Girl Rising’s Post

🚨 Reintroducing "March On" – A New Chapter in Our Story 🚨 Our world, as beautiful as it can be, still needs healing. While we all contribute, it often feels like it's never enough. One vital step toward progress is truth—understanding where we come from and what must change. This belief has always driven the March on Washington Film Festival, born from the creativity and passion of many minds. Now, we’re evolving and rebranding as March On to reflect our expanded mission: telling the untold stories of the Civil Rights Movement, honoring those who paved the way, and connecting history to the future. What sets March On apart is how we transcend literal marching by using all forms of visual and performing arts to tell these stories—through singing, dancing, drawing, filming, cooking, and writing. This storytelling legacy, passed down through generations of African-ancestored people, continues to be a catalyst for movements and progress. These are the Stories That Move, and we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire action. As we move forward as March On, our mission remains the same: to honor those who paved the way and to understand how our story connects to the future. Read the full message from Joanne Tull Irby, our Executive Director: https://lnkd.in/eBCcd9WW #MarchOn #NewBeginnings #StoriesThatMove #Culture #CivilRights

Legacy Continuation: Students recreate Lowe's gowns, learning her artisanship, ensuring her legacy endures. @winterthurmuse @fitnyc #blackwomenstitch #annlowe #stitchpleasepodcast #legacycontinues #fashionhistory #creativeresilience #creativeliberation #sewingpodcast

Joanna Okey-Ogunjiofor and Opeyemi Taiwo are doing something amazing with their initiative at Femme Film Collective! Inspired by their audacity, I decided to do a little research on what the numbers are saying as it concerns women in film in Nigeria and across Africa. I hope these numbers inspire you to believe in their initiative 💖. In Nigeria alone, women account for 49.45% of the population (World Bank, 2022). However, despite their numbers, women's representation in technical and leadership roles remains limited. For instance, studies show that only 20-25% of technical roles in media and film industries across Africa are held by women, a percentage that drops even further when considering Black women in specialized roles like editing, sound design, and cinematography (UNESCO, 2020). What's happening in the Nigerian film industry is a reflection of larger global trends. While Nollywood is the second-largest film industry globally, it still mirrors the gender gaps seen worldwide. In fact, across Africa, women working in the film sector—especially those behind the scenes—often face systemic barriers, including underrepresentation, pay disparities, and limited access to opportunities. Less than 10% of African women in the industry hold leadership positions in film production and technical fields (African Women's Development Fund, 2021). This is why communities like Femme Film Collective are so vital. By creating a space for Black women to collaborate and empower each other, this initiative is challenging the status quo and filling a much-needed gap. Not only does it celebrate the creative and technical prowess of Black women, but it also provides a platform for their stories to be told, offering diversity of thought and perspective. We need more initiatives like Femme Film Collective, where empowerment and representation are key drivers. Every woman behind the camera is an opportunity to tell a story the world needs to hear. If you're a woman and you want to join a community of like-minded people who are looking to shine the torch on women, there's a community for you. Your seat awaits you here- https://lnkd.in/d3GZVm5v. Don't forget to tell a friend to tell a friend that Femme Film Collective is live 🥳🥳! #FemmeFilmCollective #WomenInFilm #BlackWomenInFilm #RepresentationMatters

Embracing the Spotlight: Breaking the Stigma of Wanting Attention Discover why enjoying the center stage is not a character flaw but a valid desire. Explore the paradox of society's obsession with celebrities versus the judgment faced by individuals who crave attention. Join the discussion on owning your spotlight without compromising your authenticity. #EmbracingTheSpotlight #BreakingTheStigma #DesireForAttention #AuthenticityMatters #OwningYourSpotlight #EmbracingYourself #CenterStageGrowth #SocietyAndAttention #RecognizingDesire #ValidationJourney

Have you heard our origin story before? Here's a quick picture from our Founder & CEO, Kevin P. Davenport 📈 #Legacy #mominfluencer #blackbusiness #blackbusinesswomen #blackentrepreneur #blackinbusiness #minorityownedbusiness #softskills #workforcedevelopment #reachforthestars 💫

Passion Chats was one of the most fun launches of 2023 for me - I started it thinking "wonder if I'll like it...?", and then "wonder if anyone will listen?!" - answers were YES and YES! 2024 is off to a big start with the latest episode featuring Trish Cook, out now! 🎙 #podcast #podcasthost #nativevoices #comedy #fearless

Have you watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith? No, I am not talking about that stupid film from 2005, but new, radical re-imagining on Amazon Prime. The new mini series casts Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as #neurotic millennial strangers who become spies posing as a married couple. After becoming one of Prime Video's top five new #series debuts ever, the show has been called a strange mix of a globetrotting spy saga like #JackRyan and the #mumblecore-adjacent world of Lena Dunham's #Girls, that uses #dark humor and distinct sensibility to capture #millennial emotional and economic #anxieties. The show leverages glamour and #spythriller tropes as a backdrop to subtly examine the #challenges of contemporary heterosexual #relationships, like starting a family, financial incompatibility, and sexual kinks. Come for millennial Pinterest board inspired Manhattan brownstones and lavish, terracotta towns of Northern Italy, stay for darkly comedic vivisection of modern #heterosexuality. Check out my new signal for Canvas8 on how millennial and Gen Z audiences are increasingly attracted to bold, witty, and idiosyncratic narratives that subvert genre expectations and deconstruct familiar storylines.  #culturalinsights #audiences #MrandMrsSmith

Just came across a profoundly moving Oscar-winning short film depicting the life of a deaf child raised in a household with hearing parents. It stirred a range of emotions within me – awareness, anger, and a deep desire to take action. Did you know that 78% of deaf children are sent to school without any support, where they often feel isolated and powerless? This statistic hit me hard. It's a stark reminder of the challenges faced by so many individuals in our society. As leaders, each of us possesses a unique history and a set of skills that have brought us to where we are today. We have the power to leverage these skills to create positive change and shape new realities. We all have our causes, our passions that ignite a fire within us. Whether it's advocating for the deaf community, promoting equality, or tackling environmental issues – there's something that calls to us, urging us to make a difference. I invite you to heed that calling. Take action. Lead by example. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and create a more inclusive and compassionate world. I've included a link to the short film in the comments below. Let's watch it together and continue the conversation on how we can drive positive change. #MakeADifference #LeadWithPurpose

Celebrating my birthday on June 22, this curated list of cinematic gems showcases the diverse ways birthdays are woven into storytelling. From timeless classics to family-friendly comedies, each film offers a unique perspective on birthday magic. Spanning various genres, these films provide something for everyone: nostalgic family adventures, heartwarming tales of unlikely friendships, or feminist surreal horror movies. Each movie resonates with the universal experience of marking another year of life. https://lnkd.in/gF-PvuFC

Belmont alumna Caroline Eiseman "can't stop the beat!" 🎶 Caroline recently wrapped up her role as Tracy Turnblad in the national tour of "Hairspray." For current and prospective Belmont students, she offered this advice: "Trust your gut. Don't take no for an answer. You are uniquely you, and nobody else can be you. When you bring your best version of yourself to a room, you will give your best product." Learn more about Caroline's journey to Hairspray: https://lnkd.in/eRSSiu5e