Black Mothers Creative Justice Studio (BM-CJS)
Goal: To amplify the voices and lived experiences of Black mothers through artistic expression, fostering healing, public engagement, and narrative change while contributing to broader systems awareness and accountability.
Black Mothers Creative Justice Studio (BM-CJS)
Goal: To amplify the voices and lived experiences of Black mothers through artistic expression, fostering healing, public engagement, and narrative change while contributing to broader systems awareness and accountability.
The Black Mothers Creative Justice Studio amplifies the voices and lived experiences of Black mothers through artistic expression, storytelling, and public engagement. Through creative labs, mentorship, exhibitions, and publications, the studio creates space for healing, narrative control, cultural expression, and deeper public understanding of Black mothers’ realities.
Inputs
- Program Lead (Arts & Community Engagement)
- Artistic facilitators (visual arts, writing, performance, digital media)
- Honoraria for Black mother participants
- Partnerships with:
- Galleries and cultural institutions
- Community organizations
- Universities and hospitals (exhibition spaces)
- Materials (art supplies, recording equipment, software)
- Digital platform (website, archive, publication tools)
- Funding (arts councils, foundations, grants)
- Communications and design support
Activities
- Artistic Creation Labs
- Facilitate structured creative sessions (in-person/virtual)
- Support participants in developing artistic works across mediums:
- Visual art, writing, audio, performance
B. Themed Cohorts
- Organize cohorts around key themes:
- Chronic illness, comorbidity, and the body
- Institutional harm and spirit injury
- Motherhood and survival
- Joy, resistance, grace, and care
C. Mentorship & Skill Building
- Provide guidance from artists and cultural practitioners
- Offer workshops on:
- Storytelling and narrative control
- Preparing work for public presentation
D. Public Exhibitions & Installations
- Curate exhibitions in:
- Community spaces
- Institutional settings (hospitals, universities)
- Develop pop-up and mobile exhibits
A. Publication Development
- Produce an annual anthology (print + digital)
- Curate and edit submissions
- Design and distribute publication
B. Art for Advocacy Integration
- Collaborate with other Charis-Chara programs to incorporate artwork into:
- Reports
- Policy briefs
- Campaigns
Outputs
- 25–40 Black mothers engaged annually
- 50+ original artistic works created
- 2–3 exhibitions or installations
- 1 annual anthology/publication
- 1 digital archive of curated works
- 3–5 creative workshops or mentorship sessions
Short-Term Outcomes (0–12 months)
- Increased confidence in creative expression
- Strengthened sense of validation and community belonging
- Increased capacity to share lived experiences on participants’ own terms
Intermediate Outcomes (1–3 years)
- Increased public awareness of Black mothers’ lived realities
- Greater engagement from institutions exposed to exhibitions
- Shifts in dominant narratives about Black motherhood
Long-Term Outcomes (3–5+ years)
- Cultural shift in how Black mothers are represented and understood
- Increased empathy influencing institutional practices and policies
- Sustained integration of lived experience into public discourse and systems change work
Input (Resources)
- Program Lead (Arts & Community Engagement)
- Artistic facilitators (visual arts, writing, performance, digital media)
- Honoraria for Black mother participants
- Partnerships with:
- Galleries and cultural institutions
- Community organizations
- Universities and hospitals (exhibition spaces)
- Materials (art supplies, recording equipment, software)
- Digital platform (website, archive, publication tools)
- Funding (arts councils, foundations, grants)
- Communications and design support
Activities
- Artistic Creation Labs
- Facilitate structured creative sessions (in-person/virtual)
- Support participants in developing artistic works across mediums:
- Visual art, writing, audio, performance
B. Themed Cohorts
- Organize cohorts around key themes:
- Chronic illness, comorbidity, and the body
- Institutional harm and spirit injury
- Motherhood and survival
- Joy, resistance, grace, and care
C. Mentorship & Skill Building
- Provide guidance from artists and cultural practitioners
- Offer workshops on:
- Storytelling and narrative control
- Preparing work for public presentation
D. Public Exhibitions & Installations
- Curate exhibitions in:
- Community spaces
- Institutional settings (hospitals, universities)
- Develop pop-up and mobile exhibits
Outputs (Direct Products)
A. Publication Development
- Produce an annual anthology (print + digital)
- Curate and edit submissions
- Design and distribute publication
B. Art for Advocacy Integration
- Collaborate with other Charis-Chara programs to incorporate artwork into:
- Reports
- Policy briefs
- Campaigns
Outputs
- 25–40 Black mothers engaged annually
- 50+ original artistic works created
- 2–3 exhibitions or installations
- 1 annual anthology/publication
- 1 digital archive of curated works
- 3–5 creative workshops or mentorship sessions
Short-Term Outcomes (0–12 months)
- Increased confidence in creative expression
- Strengthened sense of validation and community belonging
- Increased capacity to share lived experiences on participants’ own terms
Intermediate Outcomes (1–3 years)
- Increased public awareness of Black mothers’ lived realities
- Greater engagement from institutions exposed to exhibitions
- Shifts in dominant narratives about Black motherhood
Long-Term Outcomes (3–5+ years)
- Cultural shift in how Black mothers are represented and understood
- Increased empathy influencing institutional practices and policies
- Sustained integration of lived experience into public discourse and systems change work
Our Impact