Black Girl Joy Challenge
Where Joy Becomes a Movement: Supporting Young Changemakers Across the South
Joy is not a luxury. Joy is strategy. We built the #BlackGirlJoyChallenge on that belief, and this year we are teaming up again with Megan Thee Stallion’s Pete & Thomas Foundation to award 100 micro-grants to Black girls ages 13 to 24 across the South.
Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium’s #BlackGirlJoyChallenge welcomes Black girls, young women, femme identifying youth and youth from marginalized communities ages 13-24 who can describe their ideas for spreading JOY with their friends, families, and communities to apply for a monetary challenge award of $550 each. Black Girl Joy Challenge winners must complete their JOY projects in allotted time and allow SBGWC the opportunity to showcase them and what brings them joy!
We’re looking for 100 winners who will bring their dreams to life through creative and impactful projects.
Eligibility:
- Must be a Black, girl, young woman, femme identifying youth or from a marginalized community to apply
- Must be between the ages of 13-24
- Must live in one of 13 Southern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, or West Virginia
Categories:
Participants can compete in one of the following categories:
- Joy in Health & Wellness. Nutrition workshops, fitness clubs, wellness kits, community health events.
- Joy in Personal Wellness. Vision board sessions, affirmation kits, gratitude clubs, confidence-building events.
- Joy Through Mental Health & Emotional Wellness. Healing circles, mindfulness workshops, peer support groups, resource kits.
- Joy Through Creative Expression & Arts. Murals, talent showcases, spoken word nights, podcasts, photo exhibits.
- Joy Through Physical Wellness & Recreation. Field days, Double Dutch clubs, yoga classes, hiking groups, family fitness events.
Your challenge must connect to the #BlackGirlJoy Challenge category you selected and show how your idea will create joy for yourself and others.
Joy in Health & Wellness
Projects that promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging Black girls to care for their physical health, nutrition, and overall well-being while building healthy habits that last a lifetime.
Examples:
- Hosting healthy cooking or nutrition workshops
- Organizing a community wellness or fitness event
- Starting a walking, running, or fitness club
- Creating wellness kits with healthy living resources
- Teaching healthy habits through fun activities
- Promoting health education in your school or community
Joy in Personal Wellness
Projects that encourage self-love, confidence, personal growth, and self-care by helping Black girls build healthy habits, positive self-esteem, and joyful daily routines.
Examples:
- Creating self-care or affirmation kits
- Hosting vision board or goal-setting workshops
- Starting a journaling or gratitude club
- Organizing self-love or confidence-building events
- Creating positive affirmation campaigns
- Leading activities that encourage mindfulness and personal growth
Joy Through Mental Health & Emotional Wellness
Projects that support the emotional well-being of Black girls by creating safe spaces, reducing stigma, promoting healing, and increasing access to mental health resources.
Examples:
- Hosting mental health or healing circles
- Creating stress-relief or mindfulness workshops
- Developing mental health resource kits
- Inviting counselors or therapists to speak with youth
- Organizing peer support groups
- Creating campaigns that promote emotional wellness and self-care
Joy Through Creative Expression & Arts
Projects that inspire Black girls to express themselves through art, music, writing, dance, theater, photography, film, or other creative outlets while celebrating their voices, talents, and stories.
Examples:
- Hosting an art, music, or talent showcase
- Creating a community mural or public art project
- Organizing poetry, spoken word, or creative writing workshops
- Producing a podcast, video series, or photography exhibit
- Leading dance, theater, or music programs
- Creating artwork that celebrates Black girl joy and identity
Joy Through Physical Wellness & Recreation
Projects that encourage Black girls to stay active, build confidence, and strengthen friendships through recreation, outdoor activities, games, and movement.
Examples:
- Organizing a field day or community game day
- Starting a Double Dutch, jump rope, or hula hoop club
- Hosting dance fitness or yoga classes
- Creating a hiking, biking, or walking group
- Organizing recreational camps or outdoor adventures
- Planning family fitness or wellness events
What You’ll Submit:
- Your joyful idea – What are you planning? What will it look like?
- How it spreads joy – Why this idea? Who does it uplift? What will it shift?
- A clear impact statement – What difference will it make?
- A simple budget – How will you use the $550 to bring this idea to life?
- Your commitment – You’ll complete your project within one month of receiving funds.
Apply
The application opens August 10th and closes August 24th.
Information Sessions:
We are hosting an information session to provide an overview of the application and process. This session will equip you with the tools and information necessary to guide you through the application process and answer any questions you may have. Attendance at these sessions is not required.
To support participants, we’ll host two live workshops. Register:
Questions:
For question, email grants@southernblackgirls.org
