About this Event
Black and Brown Girl Affirmations
Join us in person for a powerful celebratory showcase honoring Black and Brown girls! Taking place at the South Berkeley library Saturday,April 25, 1-3pm, this event is about sharing positivity, showing love and uplifting girls from Black and Latin X communities. Facilitated by Milani Pelley and featuring Alie Jones, this showcase will be legendary, with special performances by Longfellow Middle School's Black Girl Legacy Group.
This event came directly from “curious conversations” (field research) with Black Parents in Berkeley, conducted by Milani Pelley, from 2023-2025. From these “curious conversations” a recurring concern of bullying and shame around Black girls’ bodies, specifically preteens and teens, and identities, was brought up, with no safe spaces for Black girls to go to in Berkeley. Black and Brown Girl Affirmations creates this space in Berkeley through a celebratory showcase!
FREE FOOD and FREE SHOWCASE!ALL AGES Welcome!
Want to Perform???? Email [email protected]. Theme Black and Brown Girl Affirmations.Priority will be given to Black and Brown pree-teens and teens and Berkeley Unified School District Students. Open until filled.
Milani Pelley was born and raised and gave birth in Berkeley. She believes Black people belong in Berkeley and strives towards Making Berkeley Black Again. Milani believes in Matriarchy and Divine Love and uses her gifts as an abolitionist educator, philanthropist, poet, innovator, and facilitator of self expression and healing to provide safe spaces and change reality.Milani sits on the Superintendent's African American Success Advisory Committee of Berkeley Unified School District. Milani has performed at the Opera House in San Francisco and for activists Will i.am, Saul Williams, Jesse Jackson, and Angela Davis. She solely represented Oakland in the Women of the World Poetry Slam in 2010. She was a part of Team Oakland in 2010,placing top four in group-piece finals, and was a member of Team Oakland in 2011, ranking top ten in the nation. She has been a Poet-Teacher for California Poets in the Schools since 2022, teaching as Poet Teacher throughout Berkeley Unified School District.
Alie Jones is a writer, artist, and Creole mermaid. She is the author of Saltwater Moonshine, a poetry collection that honors her matrilineal Creole heritage through poetry, music, and reflections of love. Alie is passionate about centering our breath work as sacred and hopes to build a legacy of awareness and expression. She is the Director and Co-founder of Black Freighter Press, a revolutionary press committed to the exploration of liberation. Alie is the host of the podcast called Chit Chat with Aliecat, exploring self-care practices & journeys of self-love. She received her MPA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies as well as a MFA from Mills College in Creative Writing.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Berkeley Public Library - Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch, 1901 Russell Street, Berkeley, United States
USD 0.00
