The Southern Black Girls and Women’s Consortium (Southern Black Girls) successfully concluded its 2025 Black Girls Dream Conference on June 7, 2025. They welcomed over 1,200 Black girls, femme-identifying youth and women from across 13 southern states to Atlanta, GA. The two-day conference, themed “She Got Next,” celebrated Black girl brilliance while providing transformative workshops, networking opportunities and community-building experiences.
Words from the founder
“This conference represents our investment in not just tomorrow’s leaders, but today’s changemakers,” said LaTosha Brown, visionary founder and anchor of Southern Black Girls. “We’re creating a powerful ecosystem where Black girls and women can access the resources, mentorship and community they need to turn their boldest dreams into reality.”
Black Girls Dream Conference events and sponsors
The conference featured over 80 interactive workshops addressing critical topics including mental health, social justice, science and technology, financial empowerment, arts, culture and wellness. Southern Black Girls was proud to welcome Dove, co-founder of the CROWN Coalition, as the “Creating Joy” Sponsor, bringing signature experiences including the Roots to CROWN hair braiding workshop and the Shine & Share photo experience, celebrating natural beauty and cultural heritage. Dove has been working to “Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural hair” by supporting The CROWN movement and the passage of the CROWN Act since 2019. As part of its ongoing mission to make a positive beauty experience universally accessible to all, Dove celebrates the natural beauty and limitless potential of Black girls and women.
She Got Now Awards
Highlights included the inaugural “She Got Now Awards” recognizing outstanding achievements by young Black women, including Calcea Johnson and Na’Kiya Jackson, who made history by solving a 2,000-year-old mathematical proof using trigonometry; Jasmine Carson, NCAA Women’s Basketball National Champion and entrepreneur; and Trinitee Stokes, multi-talented actress, singer, author and the youngest student ever admitted to Emerson College at age 14.
The Global Health Advocacy Program
The event also recognized the Global South Health Advocacy Program, featuring women from across the African diaspora working to advocate for increased investment in global health issues that impact Black women globally. The ceremony also celebrated Dream Investment Program awardees, who received funding through the Southern Black Girls Innovation Fund in partnership with Kindred Futures, with 15 young entrepreneurs under age 18 and 10 early-stage entrepreneurs receiving $1,000 – $5,000 investments in their businesses.
Additional recognition
Additional recognition was given to Black Girl Defense Fund recipients, who received grants to support community-led efforts protecting Black girls’ rights and 25 #BlackGirlJoy Challenge winners ages 12-24, each receiving grants to support project ideas they submitted to spread joy in their communities.
Chanceé Lundy, Executive Director of Southern Black Girls, emphasized the conference’s impact: “Here, Black girls and women are not only celebrated but empowered to dream without limits. Through powerful workshops, inspiring speakers and authentic sisterhood, they gain the tools, confidence and community needed to lead, innovate and transform their futures.”
Words from Youth Ambassadors
Youth Ambassadors from across the South served as conference leaders and shared their transformative experiences. “As a first-time Youth Ambassador for Southern Black Girls, I really enjoyed the conference and the welcoming atmosphere of it all. It exposed me to diversity in my culture. I am honored to be a part of such a great organization,” said Dakota Young, Youth Ambassador.
Alauna Armstead, a young entrepreneur in our Dream Investment Program, reflected: “The community of black girls and women is so amazing to see. I have felt so loved and supported by everyone. I truly hope that every black girl can experience this feeling of being uplifted.”
Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award
The State of Georgia formally recognized the conference’s impact through proclamations presented by State Representative Inga Willis (District 55), who honored Southern Black Girls’ work and presented the Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award to organizational founders, LaTosha Brown and Alice Eason Jenkins…