What Gets
Measured Matters
Black Families Flourishing (BFF) conducts rigorous and transparent research that explores the well-being of Black families in America. We help policymakers, communities, and communicators use our insights to ignite positive changes in systems and narratives.
See Where Our Work Is Taking Shape
BFF connects with families, communities, organizations, researchers, and advisors across the country. Explore some of the people, places, and actions that are behind our work—from family and community spotlights to data and the national networks helping to guide the project.
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Community SpotlightS
Perinatal Health Equity Initiative (PHEI)
PHEI works to addresses the systemic barriers that contribute to disparities in maternal and infant health, helping families navigate prenatal care, labor, postpartum recovery, and community resources.
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Community Spotlight
Inner Light Holistic Doula & Perinatal Consulting
Founder & CEO Shaconna Haley shares how holistic care and advocacy support Black families before, during, and after birth.
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Family Spotlight
Lawrence Watkins
Creator of the Black Family Masterplan, Lawrence discusses his vision for Black family economic empowerment and intergenerational wealth.
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Family Spotlight
Nayibe Capellan
CEO of Programs for Parents, Inc., Nayibe reflects on chosen kin, collective care, raising a child with American and Dominican identities, and her family’s legacy.
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Family Spotlight
Graciella “Chella” Drew
A descendant of pioneering surgeon Dr. Charles Drew, Chella reflects on carrying a powerful family legacy forward and how love, hard work, and compassion for humanity has shaped her family’s flourishing across generations.
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Community Spotlight
Anacostia River Church
Hanna Baker, the deaconess of Community Development at Anacostia River Church in Washington, DC, shares her view on the community we build when we show up for each other.
Through our spotlight series, BFF highlights what family, legacy, community, and flourishing mean to Black individuals and the organizations that help Black families thrive.
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Passaic County, New Jersey
“We’ve helped over 1,000 people… benefit from [a financial empowerment] program, and now we do legacy planning, which is important for stability in life.”
— Local government employee in Passaic County, New Jersey
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Hendricks County, Indiana
“… The key [policy] that I pay attention to more is… school choice. … Not scholarships, but more vouchers available for families. … That is one policy that has helped a lot of families gain access to different types of education that they… wouldn’t necessarily have.”
— Direct service provider in Hendricks County, Indiana
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Henry County, Georgia
“We have a health committee… and we have health fairs. … We have an… economic development committee, … we work… with the Chamber of Commerce. … We give scholarships. … We work… with the school system. … We have met with the Superintendent to share our common concerns and… goals. … We work with the sheriff department. … We have a… youth council. They [Black community] know [our agency], … so that’s who they call. …And… we… usually have a personal contact… someone we can hand it off to on a personal level rather than just a referral.”
— Non-profit administrator in Henry County, Georgia
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Douglas County, Georgia
“We [Black people] are the majority. … Our seat of government, our sheriff, our chief of police, our mayor, our county commission chairperson, our county commissioners, … city council members, … our coroner, our tax commissioner, our school board superintendent, many of our school board members, all of them are African American. … And our community is thriving, and not just thriving, but flourishing and growing under their leadership. … So that’s what excites me. … It is a community. … While it is being built and welcome for everyone, Black people especially are flourishing here.”
— Spiritual leader in Douglas County, Georgia
The BFF policy scan was designed to examine select policies, community-level organizations, and community initiatives that contribute to Black families’ ability to flourish. This work occurred in four case study sites across the United States that were selected based on a document review of research focused on Black families including locations where they have positive outcomes.
Note: Findings will be shared in a written report and public presentations, and this map includes sample quotes from the case studies
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BFF STaff Locations
Tennessee
- Core Advisory Group: Dr. Deadric Williams, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Topical and Technical Advisor: Dr. Velma McBride Murray, Vanderbilt University
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BFF STaff Locations
Indiana
- Topical and Technical Advisor: Dr. Valerie Grim, Indiana University
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BFF STaff Locations
Georgia
- Core Advisory Group: Dr. Latrice Rollins, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta
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BFF STaff Locations
California
- Core Advisory Group: Dr. Christina Cross, UC Berkeley
- Topical and Technical Advisors: Cristi Carmen, Stanford University; Dr. Nana Afua Brantuo, University of San Diego
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BFF STaff Locations
North Carolina
Project Support
Survey Team
Project Coordinator
Communications and Dissemination Lead
- Core Advisory Group: Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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BFF STaff Locations
Florida
Laura Ramirez
Project Coordinator
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BFF STaff Locations
New Jersey
Principal Investigator + Project Lead
- Topical and Technical Advisor: Dr. Michelle Bueno Vasquez, Princeton University
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BFF STaff Locations
Maryland
Project Manager
Research Team
Senior Advisor
Research Team
- Core Advisory Group: Alycia Hardy, Community Advisor
- Topical and Technical Advisor: Eric Morrissette, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and Maryland’s Governor’s Office for Children
- Project Consultant: Sherice Brammer
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BFF STaff Locations
Washington, DC
- Core Advisory Group: Dr. LesLeigh Ford, Urban Institute
- Topical and Technical Advisor: Dr. Robert Palmer, Howard University
- Project Consultant: Dr. Kristine Andrews
The BFF team consists of Black-centric and culturally knowledgeable researchers, community advisors, Black families, and communicators.
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
What Gets Measured Matters
BFF’s Research and Capacity Building Work
Data + Insights Hub
Look Beyond the Numbers
Explore county-level data about Black families and Fresh Look analyses that add context, surface patterns, and raise new questions about what flourishing looks like across communities.
Share What You Know
BFF welcomes stories, research, and resources that can contribute to a richer understanding of Black families and flourishing.
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Nationally Representative Survey
Building a Survey Informed by Black Families, Communities, and Data
BFF is developing a nationally representative survey shaped by focus groups with Black families, listening sessions with community organizations, and a review of existing research. The goal is to highlight the diversity of Black families and fill gaps in what we know about Black family flourishing.
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How We Do Our Work
Implementing Equity Principles in Population-Focused Research: A Framework to Move Beyond Visioning to Action
Equity-centered research shouldn’t only be reflected in what we study but should also show up in how research teams operate. This understanding led us to develop a set of measurable equity indicators designed to guide our work to build partnerships, conduct research, and engage with and mobilize communities.
Published
Explore Our Research Archives
Follow the Work
New research, events, resources, and project updates are shared regularly through BFF’s social channel. Follow BFF on LinkedIn
BFF Research + Publications
Explore BFF publications, briefs, and resources examining the experiences, strengths, and well-being of Black families. Browse Publications
Recent Events, News + Press
