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
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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 it's 7th Annual Unita Blackwell Young Women’s Leadership Institute

The Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative (SRBWI) will soon be taking applications for scholarships to attend the Sixth Annual Unita Blackwell Young Women’s Leadership Institute, to be held June 22 – 27, 2011 at Tougaloo College. The Institute is open to young women currently in grades 8-12 and who live in one of the SRBWI target counties. Applications will be available online January 15, 2011. The application deadline is March 15th, 2011.

The 2010 Unita Blackwell Young Women's Leadership Institute took place at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS, 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:

Wendy Shenefelt, Regional Youth Organizer
(601) 321-1966
wshenefelt@childrensdefense.org