The Healing Spaces Black Women Create

Women’s History Month is a moment to honor the women who do the work long before anyone is watching. The leaders behind the Sugar Hill Manhattan Pearls and Black Women in Nature are part of that lineage. Their programs grow from lived experience, community memory, and a commitment to showing up with intention.

Built to Stay

When Lady Brenda L. Jones helped organize the Sugar Hill Manhattan Pearls chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction; she did it with a clear understanding of what families were facing. As chapter president, she saw needs that required structure, rather than sporadic outreach.

“As Organizer of the ‘Sugar Hill’ Manhattan Pearls Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., I recognized the need for coordinated, sustained service addressing poverty on multiple levels in Harlem and the Bronx,” she said.

Her perspective comes from watching how pressures overlap for families.

“Educational poverty, health inequities, and food insecurity are deeply interconnected. A child cannot focus on literacy if they are hungry. A family cannot prioritize long-term wellness if basic needs are unstable,” said Jones.

The chapter’s public relations chair, Lady Chelsea Yolanda, describes their work as an extension of who they are.

“We are a reflection of the community we serve — neighbors, mothers, sisters, and daughters who are deeply rooted in Harlem, the Bronx, and Westchester County. Our connection to this work is personal. It is part of our lived experience and our shared history.”

Books as Comfort

Inside Harlem Hospital, the Pearls’ literacy program revealed how something as simple as a book can become a source of grounding for a child in crisis. Jones has seen this firsthand.

“Our pediatric literacy work at Harlem Hospital has revealed how layered and complex family experiences truly are. Many of the children we serve are sickle cell warriors navigating chronic pain and recurring hospital stays. Others are there for mental health challenges or acute episodes. In those settings, personal belongings are often limited for safety reasons. We learned that books are one of the few items children can consistently have at their bedside. For some patients, especially those experiencing a mental health episode, a book may be the only safe and grounding object they are permitted to keep. That insight deepened our commitment to this initiative. The books we donate are not just literacy tools. They provide comfort, affirmation, and a sense of stability during vulnerable moments,” Jones shared.

That same intention guides their Little Free Library project, which ensures children see themselves reflected in the stories they reach for.

“Representation matters profoundly in childhood development. When Black and Brown children see themselves reflected in literature, it affirms their worth and expands their imagination,” Jones explained.

Yolanda adds a parent’s perspective.

“As a parent, I understand how powerful representation is in shaping a child’s sense of identity. When Black and Brown children see characters who reflect their experiences and culture, it strengthens their pride, confidence, and belief in what’s possible.”

Nature as Refuge

Black Women in Nature, a nonprofit based in Central Ohio, was founded at a time when many people were seeking grounding. Co-founders Ivory Levert and Angela Mitchell reflected on how the idea took shape.

“Black Women in Nature was created in the fall of 2020 during a time when so many of us were carrying a lot, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, collective grief, and a heightened awareness of racial injustice,” Levert said.

A quiet moment outdoors helped her reconnect with herself.

“One day, I went to a local park and spent hours walking and sitting in nature, and it became one of the first moments I felt a deep sense of peace.”

The organization acknowledges that access to nature is not equal, and that comfort in outdoor spaces is shaped by history, representation, and daily responsibilities.

“There are a number of barriers that can impact how Black women experience the outdoors, and many of them are layered. For some, it’s about access, whether that’s awareness of local parks and green spaces, transportation, or simply knowing where to begin. For others, it’s about comfort and familiarity. If you haven’t historically seen yourself reflected in outdoor spaces, it can feel like those spaces weren’t created with you in mind,” Mitchell said.

Their programs intentionally guide women so they don’t have to navigate these spaces alone.

“We create welcoming, guided experiences that remove the pressure of figuring it out on your own. We introduce women to local green spaces in a way that feels supportive and accessible, while also centering community, connection, and ease,” said Mitchell.

Measure and Grow

Black Women in Nature measures impact by the extent to which women return to themselves and to the outdoors.

“We look at engagement and feedback, things like repeat participation, testimonials, and how women describe their experience. We also pay close attention to behavior over time. Are women returning to nature outside of our experiences? Are they visiting local parks and trails on their own, or incorporating time outdoors into their routines?” Mitchell noted.

The Sugar Hill Manhattan Pearls build sustainability through consistency and follow-through.

“Trust is built through consistency. We partner with institutions such as Harlem Hospital and local schools, and remain engaged beyond a single activation. We return, follow through, and adjust based solely on community feedback. In communities with long histories of institutional neglect, trust must be earned through reliability and respect. That is the standard we hold ourselves to,” Jones emphasized.

Show Up for the Long Haul

Both organizations welcome people who believe in steady, accountable service. Support can look like donating books that reflect Black and Brown lives. It can also mean sharing their work or joining programs that strengthen access and wellbeing.

To learn more, visit the Sugar Hill Manhattan Pearls page and explore Black Women in Nature online.

Additionally, this is a moment to notice the breadth of what women make possible. They nurture ideas, create space for others, and help set new futures in motion. Their work continues to expand what communities can imagine for themselves. It offers a sense of momentum that carries well beyond this month.

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Black Women in Nature