FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, WE HELPED BLACK GIRLS UNIQUELY AND FREELY DEFINE, DISCOVER, AND BECOME WHO THEY ARE.
Founded and artistically directed by Shaleah Laché Sutton, the UNIQUELY YOU SUMMIT for Black Girls was an experiential dialogue that united Black women and girls of similar backgrounds in order to eliminate the perception of isolation (which lessens shame) and meet self-esteem needs not met by conventional outreach and instruction. By discovering the universality of their feelings and experiences, the barriers to becoming who they are were lifted. This one-of-a-kind annual three-day forum served as a catalyst to evoke a much-needed conversation among Black girls that addressed the complexities of being Black girls in America.
"IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT. AND IT'S OKAY TO BE BLACK."
- MIA BROWN, UYS ALUMNA
(Mia was 15 when we quoTED HER.
she’s now 28 years old).
Black girls wrestle with very distinct challenges and distractions during their formative years — including preoccupation with their skin complexion, hair texture, and body type; navigating depression, emotional stress, and trauma; difficulty perceiving long-range consequences of their actions; and weakened self-esteem. "We wanted to create an experiential dialogue and outreach that aided in eliminating the perception of isolation. Our hope was that by discovering the universality of their feelings and experiences, the barriers to becoming their best and most unique self were removed." Sutton said.