Our Work

The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative is shaping a vision for liberation grounded in the power, wisdom, and leadership of Black women.

Our strategic priorities guide this work: Power-Building & Organizing to sustain movements for systemic change; Dismantling Anti-Blackness in every form it takes; Community & Movement Building to strengthen collective impact; advancing Economic & Political Justice so our communities can thrive; Connecting to the “Why” to keep our work rooted in purpose; and anchoring it all in Womanist Theology, which affirms our faith, humanity, and brilliance. Together, these priorities form a blueprint for lasting transformation across the South.

Build Infrastructure for Collective Power

We are designing systems that let Black women-led organizations move with strength and freedom, not red tape. By sharing resources, knowledge, and strategy, we’re building the foundation for long-term power across the South.

Illustration of a woman with dark skin and long black hair, dressed in a purple blazer and pink tie, standing with arms crossed. Orange arrows point inward toward her from all directions, emphasizing focus on her. Icon represents the goal of "Shift Power Dynamics."

Shift Power Dynamics

We’re not just challenging the system, we’re reimagining who holds power and how it’s used. Through organizing, campaigns, and political education, we’re building new relationships between people and power.

Illustration of two women in professional attire standing and talking. Both wear purple blazers and pink tops; one holds a tablet. Colorful speech bubbles appear above them, symbolizing conversation or communication. The icon represents the goal of "Deepen Base Building."

Deepen Base-Building

Our organizing is rooted in real relationships. We invest in local leaders, train everyday people, and build community power from the ground up, because deep roots grow lasting change.

Illustration showing one woman in business attire holding a tablet, connected by a line to a group of three people of different ages and appearances above her. Orange arrows radiate outward from the group, symbolizing outreach, influence, or connection to others. The icon represents the goal of "Expand Organizing Capacity."

Expand Organizing Capacity

We grow by lifting as we climb. By supporting Black women organizers across counties and parishes, we expand our reach and impact. This is how we win, in community, not isolation.

Illustration of a raised hand with dark skin holding a pencil. The wrist is adorned with pink and orange beaded bracelets, symbolizing creativity, empowerment, and expression. The icon represents the goal of "Build Narrative & Ideological Power."

Build Narrative & Ideological Power

We tell the truth and shift the story. Through culturally grounded messaging and storytelling, we disrupt false narratives, mobilize our communities, and shape public perception in ways that re

Illustration of an archery target with red and white concentric circles. A single arrow is stuck near the center, symbolizing focus, precision, or achieving a goal. The icon represents the goal of "Accountability and Action."

Accountability & Action

We measure what matters and we move with intention. With a shared strategy and clear metrics, we hold ourselves and our systems accountable to the communities we serve and the future we’re building.

Alabama Black Voter Research Project

From the Ground Up: A Community Listening Project Rooted in Black Power

Understanding Voting Challenges and Community Concerns from the Voices of Nearly 2,000 Black Alabamians

About the Report

This report is the result of a statewide listening project led by Black women, designed to elevate the concerns, hopes, and everyday civic realities of Black communities in Alabama. Collected from nearly 2,000 voices across the state, From the Ground Up offers a deeper look at how Black Alabamians are engaging civic life, beyond the ballot box, and how policies and narratives must shift to reflect their lived experiences. This is data for us, by us, and with us. It is a tool to build power, inform strategy, and guide solutions rooted in community truth.

Download the Report

This report is the result of a statewide listening project led by Black women, designed to elevate the concerns, hopes, and everyday civic realities of Black communities in Alabama. Collected from nearly 2,000 voices across the state, From the Ground Up offers a deeper look at how Black Alabamians are engaging civic life, beyond the ballot box, and how policies and narratives must shift to reflect their lived experiences. This is data for us, by us, and with us. It is a tool to build power, inform strategy, and guide solutions rooted in community truth.

Download the Report

The E.L.L.A. Program

E.L.L.A.: Embolden, Learn, Lead, Agitate

The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative (BSWC) envisions a South where organizing is second nature. We are building an infrastructure for liberation where communities have the tools, knowledge, and connections to advocate for themselves and build lasting power.

In that spirit, we are proud to launch the E.L.L.A. Coaching Program—Embolden, Learn, Lead, Agitate—inspired by the legacy of Ella Baker. This initiative will anchor BSWC’s strategy to contest for power through deep organizing that nurtures ongoing, meaningful connections throughout the community.

Black people make up a higher percentage of the voting bloc in the South than anywhere else in the country, and building Black political power in this region has seismic consequences for the national political map. The midterm and gubernatorial elections in 2026 represent an urgent test of our collective power. With the first cohort of organizers moving through the ELLA Coaching Program, we aim to mobilize voters for immediate political impact and establish sustainable, community-led power to reshape the South for generations to come.

Guiding this transformative work is Jessica Martin Mitchell, the Director of the E.L.L.A. Program. Jessica is deeply passionate about liberation for all people from the oppressive systems and structures that inhibit healthy, thriving lives. She believes that organizing through authentic community relationships—and creating space for leadership development—is one of the most powerful tools we have for change.

Her experience spans community organizing and electoral campaigning, with a strong emphasis on faith-based and membership-driven work.

Download the Brochure

The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative (BSWC) envisions a South where organizing is second nature. We are building an infrastructure for liberation where communities have the tools, knowledge, and connections to advocate for themselves and build lasting power.

In that spirit, we are proud to launch the E.L.L.A. Coaching Program—Embolden, Learn, Lead, Agitate—inspired by the legacy of Ella Baker. This initiative will anchor BSWC’s strategy to contest for power through deep organizing that nurtures ongoing, meaningful connections throughout the community.

Black people make up a higher percentage of the voting bloc in the South than anywhere else in the country, and building Black political power in this region has seismic consequences for the national political map. The midterm and gubernatorial elections in 2026 represent an urgent test of our collective power. With the first cohort of organizers moving through the ELLA Coaching Program, we aim to mobilize voters for immediate political impact and establish sustainable, community-led power to reshape the South for generations to come.

Guiding this transformative work is Jessica Martin Mitchell, the Director of the E.L.L.A. Program. Jessica is deeply passionate about liberation for all people from the oppressive systems and structures that inhibit healthy, thriving lives. She believes that organizing through authentic community relationships—and creating space for leadership development—is one of the most powerful tools we have for change.

Her experience spans community organizing and electoral campaigning, with a strong emphasis on faith-based and membership-driven work.

Download the Brochure

A group of people stand and gather under a white canopy outdoors, looking at their phones or listening attentively. Several wear beige ‘Memphis Artists for Change’ shirts, while one person in front crouches down holding a phone. The setting appears to be a community event on a sunny day near a brick building.

Two people wearing matching beige ‘Memphis Artists for Change’ T-shirts stand outdoors on a grassy area having a conversation. The man holds a tablet while gesturing as he speaks, and the woman listens, holding items in her hands. Trees and a residential street are visible in the background, suggesting a community event.

Five people stand together smiling in front of a wall decorated with portraits of Black women in Afrocentric art styles. The group includes three women and two men standing arm in arm. One person wears a shirt that says ‘Memphis Artists for Change,’ and another wears a shirt that reads ‘God Don’t Make No Junk Cheef.’ The setting appears warm and creative, highlighting community and collaboration.

Our Blueprint for a Liberated South

A liberated South is one where Black women are not just surviving, but thriving, leading with vision, holding institutional power, living in safety, and shaping narratives rooted in truth. It looks like our people cared for, our voices respected, and our communities resourced. This blueprint is both a declaration and a roadmap, born from our lived experiences, spiritual wisdom, and generational dreams.

Download the Resource