Our Intention

Our Commitment

The Black Girl Streams (BGS) represents a transformative vision for Black girlhood studies in Europe. Our intention is to create a comprehensive, interdisciplinary platform that centers Black girls' experiences, amplifies their voices, and builds sustainable networks of support, research, and advocacy across European countries.

This document outlines our past achievements, present initiatives, and future aspirations as we work towards establishing BGS as the leading voice for Black girlhood studies in Europe.

Our Past: Foundation and Early Impact

Research Foundation

BGS was founded on the groundbreaking research of Dr. Silhouette Bushay, whose doctoral thesis "Uncovering a Grimey Hip Hop Critical Race (Feminist) Pedagogy" (2025) examines Black girl space, lives, and pedagogies in Britain. This foundational work established the theoretical framework for understanding Black girlhood experiences in European contexts.

Academic Contributions

Our early contributions include the publication "Public Pedagogies of Resistance: Black British Women, Talk Di Ting" in Black Music in Britain in the Twenty-First Century (2023), which foregrounds scholarship from a British context engaging Black womanhood, Hip Hop, Grime, and pedagogical insights.

Community Building

From our inception, we have focused on building bridges between academic research and community practice, recognizing that meaningful change requires both scholarly rigor and grassroots engagement.

Our Present: Active Development and Growth

Digital Platform Development

We are currently developing a comprehensive digital platform that includes:

• Community Streams: Geographic Stream Networks (GSN) and Special Interest Streams (SIS) connecting members across Europe
• Research Hub: A centralized repository for Black girlhood studies research and resources
• Opportunities Portal: Call for papers, collaborations, and professional development opportunities
• Blog Platform: BGS Blog featuring interdisciplinary content on Black girlhood in European countries
• Event Management: System for organizing and promoting events, meetings, and conferences
• Membership System: Progressive pricing structure ensuring accessibility for all community members

Geographic Expansion

We are actively establishing Geographic Stream Networks across five European regions:

• Eastern Europe GSN: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania
• Southern Europe GSN: Slovenia, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Western Europe GSN: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, France, Monaco, Liechtenstein
• Northern Europe GSN: United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland
• Central Europe GSN: Hungary, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein

Research Capacity Building

Our current initiatives include:

• Mentorship programs for emerging researchers
• Research collaboration facilitation
• Methodological workshops and training
• Grant writing support and funding opportunities
• Publication support and peer review networks

Community Engagement

We are building active communities through:

• Regular virtual and in-person meetings
• Forum discussions and knowledge sharing
• Collaborative research projects
• Professional development workshops
• Advocacy and policy engagement

Our Future: Vision and Aspirations

Short-term Goals (1-2 years)

• Complete platform development and launch
• Establish active communities in all five Geographic Stream Networks
• Launch inaugural BGS conference
• Develop comprehensive research database
• Establish partnerships with 10+ academic institutions
• Create mentorship program for early career researchers
• Launch first cohort of Special Interest Streams

Medium-term Goals (3-5 years)

• Establish BGS as the leading voice for Black girlhood studies in Europe
• Develop accredited training programs for practitioners
• Create policy recommendations for European institutions
• Establish research funding mechanisms
• Launch peer-reviewed journal for Black girlhood studies
• Develop curriculum resources for educational institutions
• Create advocacy toolkit for community organizations

Long-term Vision (5-10 years)

• Establish Black girlhood studies as a recognized academic discipline in Europe
• Create sustainable funding streams for research and community programs
• Develop international partnerships with similar organizations globally
• Establish BGS as a policy advisor to European governments
• Create comprehensive data collection systems on Black girlhood experiences
• Develop innovative methodologies for participatory research with Black girls
• Establish BGS as a model for similar organizations worldwide

Areas of Impact

Research Excellence

We aim to produce high-quality, ethically conducted research that centers Black girls' voices and experiences, contributing to the global body of knowledge on Black girlhood studies.

Community Empowerment

Our work focuses on building capacity within Black communities, supporting frontline organizations, and developing leadership skills among Black girls and young women.

Policy Influence

We seek to inform policy development at local, national, and European levels, ensuring that Black girls' needs and rights are recognized and addressed in legislation and practice.

Educational Transformation

We work to transform educational systems to better serve Black girls, developing curricula, training educators, and creating inclusive learning environments.

Cultural Preservation and Innovation

We celebrate and preserve Black cultural expressions while supporting innovative forms of cultural production and artistic expression among Black girls and young women.

Our Core Values