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.
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.
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.
BGD Scholars have a 100% college admission acceptance rate
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We provide opportunities for young girls and women to experience life in the water through SCUBA, research, and conservation.
“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. ”
