Empowered Black Girl

Mentor. Empower. Create.

Empowering Futures, Celebrating Strength

Welcome to Empowered Black Girl. A program dedicated to uplifting, celebrating and supporting the strength of Black girls. Explore our initiatives, connect with our community and be part of a movement that empowers the future and creates long lasting change. Together we rise!

Empowered Black Girl is an initiative by Black Women Connect Vancouver, designed for Black girls in grades 7 - 12 across the Lower Mainland in BC. Rooted in community, the program fosters personal growth, empowerment, and positive self-identity while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities Black girls face. Each Empowered Black Girls program is dedicated to creating a safe, nurturing space where participants can thrive and reach their full potential.

This year’s theme, “Becoming Her,” centers growth, self-discovery, and stepping into one’s full potential – academically, personally, and professionally.

APPLY NOW FOR 2026

Our Vision

To inspire, uplift and empower young Black girls to embrace their identities, break barriers and create meaningful change in their communities and beyond.

Our Experience

During our annual conference, Empowered Black Girls creates space for meaningful connection, growth, and expression. Through workshops, mentorship, and storytelling, participants explore topics that matter to them and their communities. With the support of professionals in media, business, arts, and beyond, mentees are encouraged to use their voices, share their perspectives, and develop the confidence and skills to lead, create, and inspire change.

Our Goals

Empowered Black Girls is committed to fostering meaningful connections and integrating key elements of an effective mentorship. Experienced mentors will provide guidance to support mentees’ growth and development while nurturing a strong and supportive bond that empowers them.

Program Focus Areas

Mentorship is an intervention that remaps brain architecture, a process which sets the participant up for a lifetime of resilience, positive social interaction, and academic and eventually career success. One of the projected outcomes for EBG is mentorship, and within our community there are women with professional and life experiences who are qualified to offer informal mentorship. During the program we encourage participants to make these important connections, EBG will facilitate and monitor the process.
EBG hosts workshops that cover topics like goal setting, emotional intelligence, and vision board exercises. The goal is to provide the necessary tools for participants to manage their own personal development journey effectively. Participants are also encouraged to participate in the EBG internship program which exposes participants to their career fields of interest.
Social support theory, intersectionality theory and participant statements all emphasize the importance of community to mental health. It is with this understanding that EBG creates spaces for open conversation between participants, mentors, and program facilitators. EBG participants also build community through 1:1 and group interactions during programs. Post event, participants are invited to join a group chat platform that allows everyone from that cohort to stay in touch.
There are several factors intersect to influence the mental health of Black girls in Canada, including racism and discrimination, gender inequity, stigma, low income, and societal pressure. More than ever before stress and anxiety around these issues increased in recent times due to the pandemic and the human rights violations brought on Black people in and outside Canada. The importance of access to health and wellness tools are glaringly evident and to this end, EBG has identified industry professionals that will guide our participants as they build their own stress management toolkit by teaching mindfulness meditation sessions, breathing techniques and self-affirmation practice.

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Testimonials

“Here at the Empowered Black Girl conference, everyone is amazing. The mentors are amazing, there are so many things to do, and it's a comforting space.”

Participant
“It was such a pleasure leading the morning meditation & breathwork sessions. EBG held the perfect space for an impactful event, and it was so amazing to watch the young beautiful Black girls step out of their comfort zone and into their light while engaging and sharing their truths. EBG has the potential to impact young women across the country. I will be glad to take part again next year.”

Program Panelist
“I want to see this event go on every year. My daughter will attend this event to keep her community of Black friends. A place which offers them a space of belonging and knowing that people care for them and that their lives matter within this context. Kudos to the Empowered Black Girls (EBG) team.”

Participant’s Parent