BROOKLYN, NY — Great ideas aren’t born, they are nurtured. That’s the mindset that Aiesha Turman, producer-director ofThe Black Girl Project who has announced the launch of a fundraising effort using social media platform,Kickstarter.
In the three years since Aiesha began working on the film, it has made inroads in the New York City, DC and Phoenix, communities and is ready to expand its reach. But with any work destined to make a mark in a community, funding is needed.
With a goal of $8000 in mind, Aiesha Turman has enlisted the help of Kickstarter. The money raised will go toward expanding the formats of the film and the curriculum, which explores the themes of family, obstacles, dreams, love and relationships—all issues tackled in the film. The film, curricula and the Black Girl Project book, a behind the scenes peek into the creation of the film, will be used to build critical thinking, inspire dialogue and empower young women and girls.
“The Black Girl Project is just a small, but vital piece of the puzzle to help ignite change and empower young women,” said Ms. Turman. “ I’m passionate about it and the potential of all that it has.”
ABOUT BLACK GIRL PROJECT
The Black Girl Project aims to address the challenges girls face in their daily lives, in addition to helping girls build a strong sense of self, develop healthy relationships and take care of their bodies and minds. Black women and girls are under siege within their own communities and society at large. Not only are they more likely to contract HIV/AIDS, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they are at high risk for physical and sexual assault, and death from curable/manageable ailments such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. In addition, they are more likely to be living at or below the poverty line.
The Black Girl Project addresses the critical worldwide problem of low self-esteem, lack of education, poverty rates and issues specific to black adolescent and pre-adolescent girls regardless of ethnicity. The Black Girl Project is designed to foster positive self-esteem, critical thinking, leadership, academic achievement, community service and entrepreneurial skills among girls, ages 8 to 17, in the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Europe — wherever there are black girls in need.
This film, also the impetus for a non-profit of the same name, seeks to portray black girls as the complex beings they are. Not just the two sides of the coin we see perpetuated in the media: saint or sinner. It also seeks to spark inter and intra-generational dialogue between black girls and women.
