Coming Into Yourself

“Am I Enough?”

Did you know that girls and young women of color have serious unmet mental health needs—it has been called a mental health crisis “hiding in plain sight?” Self-esteem can influence life in various ways, from academics and future successes to relationships and mental health. Self-esteem low or high can have a huge impact on self-worth. Working on having a healthy self-worth is ensuring that you have the tools to manage your bad days.

As a concerned educator who has taught PreK-12 in inner-city communities and colleges throughout Southern California I’ve recognized just how different the female students were at these schools, as it related to their home life, educational acumen, economic situations and goals for the future.

One of the greatest observations discovered were that many of the girls and young women of color had low self-esteem because they believed that they did not fit into society’s norms related to self-worth, self-respect, trust in others, and even beauty standards. Equally as important, I also noticed and identified that these young ladies suffer from “trying to fit in instead of standing out”

I understand that adolescence isn’t an easy time for parents. As girls and young women of color move through the various tumultuous transitions that accompany adolescence — physical, emotional, hormonal, sexual, social, intellectual wellbeing— the pressures and problems they encounter can all too easily seem overwhelming. For many girls and young women of color, these and other pressures can lead to one or more of a variety of mental health disorders; all are matters of concern, and some are life-threatening.

During these prevalent times of awkward societal norms this is critical because in general, 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14. I strongly believe that, we must approach addressing the mental health of Black girls with a tailored approach. Currently, there is a lack of non-white mental health providers and providers who can provide culturally competent mental health services to our girls and young women of color.

Therefore, BNURD’E Inc., was established to help make a difference in the lives of our girls and young women of color. We invite you to make a difference by contributing to the future success of girls and young women participating in our BNURD’E Self-Esteem Program that create opportunities for them to participate in activities of interest that ignite hope, inspires passion and assists them in creating a platform for their future.