The Black Girls Equity Alliance
After the first annual Equity Summit, practitioners, researchers, stakeholders, and concerned community members were inspired to take actionable steps to begin to address the structural inequities and subsequent disparities experienced by Black girls in our community.
This call to action resulted in the Black Girls Equity Alliance (BGEA). The BGEA currently has four action teams which focus on improving the outcomes for Black girls in child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and health and wellness.
These action teams have created a space for collaborative interdisciplinary initiatives that have included the development of trauma informed care training, data driven problem solving, participatory action research, and honing community resources to better serve the need of Black girls.
Join Our Action Teams
Despite no evidence linking dress codes to academic performance, Alleghany county schools disproportionately target Black girls with clothing rules. Lack of a unified PPS dress code exacerbates the issue. Join us to combat adultification bias and push for a district-wide directive.
Racial disproportionality persists in Allegheny County’s child welfare system, with too many Black families entering due to poverty-related issues, not neglect. Join this Action Team to equip social workers, educators, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement with tools to recognize and address implicit biases in assessing abuse or neglect.
This Action Team aims to reform Allegheny County’s juvenile legal system through data analysis, community organizing, and policy advocacy. Key focuses include youth fees, citations, diversion, and incarceration. They also support statewide legislative reform efforts.
To support Black girls in obtaining accurate health information and services by building the capacity of providers to deliver trauma-informed care and comprehensive sex education.
Advocating for Equity for Black Girls
Black Girls & Sexuality Education: Access. Equity. Justice.
Institutionalized Inequity: Pathways for Juvenile Justice for Black Girls in Pittsburgh & Allegheny County
Federal Policy Agenda: She Matters: Establishing a Policy Agenda For Black Girls to Thrive
Understanding and Addressing Institutionalized Inequity: Disrupting Pathways to Juvenile Justice for Black Youth in Allegheny County
Update on referrals to Juvenile Justice in Allegheny County
Inequities Affecting Black Girls in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Local and State Policy Agenda
Black Girls Equity Alliance Partners
The Black Girls Equity Alliance (BGEA) is driven by the commitment and collaboration of our dedicated partners, who work alongside us to advocate for and create equitable opportunities for Black girls. We are grateful for their ongoing support in helping us cultivate a community where Black girls can thrive.
We proudly recognize the following BGEA partners for their invaluable contributions:
