Formation of the IP Department: Triumphs and Trials
2023 was an amazing year for Black Women in Charge (BWC), one of those reasons being the establishment of the organization’s newest department: International Partnerships. What started as an idea to adapt to changes in 2022, led to an incredible new department with a bright future ahead.
I started my journey with BWC in January 2022, when the current Community Engagement Department was known as Grassroots Efforts. Being established in Indianapolis, one of our primary goals was to stay grounded in our roots as we grew and expanded to new places. Who would’ve thought that we’d further expand BWC’s efforts to a global level in just a year?
Coming from a background in both international and local affairs and having a passion for promoting human rights, serving in these two departments was nearly perfect for me. Getting those perspectives on both a micro and macro level is what motivates me to incite change in both ways. That is what led me to the International Partnerships (IP) Department of BWC.
With my background and goals, I considered how I could merge my interests with my personal growth and the organization’s growth. I was leaving Indy, moving out of the country, and thinking of a way to stay involved. That’s when I approached our CEO with the idea of expanding BWC and found out that this has been in her plans since the beginning! It was perfect timing.
IP’s mission is very similar to the organization’s mission. Here it is verbatim:
To extend one's autonomy over human rights, education, and economics, through a wellbeing perspective by establishing partners and promoting sustainable, measurable change in countries outside the US. We support initiatives and organizations already doing the work to solve issues affecting marginalized communities abroad.
What does this look like?
Our department starts by performing an analysis of magnified problems in the world and takes action to mitigate them from a community-based/ human rights perspective. Our goal is to support and promote organizations already on the ground doing the work, approaching partnerships with concise questions of “What is it that you need from us?” and “What are the best ways that we can help you achieve your goals?” and we find their goals usually align with promoting some sector of human rights in their community.
Specifically, in 2023, we focused on establishing the department, initiating partnerships, and creating repertoire. We’ve reached a plethora of potential partners through word-of- mouth, personal and professional connections, internet searches, and of course, social media. Our support of these organizations and leaders has looked at research, consulting, and women's entrepreneurship.
While there were some challenges, within a short time, we established contacts in over six countries, began initiatives for two organizations, and established a department of exactly 10 women.
These triumphs didn’t come without a couple of trials, just like any other organization. Here, I’ll list and explain:
Time zones
This has been more of a challenge in our department than any other department in BWC! A lot of our work, especially in establishing communication, involves scheduling meetings with people based 6, 7, or 8 hours ahead of us. So, we did have some initial issues with scheduling meetings that would be acceptable for everyone and wouldn’t be at 2 am for us, or 2 am for others. Now, we pay close attention to what the timing would be for everyone to make meetings accessible for all.
2. Communication
I think it’s acceptable to say that most of the world communicates through WhatsApp, at least in my experience. In the past, there have been some mixups and issues with urgent communication regarding potential partners. We haven’t yet established a WhatsApp presence, but knowing what we now know, we may have to adapt to the communication mediums of our partners for this department.
3. And one last one that has been a theme for the whole organization: getting people to care.
It’s the nature of nonprofits, especially in a post-2020 era, sadly. We appreciate the unwavering support from our community stakeholders and social media followers, especially those who’ve been there since the organization’s establishment. One issue, however, is over time, the support wanes and it’s been challenging to maintain the same amount of fervor, urgency, and consistency from followers and members. The fight for human rights is a long, winding one, and BWC is resilient– we will adapt!
Overall, the IP department has been a beautiful dream realized for members and directors of BWC. We’re now one year into this department, and the only way is up!
As we approach 2024, we shift our focus to solidifying partnerships across the Middle East, Africa, and South America. More specifically, this may look like developing innovative written and training program material, exchanging services and resources with partner organizations, and supporting individual women in leadership. Through these efforts, we hope to create sustainable change internationally, while continuing to promote one’s autonomy over human rights domestically as well. By 2025, we plan to nurture these partnerships and create joint research to facilitate sustainable initiatives around the world! We will continue our local outreach agendas through our Community Engagement Department because what happens outside these borders matters just as much as what happens within our communities.
As with most things in life, with passion, hard work, and consistency, the International Partnerships department of Black Women in Charge, Inc. will flourish and will continuously triumph for years to come. This is just the beginning!
Raziya Hillery
