Happy summer! As temperatures rise across the country, the Black community is abuzz with the sights and sounds that make us unique – from neighborhood block parties and cookouts to concerts in the park, our communities are alive and the energy is palpable.
In the midst of our joyful reunions and celebrations of family and community, we can’t forget that the scourge of domestic, sexual and community violence is an ugly reality that doesn’t go away with the change of seasons.
Ujima, Inc: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community is a national organization with local roots firmly planted in the Black community. We serve the full range of the African diaspora, including Africans, African-Americans, African immigrants, Afro-Caribbeans and Afro-Latinx. The needs of our community are as unique and diverse as our experiences. Our work is guided by the singular vision – to create a world where Black women and girls are valued, respected, safe and free from violence. Our vision is actualized through 5 key goals:
- Act as a resource center tailored to Black survivors of domestic violence and their families and friends.
- Build the capacity of domestic violence service providers in their response to family, domestic, and dating violence in the Black community.
- Advocate for social change and drive policymaking for domestic, sexual and community violence in the Black community.
- Engage in culturally competent research on race, class and equity surrounding victim services and systematic accountability.
- Develop tools that have a direct impact on the reduction of domestic, sexual and community violence in the Black community.
Since its inception, Ujima staff, supporters, advocates, allies and friends have adopted a collaborative approach to addressing domestic, sexual and community violence in the Black Community in a comprehensive way. We are encouraged by the progress we’ve made, yet are fully aware of how much further we need to go to ensure the safety and security of the Black family.
We are excited to announce the first installment of our U-Blast (or Ujima Blast), a bi-monthly publication that is an outward expression of the collective, ongoing work of Ujima and its partner organizations and advocates across the country.
The inaugural issue of the U-Blast will be full of information and insight including a review of the 2019 Essence Festival and a glimpse into the power of Black Philanthropy Month (August). Keep a close watch on your mailbox; you won’t want to miss this must-read resource.
Karma Cottman
Executive Director
Ujima, Inc.: The National Center On Violence Against Women in the Black Community
