Black Family Summit, Inc.

BFS Vision

The Black Family Summit seeks to inspire and create a spirit of collaboration among Black-led and Black-serving organizations to enable the healing and thriving of Black people, families and communities.

BFS Mission

Black Family Summit, Inc. (BFS) is a network of Black-led and Black-serving organizations committed to the preservation and strengthening of the Black Family. Consistent with the vision of supporting, healing, and uplifting the Black Community, the mission of BFS is rooted in the values of cooperation, collaboration, and collective work as reflected in the cultural traditions of people of African ancestry.

Akoben

War Horn. A symbol of a call to action, readiness to be called to action, readiness, and voluntarism

Black Family Summit was established in 2005, under the leadership of Founder and Elder Griot, Baba Leonard G. Dunston. He served BFS as Convener from the organization’s inception to December 2022. Dr. L. Zakiya Newland succeeded Baba Leonard, as he is affectionately known, and currently serves as Convener.

BFS has been committed to vigorously promoting cooperation, collaboration, and operational unity to advance the interest of the Black Community. Through its current network of thirty (30) organizations, BFS remains committed to accentuating and mobilizing the collective power of each member organization.

The BFS firmly believes that systemic racism inflicts trauma on individuals, families and communities. In that regard, BFS advocates for policies and creates programs that seek to address the unmet needs and provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed actions that promote healing and thriving within the Black community.

 

BFS Programs and Grant-Funded Projects

Disaster Response Initiatives

  • Development and implementation of disaster response initiatives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Superstorm Sandy in New York and earthquakes in Haiti.
  • Creation and operation of the Community Cares Listening Line in the NY Metropolitan area. This initiative was funded by Casey Family Programs and offered an emotional support and resource information helpline that targeted Black essential workers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • With grant funding from Casey Family Programs, BFS designed and delivered a healing services model in response to the Haitian migrant crisis in 2022. A collaboration with 3 member organizations; All Healers Mental Health Alliance, Association of Black Psychologists and National Conference of Black Lawyers resulted in the provision of culturally-responsive webinars on mental health and Haitian populations, Sawubona Healing Circles and legal information sessions.

Capacity Building Initiatives

  • The MacArthur Foundation provided funding support for initial capacity building efforts to build out a more comprehensive organizational structure. The primary project of this grant is a documentary that tells the BFS story which will debut in the Fall of 2023.
  • Our current grant project is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and awarded through our fiscal sponsor, A Second Chance Kinship, Inc. The four organizational priorities include:
    • BFS to become a financially stable organization with the infrastructure to support operations and programs
    • Tell the BFS Story by producing a documentary and compiling historical documents
    • BFS to operate as an independent nonprofit organization with clear statements reflecting the mission, vision, values, policies, procedures, and practices
    • Elevate BFS’ national profile and brand to advance strategic partnerships, further the mission and promote organizational sustainability.