As we honor Black History Month and move into Women’s History Month, we honor the brilliance, leadership, and scholarship of Black girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people. Throughout history, Black girls and women have been at the forefront of social movements – leading, theorizing, and demanding change. The Envisioning New Structures Fellowship continues that legacy by centering Black girls and gender-expansive young people as research experts, knowledge producers, and advocates for intersectional justice.
The Envisioning New Structures Fellowship: A Collaborative Effort
The Envisioning New Structures (ENS) Fellowship was designed to harness the power of intersectional youth participatory action research (IYPAR) and provide space for girls and gender-expansive young people to envision futures free from police violence collectively. This fellowship was created in response to our previous research highlighting the unique ways Black girls and gender-expansive young folks experience policing and systemic violence across the nation. This work, including the Power in Our Truths Report Series findings, underscored the critical need for programming that not only documented these experiences but also emboldened young people to advance safety in their communities.
As a co-principal investigator, I led the design and implementation of ENS with the goal of equipping young people with the tools to use research as a means of advocacy, healing, and systemic change. This initiative, supported by a Spencer Foundation Racial Equity Grant, was developed in collaboration with Dr. Lauren Mims, Assistant Professor at NYU Steinhardt, and the Homeplace Research Collective.
Over the past year, nearly 20 fellows, ages 14 to 25, from New Jersey, New York, and the DC area, have engaged in IYPAR, investigating mental health within their communities. Their research examines how gendered racism and the pandemic shaped their well-being and advocates for policies and systems that foster safe, affirming, and healing spaces.
In Their Own Words: Reflections from ENS Fellows
When asked about the significance of being a Black girl or young woman utilizing research as a tool for social change, the fellows shared powerful reflections:
“My experience as a Black girl using research as a tool for change has given me the advantage of knowing how we are perceived by the world—and how our work can reshape that narrative. Everything I’ve done here has led me to become a phenomenal young woman whose research will change lives.”
“To me, being a Black woman using research as a tool for change means reclaiming our narratives, amplifying our voices, and ensuring that our lived experiences shape the policies and systems that impact us. This work has reinforced my belief in the power of knowledge and education to drive healing and transformation, particularly for Black girls and gender-expansive youth who deserve spaces that nurture their well-being.”
“To be a Black girl using research as a tool for change makes me feel like I’m a superhero. I can help save lives, minds, and spirits. This work has helped me define my purpose. I now know my power, and I will pass it on to create a legacy.”
“Research allows me to honor the past voices that came before me and uplift the ones around me. This work has shaped me because research is no longer just an act—it’s a restorative language, articulating the complexities of being a Black girl. Every analysis, insight, and advocacy is a step toward a legacy I pray outlives me.”
"Being a Black girl using research as a tool for change means using the power of storytelling and data to uplift my community and challenge societal structures that weren't built for us to thrive. Now more than ever, highlighting my lived experiences showcases that I am not a D.E.I. candidate, but an individual worthy of recognition and respect. Being involved in research for the past three years has shaped the future I plan for myself. I want to make a difference in all the spaces I enter; having a research background will allow me to educate others and spotlight stories that need to be heard."
"For me, being a Black girl using research as a tool for change means putting hard evidence behind the things we all know to be true. Too often, our hardships, the racism and misogyny we face, are written off as an emotional phenomenon. However, research allows us to empower ourselves with qualitative and quantitative truths. This work is validating, empowering, and motivating. It inspires me to continue forward with my goals to create tangible change even in discouraging environments."
These reflections show just how powerful research is when it’s led by those closest to the issues. When Black girls and gender-expansive young people are positioned as knowledge producers, we’re not just shifting narratives—we’re collectively reshaping systems, demanding more, and making space for the futures we deserve.
Intergenerational Knowledge Building: Foundations and Principles
The ENS Fellowship is more than a research initiative—it is an intergenerational movement. As Black women scholars, we are not here to “empower” Black girls; they are already powerful. Instead, our role is to affirm, nurture, and sustain their power.
The fellowship is rooted in principles that emphasize intergenerational collaboration and the co-creation of knowledge. Grounded in Black feminist thought, participatory research, and my own scholarship on Black girlhood, this work prioritizes sisterhood, reciprocity, and positionality, recognizing that:
- Sisterhood as Praxis: Building relationships grounded in mutual care and respect dismantles traditional hierarchies, fostering authentic partnerships.
- Positionality and Reflexivity: Continuous self-reflection ensures we remain aware of how our identities influence the research process.
- Epistemic Justice: Validating the lived experiences of Black girls and gender-expansive young folks positions them as co-theorists, essential to understanding and addressing systemic inequities.
Erykah Weems, Research Manager, put it best:
This is what Black girl intergenerational knowledge-building looks like. It’s not just about research—it’s about legacy. It’s about ensuring Black girls aren’t just surviving but thriving, leading, and shaping a world that fully honors them.
Looking Ahead: Investing in Black Girls’ Futures
In a time when Black history, gender justice, and our very futures are under attack, this work stands as a powerful reminder:
- Black girls and gender-expansive young people are researchers, theorists, and change-makers.
- Their knowledge is invaluable—and must be recognized as such.
- Intergenerational movement-building requires intentional investment—not just in research but in Black girls’ wellness, leadership, and long-term vision.
This is not just a moment. It is a continuation of the legacy of Black girls and women who have always led movements for justice. Our role—as educators, researchers, funders, and community members—is to resource them, listen to them, learn from them, and stand alongside them as they shape futures grounded in their own vision of justice and power.
Justice + Joy is committed to ensuring that Black girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people continue to lead, thrive, and reimagine the structures that shape their lives. We hope those who believe in justice, joy, and Black girl liberation will also commit to this work.
Because when Black girls lead, they bring us all closer to the world we deserve.
