Black Power, Liberation, and Healing Now, Inc. (BPLHN) acknowledges that the United States of America is founded on the principles and advancement of white supremacy. This system of white supremacy, coupled with our capitalistic society, has created anti-Black systems, structures, and practices resulting in the control and resultant suffering of Black individuals and communities.
Capitalism thrives off of white supremacy because it creates a justification for the exploitation that is necessary for individuals to chase profit and hoard the means of production. There is an interconnected relationship between capitalism, racism, anti-blackness, systems of oppression, and the unbalanced distribution of power, privilege, wealth, and opportunities within society. These same racist and anti-Black policies, systems, and practices have shaped organizational structures, policies, and procedures. They have historically limited access to physical, mental, social, emotional, and financial health care for Black people.
These anti-Black and white supremacist policies continue to impede Black communities’ overall wellness and advancements in liberation and healing. Black people have been sounding the alarm for centuries about systemic racism and racial violence. Recently, accomplices and comrades are joining the larger collective uprising led by Black people to prioritize investment in Black community care, wealth, and health to elevate and demand Black voices be heard, centered, and respected in all aspects of society (particularly in the employment, educational, governmental, and healthcare sectors).
Through our values, (1) Commitment and Accountability, (2) Openness and Transparency, (3) Courage and Trust, and (4) Integrity, Intentionality, and Growth, BPLHN denounces policies, systems, and practices that are racist and anti-black and those that limit access to services that would allow Black people the necessary tools and resources to live healthy, long lives.
Our Mission and Who We Are
Helping Organizations Dismantle White Supremacy Work Culture and Build Black Liberation
Black Power, Liberation, & Healing Now, Inc. (BPLHN) is a charitable 501 (c)(3) organization.
Our mission is to create sustainable spaces of organizational care and healing by dismantling structural racism and trauma within workplace cultures. BPLHN provides education, advocacy, consultation, and training for the private, public, and nonprofit sectors that center the underserved, particularly Black and LGBTQ+ identified individuals, communities, and organizations.
We are a community of trauma-informed advocates and activists from diverse backgrounds who provide organizational wellness services and consultation to leaders, service providers, researchers, non-profit, for-profit, governmental, and non-governmental organizations and agencies committed to creating organizational healing spaces that centers underserved, particularly Black and LGBTQ+ identified individuals, communities, and organizations.
Our Guiding Principles
Explicit and Intentional Focus on Racial Equity and Social Justice
We recognize that racial oppression and social privilege influence access to and allocation of resources and services. We affirm the importance of advancing justice by moving from trying to change some people to fit the organization to focus on transforming organizations to fit all people.
Meaningful Involvement of People with Lived Experience
We recognize the need for meaningful involvement of people with lived experience in all levels of the organization and aim to ensure that people living with experience and those most impacted are involved in every level of decision making.
Relationship and Capacity Building
Intentional relationship and capacity building with organizations is our foundation in gaining, not only trust but respect from the organizations/entities we work with. Creating this culture of collective learning and decision-making breaks down barriers that may exist in the implicit power dynamics because it gives autonomy to what happens and the freedom of transparency.
Leadership Development
We believe leaders should work to constantly improve relationships, their interpersonal skills, and how they influence the people who surround them. Skillful leadership is crucial to achieving organizational goals and employee satisfaction.
Flexibility and Dynamic Engagement
We believe being flexible and working with organizations in dynamic ways ensures we are speaking to the realities of the organizations, taking barriers and facilitators into consideration. This investment in the organization provides a sense of humility allowing the organization to plan and execute WITH us to reach a collaborative and mutually beneficial solution.
Focusing on Impact vs. Intent
We believe our privileges can often shield us from understanding the impact of our actions. If the impact of our actions is the furthering of oppression, then that’s all that matters. When our actions are called into question, it’s important to recognize that that’s all that is being called into question – our actions, not our overall character.