Falling Black in Love
Donation protected
Falling Black in Love is a movement committed to paying both respect and homage to the incredible feats, accomplishments, and achievements of the African American community from around the world. In a time when the image of Black men, women, and youth have been both distorted and misrepresented, It is vital that people of color be affirmed in who they are. Falling Black in Love focuses on recognizing the diversity of people of African descent; ethnic diversity, religious diversity, and freedom of orientation will be celebrated and respected.
Falling Black in Love has four foci:
"¢ Dispelling myths and generalizations of people of African descent through innovative programming with a focus on affirmed cultural identity, community engagement, and cultural development
"¢ Foster and promote economic empowerment with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and small business ownership
"¢ Emphasize the importance of family, community, and intergenerational connectedness.
"¢ Promote tolerance of various cultures and sub-communities within the Black community including, but not limited to: Island, African, and tribal cultures, the Black LGBTQ community, the elderly, Black youth, incarcerated persons, single-parents, the disabled, and various political and religious affiliations.
Vision
Falling Black in Love will showcase the exceptionality of youth, and inspire communities to support both their educational attainment and cultural enrichment, spur support for minority owned businesses, and promote community progression.
Falling Black in Love will soon become a staple on every college campus and urban community in the nation and eventually, throughout the world.
Short-Term Goals:
"¢ Establish strong presence on the campus of Florida A&M University
"¢ Establish symposium on Black male youth retention
"¢ Establish symposium of Black female youth in STEM
"¢ Establish support group for students who are small business owners
"¢ Establish presence in community by meeting the various needs of community members
"¢ Establish culturally relevant and professionally based mentoring programs for African-American youth
Long-Term Goals:
"¢ Establish research institutes focused on issues unique to the African and African American experience including a natural hair research institute and a Black male teacher-training institute
"¢ Establish Falling Black in Love affiliate offices in "high need" areas including, but not limited to: New Orleans, Louisiana, St. Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, and Memphis, Tennessee
"¢ Establish Falling Black in Love affiliate offices on HBCU campuses
"¢ Establish academic exchange programs with various countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America
Guiding Principles
"¢ Tolerance
"¢ Interdependence
"¢ Community
"¢ Love
Proposed Upcoming Events
*The State of Our Children: A Parent's Perspective
*Blowing Off S.T.E.A.M.: A Science and Arts Expositoin
*Health Yes!
* Yoga100
*Nappytism: The Politics of Black Hair
*The ORIGINAL Scandal: Black Women and AIDS 20 Years Later
*Pretty Hurts: How Do We See Ourselves?
*The Return of the Soul Bowl: A Black Business Expo
*At the Foot of the Elders
Future Proposed Projects
"¢ Community Academy "“ One of the most frustrating components of the academic setting is that the research produced is often muddled in complicated jargon and inaccessible to the general public and those who actually need it. Community Academy is an online forum and journal that merges the academic rigor of the classroom with the relaxed state of the living room; its purpose is to provide solutions facing our most endangered communities by providing easy, understandable, and relatable information that has met the stringent academic rigor of the academy. The Community Academy will provide graduate students with publishing and research opportunities. (Expected Launch date: August 2015)
"¢ Nappytism - Nappytism is a 12-week sequence designed to prepare young girls and women for the transition of going from processed hair to natural. Combiningg elements of history, psychology, and mental health, Nappytism is designed to introduce participants to the natural hair journey. Each session introduces participants to a different element of the natural hair process and aims to mentally prepare those who participate. There will be 9 sessions in preparation for the "Big Chop." Additionally, there will be 3 "post-chop" sessions. At the end of the 9-week session, participants who agree to take part in the "Big Chop" will do so as part of a culminating event during Women's History Month. (Expected launch date: January 2015)
"¢ Building Brothers Up - Building Brothers Up is a prevention/intervention and youth character development program committed to curbing the robust high-school dropout rates of African American males. Black males between the ages of 14-17 (9th-12th grade), and have been identified by a parent/legal guardian or school representative (principal, teacher, guidance counselor), as "at-risk" are eligible for enrollment. Program participants will engage in an intensive 8-week program designed to address several key areas of academic social, and personal development. (Expected launch date: August 2016)
Fund Allocation
25% - Support of upcoming and future Falling Black in Love Projects
25% - Establishing RETENTION scholarships for HBCU students.
25% - Establishing a Travel Abroad Fund for economically disadvantaged students.
25% - Establishing a fund that supports student start-up businesses.
"¢ Dispelling myths and generalizations of people of African descent through innovative programming with a focus on affirmed cultural identity, community engagement, and cultural development
"¢ Foster and promote economic empowerment with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and small business ownership
"¢ Emphasize the importance of family, community, and intergenerational connectedness.
"¢ Promote tolerance of various cultures and sub-communities within the Black community including, but not limited to: Island, African, and tribal cultures, the Black LGBTQ community, the elderly, Black youth, incarcerated persons, single-parents, the disabled, and various political and religious affiliations.
Vision
Falling Black in Love will showcase the exceptionality of youth, and inspire communities to support both their educational attainment and cultural enrichment, spur support for minority owned businesses, and promote community progression.
Falling Black in Love will soon become a staple on every college campus and urban community in the nation and eventually, throughout the world.
Short-Term Goals:
"¢ Establish strong presence on the campus of Florida A&M University
"¢ Establish symposium on Black male youth retention
"¢ Establish symposium of Black female youth in STEM
"¢ Establish support group for students who are small business owners
"¢ Establish presence in community by meeting the various needs of community members
"¢ Establish culturally relevant and professionally based mentoring programs for African-American youth
Long-Term Goals:
"¢ Establish research institutes focused on issues unique to the African and African American experience including a natural hair research institute and a Black male teacher-training institute
"¢ Establish Falling Black in Love affiliate offices in "high need" areas including, but not limited to: New Orleans, Louisiana, St. Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, and Memphis, Tennessee
"¢ Establish Falling Black in Love affiliate offices on HBCU campuses
"¢ Establish academic exchange programs with various countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America
Guiding Principles
"¢ Tolerance
"¢ Interdependence
"¢ Community
"¢ Love
Proposed Upcoming Events
*The State of Our Children: A Parent's Perspective
*Blowing Off S.T.E.A.M.: A Science and Arts Expositoin
*Health Yes!
* Yoga100
*Nappytism: The Politics of Black Hair
*The ORIGINAL Scandal: Black Women and AIDS 20 Years Later
*Pretty Hurts: How Do We See Ourselves?
*The Return of the Soul Bowl: A Black Business Expo
*At the Foot of the Elders
Future Proposed Projects
"¢ Community Academy "“ One of the most frustrating components of the academic setting is that the research produced is often muddled in complicated jargon and inaccessible to the general public and those who actually need it. Community Academy is an online forum and journal that merges the academic rigor of the classroom with the relaxed state of the living room; its purpose is to provide solutions facing our most endangered communities by providing easy, understandable, and relatable information that has met the stringent academic rigor of the academy. The Community Academy will provide graduate students with publishing and research opportunities. (Expected Launch date: August 2015)
"¢ Nappytism - Nappytism is a 12-week sequence designed to prepare young girls and women for the transition of going from processed hair to natural. Combiningg elements of history, psychology, and mental health, Nappytism is designed to introduce participants to the natural hair journey. Each session introduces participants to a different element of the natural hair process and aims to mentally prepare those who participate. There will be 9 sessions in preparation for the "Big Chop." Additionally, there will be 3 "post-chop" sessions. At the end of the 9-week session, participants who agree to take part in the "Big Chop" will do so as part of a culminating event during Women's History Month. (Expected launch date: January 2015)
"¢ Building Brothers Up - Building Brothers Up is a prevention/intervention and youth character development program committed to curbing the robust high-school dropout rates of African American males. Black males between the ages of 14-17 (9th-12th grade), and have been identified by a parent/legal guardian or school representative (principal, teacher, guidance counselor), as "at-risk" are eligible for enrollment. Program participants will engage in an intensive 8-week program designed to address several key areas of academic social, and personal development. (Expected launch date: August 2016)
Fund Allocation
25% - Support of upcoming and future Falling Black in Love Projects
25% - Establishing RETENTION scholarships for HBCU students.
25% - Establishing a Travel Abroad Fund for economically disadvantaged students.
25% - Establishing a fund that supports student start-up businesses.
Organizer
Eric Wright
Organizer
Tallahassee, FL
