Join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, May 21 at Bubba Gump Shrimp in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Our “Conversation with…” series will feature Black Girls Dive Foundation and our meeting will also include a discussion about communicating with confidence.
Please arrive between 6:30 and 7 p.m. for snacks and small talk before the meeting begins. Let us know you’re coming by RSVPing to our Facebook event.
About Black Girls Dive Foundation
In 2013, a group of women gathered to discuss the lack of representation of African-American women in the diving world and realized that it came down to two common themes: “hair” and negative cultural narratives about swimming. While they realized it would be relatively simple to address hair concerns, changing “the narrative” would be a much larger challenge.
The Narrative: There is a long history of racism and discrimination behind the swimming in America. A lack of access to pools and beaches meant that many African Americans never learned how to swim, which grew into an intergenerational fear of water that prevented their children and grandchildren from learning. Jeff Wiltse documents this in his 2010 book, Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, and says “It is because of discrimination and segregation that swimming never became a part of African-American recreational culture.” Learn more this the of racism and discrimination on the water this interview with Wiltse.
The Mission: The mission of Black Girls Dive Foundation is “keeping young girls and women afloat,” inspiring them to “explore their STEM identities by engaging in aquatic-based STEM activities and become leaders in conservation.”
About HerChesapeake
HerChesapeake works at the intersection of feminism and environmentalism to cultivate a network of women who elevate, amplify, and empower each other in equitable pursuit of their collective success and a healthier Chesapeake Bay. Learn more at www.herchesapeake.com.
