Over 20 years ago I joined AmeriCorps National Service with a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of children and youth. As I began my term of service, AmeriCorps members frequently had the opportunity to inspire and recruit others by sharing why they serve. More times than I can count, I heard those who had committed themselves to giving back say they were inspired by a special person, Aunt Suzie, or Uncle Jim. A special teacher, Ms. Miller, my neighbor-lady Miss Sally, Mother Joyce at church. This was a person who believed in them, who accepted them, who listened, who encouraged them, who let them know that they mattered. This was, maybe, the one person who truly saw them as who they really were, and not some narrative of who they ought to be. The more I heard these stories the more I realized that my answer to why I serve was that I did not have that person who valued me and was there to cheer me on no matter what. Fast forward to the founding of Black Girl Rising Inc., Sister Fran sharing her work, over lunch at the conservatory. Telling me her dream for supporting Black girls – for building resiliency in Black girls. My response was “What can I do to help?” Since that day, no matter what my personal life challenges have been, during times when my physical, emotional, or time resources have had little extra to spare, I can and did support the ‘work’ however I could.

Today the question is Why I Give. Time. Talent. Money. I give because I know personally what it means to grow into womanhood and not have a sense of your own Black woman self or know the power in being who you are. I give to be part of a community – a village if you will – of women who work to place Black girls at promise. I give because I was a Black girl, growing up believing that she was not good enough. I want our girls to KNOW that they are good enough; I want our girls to know that we SEE them, accept them as they are, and want the best for them. I want our girls to know that we love them. The black girl in me demands it.

Sister Janet George is a former co-chair of the Black Girl Rising Inc. Committee. As a member of Creative Women of Color, she continues to share her artistic and creative skills with the girls of the BGTT.