...

When our girls are hurting, we gather.

When silence threatens their future, we speak up.

When they feel invisible, we show them they matter.

Black Girl LIVE! is not just an event. It’s a lifeline.

Why We Gather

SUICIDE IS STEALING
OUR DAUGHTERS,
OUR SISTERS,
OUR FUTURE.

Black Girl LIVE! is born from a deep need to interrupt that silence with love, healing, and radical community care.

It’s a living, breathing experience
of truth-telling and transformation,
where Black girls and women
come together to be seen,
to be heard,
and to begin again.

You are not alone.
Your story matters.
And healing is possible.

Hosted by FaithBridge Portland, a nonprofit devoted to healing, and transformation, Black Girl LIVE! is the heart of the Community Heals Us initiative.

It’s an initiative meant to end the isolation that Black women and girls in crisis face.

To make them see beyond their today.

And to help them find their unique purpose that will push them toward their tomorrow.

Black Girl LIVE! features:

  • Youth-led storytelling that resonates
  • Workshops and healing circles grounded in lived experience
  • Practical tools and resources to strengthen emotional well-being
  • Intergenerational support that reclaims community
  • A lineup of powerful guest speakers who’ve walked the road of pain and emerged as light-bearers

Resource Fair

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation.

That’s why Black Girl LIVE! includes a Resource Fair open to organizations offering counseling, mental health, grief support, mentorship, and more.

Whether you’re a young person seeking help or a caregiver looking for the right connection, you’ll leave with tangible support and a growing safety net.

Are you an organization that wants to join the Resource Fair?

Apply to participate.

Meet Our Speakers

From youth leaders to seasoned healers, our speakers represent the resilience and brilliance of Black women and girls. You’ll hear from artists, educators, mental health advocates, and community trailblazers who are lighting the path forward.

Lisa Saunders

Lisa Saunders has been working with women in the Portland, Oregon area for over 20 years. She uses her own personal journey of recovery from an abusive and toxic relationship that left her emotionally depleted with two children to raise on her own to inspire women to reclaim their lives and heal. Lisa is a Certified Peer Support Specialist in adult mental health and a Pastor who deeply loves her community. She’s a community advocate who is passionate about race equity and the effects of gentrification and displacement on African Americans in the Portland metropolitan area.
 

Qiana Woods

Passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless, Qiana Woods is a slam poet from Portland, OR, who has been writing since age 8. Her work reflects her commitment to storytelling and empowerment. In 2022, her poem “Contradictory” was featured in the WITS Anthology, and in 2024, she won first place at Verselandia with “Parallels to the Plantation” and “Song 33.” Motivated by a lack of representation, Qiana encourages others to share their stories with confidence.

Charlene Addy McGee

Charlene Addy McGee is the Director of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at Multnomah County Health Department. With over 17 years in public health, she champions health equity, policy development, and culturally responsive care. A Liberian-Oregonian and civil war survivor, Charlene’s lived experiences fuel her commitment to systemic change and community advocacy.

Canada Taylor Parker

Canada Taylor Parker is the Suicide Prevention Coordinator for Multnomah County, specializing in crisis response, grief, and trauma. With nearly 20 years in behavioral healthcare, she trains Peer Support Specialists and leads postvention efforts. A 2021 Trillium Health Mental Health Hero awardee, she is dedicated to serving underserved communities with authenticity and compassion.

Elizabeth Loving

Elizabeth Loving is dedicated to the mental and emotional well-being of youth, serving as a therapist, care coordinator, mental health coach, and consultant. She specializes in culturally specific strategies to help young minds navigate challenges. As co-owner of Black Star Athletic Academy in Portland, OR, she combines her expertise in mental health with a passion for sports, mentoring young athletes toward resilience and success. Elizabeth is committed to holistic youth development, empowering them to thrive in all aspects of life.

Nike Greene

Nike Greene is the Founder and Executive Director of Triple Threat Mentoring PDX, a Marriage & Family Therapist, keynote speaker, and coach. With over 15 years of experience in violence prevention, education, and social justice, Nike empowers individuals and organizations to create lasting change. She specializes in coaching, mental health, and building stronger communities through practical strategies and sustainable solutions.

Zalika Gardner

Zalika Gardner is a visionary leader, educator, and coach with 30 years of experience in public, private, and charter education. She has held various roles, including professor at Lewis & Clark’s School of Education, teacher, administrator, and equity facilitator. As a co-founder of KairosPDX, Zalika served in leadership roles, shaping educational culture. She now supports communities through Kulima LLC, offering leadership consulting, coaching, and workshop facilitation.

Sharice Burnett

Sharice Burnett is a dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over a decade of experience in the mental health field. With a passion for empowering individuals and teams, Sharice has dedicated her career to facilitating growth, healing, and transformation within communities and organizations through innovative training and consultation, and mental health services. She specializes in providing comprehensive training and workshops aimed at enhancing workplace well-being, fostering effective and restorative communication, and implementing person-centered, equitable, trauma-informed practices and policies.

Her approach is grounded in community voice, social justice, and evidence-based practices tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual and organization. Whether providing mental health treatment services or facilitating workshops, she prioritizes creating a supportive and collaborative learning environment where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to enact positive change.

 Libra Forde

Libra is a passionate leader and dynamic communicator who empowers others through words and action. Known for her calm presence and energizing spirit, she brings systems thinking and inspiration into every room she enters—encouraging others to grow, lead, and dream boldly.

Led by community advocate Lisa Saunders, FaithBridge Portland believes in a future where healing is collective, care is culturally grounded, and no voice is left behind.

Through storytelling, advocacy, and transformative programming, we work to uplift historically excluded voices and build bridges that hold the weight of real change.

Let This Be More than a Moment

Register now. Bring your story. Leave with hope. Turn this moment into a movement.

REGISTRATION

Event Registration Form HOME PAGE

Follow the journey at #BlackGirlLIVE and #CommunityHealsUs

Seraphinite AcceleratorOptimized by Seraphinite Accelerator
Turns on site high speed to be attractive for people and search engines.