Joy and Justice Tour Brings Hope to Southern Black Girls

Co-founded by Latasha Brown, Felecia Lucky, Alice Eason Jenkins, and Margo Miller, the Consortium is supported by four anchor institutions: the Appalachian Community Fund, the BlackBelt Community Foundation, the Fund for Southern Communities, and the TruthSpeaks Innovation Foundation. Their core mission is to disrupt traditional grantmaking practices and channel greater resources to the underfunded Black women-led organizations that are on the ground, intentionally supporting and empowering Black girls and women throughout the South.

Since its inception, Southern Black Girls has made a significant impact, awarding over $11.4 million to more than 250 Black women-led organizations. Beyond institutional grants, they have provided over $600,000 in micro-grants to more than 1,000 girls through innovative initiatives such as the #BlackGirlJoyChallenge. The organization has also set an ambitious ten-year goal to raise $100 million, aiming to financially empower Black girls and women across 13 Southern states.

Latasha Brown, a prominent American community organizer, political strategist, and consultant, is the driving force behind this vision. Hailing from Selma, Alabama, Brown is also widely recognized as the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter, which played a pivotal role in the 2017 U.S. Senate special election in Alabama and the crucial 2020–21 Georgia state elections. Her work consistently challenges conservatism in the American South and directly confronts voter suppression, particularly concerning Black Americans. Brown frequently emphasizes the critical importance of supporting Black women and girls from a young age, highlighting the complex intersection of racism and sexism they often face. She previously founded the Saving Our Selves Coalition, a community-led disaster relief organization that aided families after Hurricane Katrina, and was honored with the 2010 White House Champion of Change Award. Brown articulated the profound philosophy behind the tour, stating, "Joy has always been our strategy. But in this moment, joy is also our intervention." She also often declares her belief that "if you change the life of a Black girl, you change the world."

Leading the Consortium as Executive Director is Chauncee Lundy, appointed to her role on March 26, 2025. Lundy brings decades of leadership experience as an accomplished environmental engineer, entrepreneur, and social justice advocate. Her journey with the Consortium is described as a "full-circle moment," as she was mentored by Latasha Brown as a 14-year-old in Selma, Alabama, through a community youth program. This personal history underscores her deep commitment to empowering Black girls and women. Before joining Southern Black Girls, Lundy co-owned an engineering and planning firm, Nspiregreen, LLC, for over eleven years, selling it in 2020. She also founded Destination Liberation, an initiative that fosters cross-cultural connections for Black girls through travel in the African Diaspora, and co-designed Harvard University's Power, Innovation, and Leadership program for Southern women leaders. Lundy has stated the importance of their work, observing, "Organizations are struggling, and we want to make sure that people know that we see them. We value the work that we're doing, and we want to be able to help fill some of the gaps that they are experiencing." She further emphasizes joy as a "measurable, transformative investment in the mental health, resilience, and leadership of Black girls and femme-identifying youth across the South."

Candace Dixon, the tour's organizer, highlighted the event's goal to bridge generational gaps and serve as an intervention for young girls. Dixon noted, "There's so much going on affecting black girls and women in the South, and this is meant to bring joy and justice to these communities. We cannot fight for justice without joy, and we can't really have joy without justice." This sentiment captures the essence of the tour's dual focus: acknowledging the struggles while actively cultivating moments of happiness and empowerment as a form of resistance.

The tour's remaining stops include New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 20, 2026, at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 10, 2026; Eatonville, Florida, on July 11, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, on August 8, 2026; Richmond, Virginia, on August 21, 2026, at Capitol Square; Charleston, West Virginia, on August 22, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, on September 26, 2026; and Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 27, 2026. These events aim to create spaces where Black girls and women can feel seen, valued, and equipped with the tools and support needed to thrive, proving that the pursuit of joy is an integral part of the fight for justice.