Furthering the Organization’s Plans for Capacity Building and Programming Expansion
February 7, 2022
Alexander, Arkansas
Real Images was awarded a grant from the Black Girl Dream Fund, an entity of the Southern Black Girl’s and Women’s Consortium and the Anchor Institutions. Real Images is one of 71 grantee partners from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Consortium launched the Black Girls Dream Fund to shift current grant-making efforts in the South and to channel greater resources toward organizations that are intentionally supporting and empowering Black girls and women.
According to Real Images board of directors president, Apryl Jackson, the grant award is a step forward in the plans for the coming year. “ Being awarded this grant will help us achieve many things in regards to program implementation and capacity building for 2022”, she said. “We have only written the introduction for Real Images and this funding is the beginning of the next chapter that will not only influence but impact young girls and women in a tremendous way.”
Real Images founder and executive director, Michelle B. Barnes, believes grant-making efforts such as these are what is needed for grassroots nonprofits. “Nonprofit leaders who are passionate about fulfilling the needs in their communities deserve the opportunity to flourish in this way”, she said. “Our young girls and women need to see the support that is out there for them. Building capacity for small nonprofits to go out into the community to expand their work is the right first step. This is a significant gift and I am excited to see our organization grow beyond my imagination”.
Real Images was founded in 2014. The organization’s mission is to ensure that young girls and women are empowered and educated to become the healthiest versions of themselves through programs, scholarships, and service. Real Images provides networking events and self-care workshops for women, a four-week self-image workshop for young girls, and awards for young girls who wish to pursue a passion in the areas of: the arts, business, or education.
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