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WHO WE ARE?

Black Girls Dive Foundation (BGDF) establishes space and opportunity to empower young ladies to explore their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) identity through marine science and conservation, and SCUBA diving. BGDF is a designated 501c(3), volunteer-based, educational non-profit organization founded in 2017 in Maryland. Currently, we have local chapters operating in Maryland - Baltimore County and Baltimore City; Trenton, New Jersey, Wilimington, Delaware; and Atlanta., Georgia.

OUR MISSION

Keeping Young Girls & Women Afloat

Our mission address three critical issues: (1) the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap that undermines our ideals of freedom, equality and opportunity; (2) limited or restricted sense of youth agency and voice; and (3) cultivating the next generation of social conscious divers, scientists, conservationists and planetary stewards.

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BGD CHAPTERS

Maryland -

Liberty Road Parks & Recreation Center

New Jersey - Sprout U School of the Arts

Maryland - St. Frances Academy

Atlanta - Georgia Aquarium

University of Delaware

The Scholars in our STREAMS program take the plunge and SCUBA dive with the gentle giants in the Ocean Voyager exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

 

BGD PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES

STREAMS

The STREAMS program enriches youths’ knowledge of and experience in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) through SCUBA and marine science and conservation.

 

Project C.O.R.E

The Collaborative Oyster Restoration and Education (CORE) initiative is an oyster monitoring and educational conservation partnership between Black Girls Dive Foundation and the Severn River Association (SRA) to address Maryland’s fragile oyster population;

PROJECT CORAL

Project Coral is an eco-STEM program that exposes youth to the world of ocean science and conservation and leadership development and prepares youth to be eco-champions in their own communities and eco-leaders for the world.

 

SRC Initiative

This Shark Research and Conservation (SRC) initiative provides BGD Scholars with an opportunity to learn about shark behavioral ecology and conservation as they embark on shark research expeditions. Participants tag sharks with satellite tags and track their movement as they work with real shark biotelemetry data and spatial analyses for satellite tracking data.

 

Shark tagging expedition.

See more of the expedition…

Building the pipeline starts before elementary school.

 

OUR IMPACT

We have served over 245 youth both nationally and internationally, provided over 200 STEM classes, and led domestic and international SCUBA capstone expeditions to Key Largo, Florida; Egypt, and Bahamas.

Forfar capstone

Andros, Bahamas

Egypt capstone

Diving the Red Sea

BGD scholars lead community service & volunteer projects throughout the year.

 

Several BGD Scholars have received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award from the President of the United States for their community service completed with Black Girls Dive Foundation.

See more of volunteer & community service here….

BGD Scholars have a 100% college admission acceptance rate

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Sneu, "The Swimmer"

We provide opportunities for young girls and women to experience life in the water through SCUBA, research, and conservation.

Symon, "The Diver"
BGDF has allowed my daughter to learn swimming, diving and leadership skills, improve her overall confidence, and opened a whole new world to her in STEM beyond what the normal classroom would provide.
— Joelle Bowers
 
 
The Diving Divas of Black Girls Dive (copyright 2021)