Let's remember we're connected, may we take care of ourselves and one another ❤️✊🏾

Photo credit: Black Women For Black Lives

I started signing off my Facebook posts with: Let’s remember we’re connected, may we take care of ourselves and one another ❤️✊🏾 as a reminder that we are all members of humanity. We ought to be in this together, and yet, more than ever (it seems) we are at odds, at war, divided, and utterly lost as global citizens.

I was stunned, and not at all shocked, when I started reading stories and watching video/hearing audio of Africans who were being denied access to neighboring countries and being blocked from fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was and is unconscionable. I had to be still and lament, pray, and meditate on what I should do to come alongside these people, many of whom are international students. I thought about my Dad who was an international student in the US decades ago. I also think about why many Africans opted to pursue their degrees in Ukraine compared to the US or the UK. It was usually related to financial considerations. This broke my heart even more. The racism, mistreatment, and discrimination many are facing. This is also a class issue. To that end, I knew I had to do something and yet was unsure with whom I could partner.

I stumbled on Global Empowerment Mission and while they do good work, their website (Google is your friend as I won’t link it here) gave off strong white saviorism vibes which I cannot and will not stomach. Next, I considered Together Rising, and that too, didn’t sit well with my spirit. My husband and I chatted about it as he helped me vet those two organizations. And he suggested I reach out to his sister about nonprofits, NGOs, or charitable organizations that were dedicated to assisting Africans in Ukraine. I texted her and during the time I was waiting for her response, we stumbled on Black Women For Black Lives. I knew this was the right organization with which to partner. My sister in law responded with the same organization so I knew it was the Divine prompting me to fundraise for this nonprofit. I’m hosting a Look After Yourself event on Sunday, 3/20/22 at 730pm ET / 430pm PT if you’d like to attend, send me a direct message on IG at thechidimmacollective. Want to donate directly, please do so here. Imagine if you were in danger, scared, and not in your home country. Wouldn’t you want strangers to be kind, generous, empathetic, compassionate, and understanding? I know I would want that.

Thank you to the three beautiful souls that began this nonprofit and this fundraiser from a single tweet - Patricia Daley, Tokunbo Koiki, and Korrine Sky - I see you.