Our Story
Black Girl Collective Vancouver (BGC Van) is a non profit organization and collective started by a group of Black womxn who met living and studying in Vancouver, Canada. A long time in the making, we dreamed and sought out to build a safe space where womxn who look like us could meet each other; lay down their burdens, have a good time, and bond in sisterhood through curated monthly events, educational content, open forum talks and collaborations with Black owned/small businesses and allies.
Heeding the call from powerful movements such as #BlackLivesMatter, #Metoo and #BlackJoyMatters, we officially launched June 2020 and have been embracing the journey, making amazing connections and scheming on how to keep our community surprised.
-Black Girl Collective Van.
Our Mission
Our aim at BGC is to hold space for the joy and visibility for Black womxn in this city by creating an inclusive space to gather, unite, empower and inspire each other through fun community centered events.
Our hope is that this collective pushes new boundaries while empowering the next generation of Black womxn who live here through workshops, talks, events and collaboration with other Black Owned Businesses, Organizations & Allies .
Our Vision
We aim to build a strong and impactful community for the Black womxn of Vancouver and surrounding cities”
Our Core Values
Our core values support our vision as they are the foundation on which our Community is built on.
Our core values define what is important and how we do business
Community
We believe that community building is an active process that requires participation and partnership with others. We commit to building communities that are unapologetically rooted in sisterhood that is equitable, accountable and inclusive.
Fun & Happiness
We recognize the realities of the collective pain experienced by our Black peoples due to racial injustice all over the world. We also believe in Black joy as a radical form of resistance that requires courage, intention and community in order to keep Black lives, Black hope and Black liberation alive
Empowerment
We see every challenge as an opportunity, and this initiative helps us ensure that members of our community are better prepared to manage the unique situations they find themselves in. We are invested in innovative approaches that empowers our community and delivers the support they need, when they need it.
Inclusion
We honour the diverse experiences, traditions, cultures, intellect, and voices of our community. We hold space for their stories, leadership, and collective voice to be uplifted and centered in our spaces. We reject anti-Blackness in our policies, practices, and belief systems as well as our community
Integrity & Respect
We define integrity & respect as simply doing the right thing, in an honest, fair, and responsible way. We emphasize the importance of integrity & respect in building a strong, trusting relationship with our community and its members. A safe space for honesty and truthful conduct on everyone's part is how we can respect everyone’s interests.
