Miss Braxton Simpson is a rising sophomore at Tennessee State University, where she is studying Agricultural Sciences with a concentration in Agribusiness!
Braxton, along with several of her high school friends, started Black Girls United in 2016 with the mission of giving freshman girls a network that was not given to them their freshman year!
Braxton says, "Coming in to high school--there was no one who looked like me, doing the things I dreamt for myself. There was a lack of representation, and I strongly believe that seeing people that look like you, doing the things that you aspire to do is reassuring; it gives one hope; and allows one to believe they can achieve anything!
The people who looked like me, who looked like us, were lunch ladies and/or janitorial workers. Not to say that these roles were not vital to the daily operations of our school, but BEING a young black girl—I realized that seeing people who look like you in positions of power—allows you to dream and aspire to LEARN MORE, DO MORE, and BECOME MORE!" This was the birth of Black Girls United!'
Gianni Whiteside, a founding member of Black Girls United,now attends the illustrious Howard University in Washington, D.C as a rising Junior. She is a Political Science and Spanish double major and is on the pre-law track. On campus she has joined the HU Georgia Club, Campus Ambassadors, and Precious Pearls, a mentoring organization for the youth of D.C. She has also worked at a non-profit in Southeast D.C. and plans to continue her work next semester. In the near future she plans to study abroad, and will have the privilege of going to London, Madrid, and Rome to further her studies.
Marie John is a sophomore at the University of Georgia who aspires to work in the medical field. She currently studies public health on a pre-pa track. She grew up in Marietta, Georgia and attended Marietta High School. Her parents are Gambian natives and she owes her love for different cultures to them. From a young age Marie’s sympathetic nature blossomed into a desire to help others. No matter what path she continues on in life, her untilmate desire is to help others in any way possible.