A nine-city tour built around music, journaling and a solidarity walk for Black women and girls is coming to a close in north Charlotte this Sunday. The Joy & Justice Tour will hold its final event at Ranson Middle School starting at 1 p.m. on Sept. 27, capping a journey that began in June.
The Southern Black Girls and Women Consortium, founded in 2017, organized the tour, according to WFAE 90.7. The nine-city route began in June and included stops in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Charleston, West Virginia, before its Charlotte finale.
In comments reported by WFAE, consortium executive director Chanceé Lundy said the tour offers an experience created specifically for Black women and girls. Lundy described its goal as celebrating community members and creating a place where they feel seen.
What to Expect at Ranson Middle School
WFAE reported that the Charlotte program includes music, journaling and a solidarity walk. Organizers describe the gathering as a space of love that celebrates Black women's and girls' culture, rather than a typical rally or fundraiser.
Johnson C. Smith University, Black Voters Matter and Black Girl Film Camp helped develop the tour. WFAE reported that the partner organizations are expected to offer information and opportunities to attendees at the Charlotte stop.
The Tour's Final Stop
The north Charlotte gathering is the final stop of the nine-city Southern tour, which began in June.
What the Consortium's Records Show
According to the Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium, its Black Girl Dream Fund launched in September 2020 with a 10-year, $100 million fundraising initiative. The inaugural round supported 71 organizations or projects. The consortium’s grants page lists 13 states where it funds organizations and projects, including North Carolina, Texas and West Virginia.
The story was reported for WFAE by Elvis Menayese, a Report for America corps member who covers race and equity issues for the station, and was published in the outlet's Race & Equity section.
