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Profound Ladies spent the month of February on a mission to “spread the love” throughout North Carolina and southern Virginia. The organization went on tour to focus on wellness, reducing burnout, and increasing retention among Black, Indigenous, and other women of color educators. See below for a glimpse of the impact that Profound Ladies is having on their community of educators.
About Profound Ladies
Profound Ladies is a nonprofit organization committed to the recruitment and retention of Black, Indigenous, and other women of color in education. Members have access to evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy exercises, facilitated anti-racism professional development, mental health conversations, and classroom support.
Established in 2020, Profound Ladies emerged as founder Keiyonna Dubashi engaged with Gov. Roy Cooper’s Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) Task Force. This consisted of a collective of education stakeholders working together to develop recommendations and best practices to improve equity and inclusion in the education workforce. In alignment with the DRIVE Task Force, Dubashi set out to create a community for women to receive mentoring, career development, training, and other resources to promote overall health and well-being.
On tour spreading the love
One of Profound Ladies’ four core values is love. Their 2022 annual report states, “Love is liberation. Love creates space for belonging through connection, vulnerability, and grace.” Profound Ladies developed the Spread the Love Tour to further nurture belonging among members and their communities.
This year, Profound Ladies visited 61 schools across 19 counties. In total, they physically handed wellness packages to 98 of their educators. Take a look at more images and testimonials from the Spread the Love Tour below.
“Joining Profound Ladies during the pandemic was a transformative experience. The dedicated coaches provided consistent support, offering guidance in virtual teaching and emphasizing mental health. Quarterly workshop weeks and participation in education local, state, and countrywide conferences continued to enhance our skills. Profound Ladies’ commitment extended beyond traditional teaching, encouraging exploration in coaching, administration, and reimagining education. I hope one day, I will have the opportunity to be a coach or positively impact others in the Profound Ladies and Education community.”
Monique Brown, teacher at Edgecombe County Public Schools
“My experience with the Profound Ladies has been a source of support for me. Even as an older educator, the fellowship with these younger educators has been phenomenal. The monthly wellness cards and happy mail gifts always lift my spirits. I am inspired from the work I see and hear about from the other members of the group. Encouragement and a sense of belonging to a group of women who truly support each other has helped me this year adjust to both a new role and new environment”
Tina Swann-Binaxas, administrative intern/special education at Cumberland County Schools
“I have appreciated the monthly wellness packages and the fact that professional development is offered. I feel appreciated as an educator.”
Vanessa Garcia, 6th grade math teacher at Clinton City Schools
