On Dec. 5, 2024, members of the Black Families Flourishing (BFF) team came together in Columbia, MD, for the official launch of a multi-year project that will research how policies, programs, and systems affect the well-being of Black families.
As a result of this work, communities, policymakers, and communicators will gain access to insights that ignite positive change and add crucial nuance to current narratives.
Led by Dr. Chrishana M. Lloyd, the BFF initiative brings together primarily Black and other culturally knowledgeable researchers, community advisors, Black families, and communicators from across the country. Sixteen members of that collective—mostly researchers and advisors—met with the support of an external facilitator to outline the blueprint for this important work.
Aligning their mission with the venue, BFF held the meeting at the Harriet Tubman Center in Columbia. The center, formerly a school, is a cornerstone of the community. It served as Howard County’s only all-black high school from 1949 until 1965, when it was closed as part of the desegregation movement. It was given new life in 2015 after being designated as a historic education and cultural center, according to welcoming remarks by the center’s manager, Kori Jones.
The BFF team also made sure to invest in Black business as part of the event, enjoying a delicious catered meal from Washington, D.C.’s, SmokeDatt Barbecue. Owner George Loving’s wood-smoked meat and sides, cooked “low and slow,” proved the perfect food for thought.
“The meeting was a highly productive one, and we appreciated the opportunity to talk face-to-face with team members from all parts of the country about the history of the project, timeline, and milestones,” Lloyd said of the day-long gathering. “We spent a lot of time visioning and brainstorming around what ‘Black Families Flourishing’ actually means and how best to measure flourishing.. We look forward to working directly with communities through our research to articulate what success looks like to them.”
Learn more about the team working on BFF. Meet our staff, advisors, and supporters on our about us page.
Special thanks to
Dr. Calvin Ball
Dr. Ball, the first Black county executive in Howard County; Kori Jones, manager for the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center; and the Cultural center staff for welcoming us into their special space.
SmokeDatt Barbecue
Washington, D.C., caterer SmokeDatt Barbecue and its owner George Loving.
