African and Caribbean) for college, career, life and leadership. The aim of the FLPP is to provide skills training and create tools that NCNW Adult Sections and Affiliates can use to help girls and young women take advantage of educational resources, and spark sustained dialogue about women’s leadership and academic access and achievement.
- The New Girl Network™ – Emerging Leaders Initiative
In an effort to prepare young women for leadership opportunties in their communities, both now and in the future, the BPDC will develop a leadership training program in partnership with the Dorothy Height Leadership Institute.
Past programs of the Bethune Program Development Center include:
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