Because Justice Matters

Gwendolyn Brooks (19172000) was a prolific poet & the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. She was only 13 when her first poem was published. Before she turned 17, she had already published 75 poems. She started young, & her fervor never let up. After winning her Pulitzer & being named the poet laureate of Illinois, Brooks also became the poetry consultant to the Library of Congress. In that role, she would visit local schools & encourage students to use their voices, which she viewed as her most important duty. #celebrateblackhistory

Raven Wilkinson was the first African American ballerina to dance full-time in a major American touring troupe. Dancing in the 1950s, she faced a lot of discrimination because of her skin color. Her story has been written into this unflinching, yet age-appropriate children's book that we LOVE & recommend to everyone, especially parents parents wanting to have relevant conversations with your young dancers. Here's a video of the story being read aloud! #blackballerinas #ravenwilkinson #blackhistorymonth2021

Our Lily Club students recently listened to Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb," which she delivered at President Biden's inauguration. They noted what stood out to them in the poem, then fixated on this line: "But one thing is certain, If we merge mercy with might, and might with right,... then love becomes our legacy." Our girls said that they want to leave a legacy of promise, positivity, & kindness. What kind of legacy do you want to leave? #becausejusticematters #bjmlilyclub #bjmyouth #tenderloinyouth #amandagorman #legacyoflove

Want to celebrate the weekend, Valentines Day, & Black History Month all at once? Order some scrumptious Jamaican food from this San Francisco, female-run, Black-owned restaurant! Peaches Patties is one of the many La Cocina businesses that we LOVE. Order before the end of the week to pick up this weekend! #supportlocal #supportblackbusinesses

Have you seen "Hair Love?" It's a heart-warming story of an African-American father, his daughter, & her hair. The creators (Matthew A. Cherry, Everett Downing Jr., & Bruce W. Smith) noticed a lack of Black representation in mainstream animated projects. They wanted to change that, while also promoting hair love amongst young men & women of color. Take some time today to watch this Academy Awardwinning short film! #morethanamonth #hairlove #blackjoy

We are jumping for joy today because we are one of 25 recipients of Generosity: Bay Area's $130k #ThisGenerousMoment Grant! Next up: Catch us at their virtual event on February 25 to find out how organizations in the Bay Area & beyond are impacting communities through radical generosity: https://bit.ly/2MoWX6O