The State of Black Girls
A safe space
for Black girls.
WHAT DO WE DO
Creating access, opportunity, and equity for Black girls through digital programs and live events.
Uplifting perspectives and elevating voices to nurture the experiences and livelihood of black girls and women, Marline Francois-Madden is the best selling author of The State of Black Girls, Social Worker, educator, advocate, and policy- facing therapist developing consistent action plans that drive change. With strategic focus on impacting the lives of one million girls, Marline executes the holistic and wholesome work out of the thriving necessity to help girls evolve into healed women who truly understand themselves. Mindfully intersecting the connections between black girls, policy and mental health, Marline is a pivotal force who makes it her mission to create equity in black mental health with the astute awareness that equity and equality are not the same thing. For more information, check out her site here.
WHAT DO WE DO
Creating access, opportunity, and equity for Black girls through digital programs and live events.
Uplifting perspectives and elevating voices to nurture the experiences and livelihood of black girls and women, Marline Francois-Madden is the best selling author of The State of Black Girls, Social Worker, educator, advocate, and policy- facing therapist developing consistent action plans that drive change. With strategic focus on impacting the lives of one million girls, Marline executes the holistic and wholesome work out of the thriving necessity to help girls evolve into healed women who truly understand themselves. Mindfully intersecting the connections between black girls, policy and mental health, Marline is a pivotal force who makes it her mission to create equity in black mental health with the astute awareness that equity and equality are not the same thing. For more information, check out my site here.
FEATURED IN:
WE MUST LISTEN TO BLACK GIRLS
For so long, the voices of Black girls have been silenced and they continue to face challenges and disparities in America. The purpose of the State of Black Girls is to create a digital platform and experience for Black girls to feel supported, seen, heard and empowered by sharing their lived experiences.
%
Black girls are 6 times more likely to be suspended than white girls. (Source: PUSH OUT Film)
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Suicide attempts rose by 73% between 1991 - 2017 for Black adolescents. (Source: CDC)
Black girls are less likely to receive adequate mental health care compared to white girls.
For so long, the voices of Black girls have been silenced and they continue to face challenges and disparities in America. The purpose of the State of Black Girls is to create a digital platform and experience for Black girls to feel supported, seen, heard and empowered by sharing their lived experiences.
My mission is to serve one million Black girls
It’s The Number Driving Marline’s Relentless Work As She Seeks To Build Black Girls Up One After Another By Way Of Policy-Facing Advocacy, Holistic Therapy, Comprehensive Education And Civic Engagement That Consistently Drives Impact And Change In Mental Uplift. Through The Establishment Of An Evolving Safe Space Embracing Every Background And Experience, Innovative Projects Are Executed To Expand Therapeutic Access For Girls Around The World.
Marline is the owner of Hearts Empowerment Counseling Center, Best-selling author of The State of Black Girls, a phenomenal public speaker, and entrepreneur. With over 15 years of clinical experience, she has become a sought-after expert in mental health, trauma, self-care, and girls’ leadership. Marline has shared her expertise at dozens of universities, community organizations, churches, and conferences – including the Congressional Black Caucus for Women and Girls. She was named as a “Nominated Changemaker” at the White House Summit during the Obama Administration. She will be giving a TEDx Talk at UPENN on “Creating Safe Spaces for Black Girls” in October 2020. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Business Insider, MadameNoire, Fox 5, and dozen of media platforms.
Driven by passion and purpose, Marline touches the lives of many through her work. She has facilitated trauma-informed groups and individual sessions for young women in Haiti who were sex trafficking survivors. Her commitment to youth development earned her an invite to speak to young global leaders from countries like Kenya, South Africa, Israel, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and more about self-care. She also volunteered at a children’s orphanage in Accra, Ghana.
Marline has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Penn State and a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers. She is starting her Ph.D. Fall 2020 to further her work in investing in Black girls. She serves as a committee chair for the National Association of Social Work. Marline resides in NJ with her loving husband and loves coffee, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. For more info, please go to her site.
Adults view Black girls "as less innocent and more adult-like than white girls of the same age, especially between 5 -14 years old".
Source: Georgetown Center for Poverty and Inequality