About
Our mission is to advocate for educational equity and excellence for all students, particularly Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/Latinx, low income, and any other underserved students within Tompkins County, through strategic community relationships, assessment of the local district’s practices and policies, and responsive programs and services.
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) people want to celebrate and decorate their hair. With Brown Babes Braiding, we gather a community of young hair braiders to create gorgeous hairstyles for their peers and/or younger folks, and to uplift and affirm Black beauty and culture. We host meetings every other month where about 6 or 7 BIPOC hair braiders give as many BIPOC youth braids, joy, and connection. We provide the hair and other supplies for these hairstyles. Each of the braiders receives a stipend to honor their time and skills, and especially their labor in passing on these skills to newer braiders, for each head braided. We also provide a meal and snacks. During these long afternoon sessions we come together in a safe space to share braiding skills and glorious crowns, the wisdom of the beauty parlor commons, and to model self-care practices. We can include manicures and lashes for young people not getting their hair braided. An event which centers Black hair, beauty, and traditions, Brown Babes Braiding allows these young people to revel in the blessing of their hair as an expression of their culture and community.
