Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative

"in all of it's work, culture and spirituality are integral components"

Welcome!

The Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative for Economic and Social Justice (SRBWI) promotes the first human rights agenda in the United States aimed at eradicating historical race, class, cultural, religious and gender barriers experienced by southern rural black women.

SRBWI Mission Statement

To nourish the internal capacity of women to take responsibility for their own lives, personally and externally;
To engage women in advocacy and policy initiatives that redirect local, state, and federal resources to help ensure women’s full participation and access to economic and social justice;
To engage women in an economic and community development agenda that includes workforce development;
To develop organizational capacity within the region to sustain this work; and
To build linkages with women’s groups committed to economic and social justice.

SRBWI Young Women Meet with Liberian President

Written by Wendy Shenefelt, SRBWI Regional Youth Organizer

The Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice (SRBWI) sponsored a trip to Memphis, Tennessee for five young women to attend the National Civil Rights Museum’s 2007 Freedom Awards and the Freedom Awards Public Forum. Established in 1991 to pay tribute to individuals whose accomplishments depict the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, the National Civil Rights Museum annually selects a national, international and lifetime achievement award recipient of the Freedom Award. 2007 Freedom Awards Honorees were More>>

2011 Hall of Fame Nominations

Nominations for the 2011 Southern Rural Black Women’s Hall of Fame will be accepted through May 6, 2011. more information

RECENT SRBWI EVENTS

DOWNLOADS
Requires Adobe Acrobat
SRBWI Statement in support of Shirley Sherrod
Status of Human Rights for Southern Rural Black Women - 2007 report.

SRBWI Brochure

TELL US ABOUT THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE AS A BLACK WOMAN IN THE SOUTH
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SRBWI Announces its 8th annual Unita Blackwell Young Women’s Leadership Institute

The Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative (SRBWI) is currently accepting applications for scholarships to attend the Unita Blackwell Young Women’s Leadership Institute, to be held June 20-25, 2012 at Tougaloo College.

The Institute is open to young women currently in grades
8-12 who live in one of the SRBWI target counties. The application deadline is April 16, 2012.

The 2011 Unita Blackwell Young Women's Leadership Institute, as in years past, convened at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, a historically black college.

Participants engaged in interesting, challenging and interactive activities designed to increase leadership skills, acquaint and enhance understanding of the Human Rights Agenda, learn about the rich contributions of southern rural black women to civil and human rights, and experience the rich culture of the southern black experience.

Click here for more information

Contact:

Natalie A. Collier, Regional Youth Director
601.321.1966
ncollier@childrensdefense.org