The Womanist Freedom Project
Cultivating Hives of Hope for Black women and girls—where healing takes root, freedom blossoms, and leadership flows from the well of spiritual wisdom.
Welcome to the Hive
LinkTree
Leadership Development
The Womanist Freedom Project equips African American and Black girls and women to become bold, ethical leaders in their communities and beyond.
Community Transformation
We are committed to empowering African American and Black girls and women to heal and transform their communities through meaningful action.
Spiritual Formation
Rooted in womanist theology and spiritual practices, we provide transformative experiences that nurture the whole person.
The Womanist Freedom Project
"We cultivate visionary leadership and holistic well-being for women and girls of color through faith, education, and community action."
The Womanist Freedom Project is a faith-based organization dedicated to empowering women and communities through education, advocacy, and spiritual formation.
Our Mission
We cultivate and support Black girls and women of color through our pollination pathway programs like the "Womanist Freedom Schools" and "Queen Beehive Harvest" igniting their leadership potential through practical advocacy training, advancing their education with scholarships, and promoting holistic healing and spiritual formation so they can confidently achieve their boundless potential.
Our Vision
A thriving, interconnected sisterhood where women heal, learn, and lead. We envision a community where every Black woman and girl is deeply empowered to heal from intergenerational trauma, and boldly lead in their spheres of influence, contributing to a profoundly more equitable and just society for all.
Our Values
Collective Care
Radical collective care through mutual support networks.
Sisterhood
Deep-seated sisterhood cultivated through shared experiences.
Spiritual Formation
Transformative experiences that nurture the whole person.
Justice
Transformative justice supported by womanist principles that intentionally center the most marginalized voices and experiences.
Hospitality
Ensuring every voice is heard and valued in our programs and advocacy efforts.
Our Ethos:
The Four Principles of Womanist Ethics
The Womanist Freedom Project is rooted in the sacred moral vision of womanist ethics—a framework shaped by the faith, wisdom, and lived experience of Black women. These principles guide every Freedom School, Hive, and mentoring circle we create. They remind us that liberation begins within and extends outward into community.
1
Radical Subjectivity
“We speak for ourselves.” Womanist ethics begins with the power of self-definition. Each woman and girl carries a sacred story that is her own to tell. At the Womanist Freedom Project, we teach that identity is not something granted—it is claimed. Through storytelling, reflection, and theological study, participants are invited to name their truths and lead from a place of authenticity.
2
Traditional Communalism
“We rise together.” In the womanist tradition, the good of the individual is inseparable from the good of the community. Leadership is a shared calling rooted in cooperation, care, and collective uplift. Within our hives and Freedom Schools, we practice interdependence—honoring that true freedom is found in fellowship, not isolation.
3
Redemptive Self-Love
“Loving ourselves is a sacred act.” Self-love is a radical declaration of worth in a world that too often denies it. Womanist ethics sees love of self as the foundation of love for others and the source of resilience. Our programs create healing spaces where women and girls learn to honor their bodies, minds, and spirits as reflections of the divine.
4
Critical Engagement
“Faith without justice is incomplete.” Womanist ethics calls us to confront and transform unjust systems—racism, sexism, poverty, and all forms of oppression. Through education, advocacy, and creative action, we teach that faith and justice are inseparable. To love God and neighbor is to act boldly for freedom.
Together, these four principles form the moral compass of the Womanist Freedom Project. These principles, articulated by ethicists such as Katie Cannon, Emilie Townes, and Stacey Floyd-Thomas, shape the moral foundation of womanist theology. They remind us that leadership is love in action—and that every step toward justice is a step toward wholeness.
The Deborah Connection:
The Bee and the Word
The name "Deborah," echoing the industrious hum of a bee, carries profound significance. In Hebrew, it literally means "bee," symbolizing diligent labor, unwavering community, and the sweet rewards of collective effort. Yet, her identity extends beyond this; as a revered prophetess, her pronouncements were considered the very "word" of divine wisdom, guiding her people with clarity and conviction.
As a judge in ancient Israel, Deborah was a beacon of justice and strategic leadership, bravely orchestrating freedom and fostering peace. Her story exemplifies how powerful, inspired leadership can transform adversity into triumph.
“Wisdom speaks; justice moves. The hive hums again.”
This duality of industrious action and enlightened guidance powerfully mirrors the Womanist Freedom Project's mission. We empower Black women and girls to diligently build their futures while also finding their authoritative voices – their "word" – to inspire change and lead their communities towards liberation and flourishing.
Step into your spiritual power with the Daughters of Deborah Devotions.
Join us for a sacred, weekly Sabbath practice— Daughters of Deborah Devotions, Saturdays at 9:00am a soul-stirring journey of prayer, profound spiritual formation, and collective wisdom. Here, you will engage with relevant scripture passages, allowing ancient truths to illuminate your modern path, fostering deep spiritual growth, inner peace, and renewed purpose. Discover a sisterhood dedicated to nurturing your spirit and empowering you to lead with divine courage and clarity, just as Deborah did.
Our Founder & Inspiration
The Womanist Freedom Project founded by our Queen Bee the Reverend Dr. Terri Ofori stands is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization passionately dedicated to forging sustainable pathways for girls and women of color to rise with purpose, power, and boundless possibility.
About the Reverend Dr. Terri Ofori, Founder & Executive Director
Reverend Dr. Terri Ofori is an ordained minister, scholar, and educator whose work bridges faith, education, and social justice. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary. Reverend Ofori completed doctorate in Christian and womanist spirituality at Fordham University. Her ministry and teaching have spanned Harvard, Brown, Wellesley, and Ursinus College.
Through the Womanist Freedom Project, she advances womanist leadership, spiritual formation, and collective liberation.Rooted deeply in the tenets of womanist theology, our foundational work boldly centers the voices and experiences of Black women and girls—those who have long been marginalized, yet who have historically stood at the forefront of social change.
Reverend Dr. Ofori
🐝 The Sweet Life of Bees
The Womanist Freedom Project draws inspiration from the natural wisdom of bees and the life-sustaining ecosystems they create. Just as bees work together in harmony to nurture their hive and pollinate the world around them, the Womanist Freedom Project cultivates interconnected sisterhood, radical collective care, and transformative leadership across generations.
Reverend Dr. Terri Ofori developed the concept of the Queen Bee and her Hive as a living metaphor for womanist community—a robust, interdependent network of women committed to healing, wholeness, and social change. In this vision, every woman is both a pollinator and a nurturer, contributing to the flourishing of the collective.
Through programs and virtual platforms known as “Pollination Pathways,” the Womanist Freedom Project mirrors the work of real pollinator gardens—spaces that sustain life, foster renewal, and generate abundance. These pathways are designed to nourish spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth within individuals, families, and communities.
Just as bees pollinate flowers to sustain the planet’s food systems, the Womanist Freedom Project Pollination Pathways exist to sustain the soul of community life, spreading wisdom, love, and justice wherever they take root.
Like industrious bees, Black women have perpetually labored for the flourishing of their families and communities, producing sweet nectar even amidst challenging conditions. Our program framework draws direct inspiration from the intricate social structure of bees and the beehive—powerful symbols of unwavering community solidarity, resilient endurance, and mutual collective care.
She also drew inspiration from Deborah, the biblical judge and prophetess (Judges 4-5). Deborah, the name, meaning "Bee" in Hebrew, powerfully symbolizes her industriousness and vital role within her community. Deborah was far more than a mere leader; she emerged as a strategic warrior, a wise counselor, and a spiritual guide who courageously led her people to freedom and peace with unparalleled wisdom and courage in ancient Israel.
Just as Deborah nurtured and fiercely defended her community, our dedicated Queen Beesare deeply committed to community and guiding, uplifting, and empowering the next generation of Black women leaders, propelling them towards their destiny with personalized mentorship.
Reverend Ofori powerfully articulates the Queen Bee and her Hive as more than just a concept; it is a living, breathing tapestry of interconnected sisterhood, dedicated to the radical practice of collective care, igniting a powerful movement that cultivates profound, transformative change within communities.
Pollination Pathways
Our Hives of Learning and Leadership
Each pathway is a hive where women and girls gather to practice faith, freedom, and cooperative care.
Womanist Freedom School – Harriet Tubman Focus
Dive deep into the legacy of Harriet Tubman and womanist thought. Our school empowers you with knowledge, critical thinking, and the spirit of liberation. Join us to ignite your journey towards intellectual freedom and social change.
Queen Bee Mentorship & Ethnography Project
Become part of a powerful intergenerational network. This project pairs you with inspiring mentors and engages you in ethnographic research, fostering leadership, community connection, and cultural understanding. Connect, learn, and lead with purpose.
The Beehive Project – Local Network of Hives
Expand your impact by joining a national movement. The Beehive Project connects local 'hives' across the country, building a collective force for change. Contribute to a larger sisterhood and amplify your voice for widespread transformation.
Wisdom Hive Workshops
Step into the Wisdom Hive, a sacred space designed for profound reflection and transformative healing. Here, womanist wisdom flows freely through enriching online workshops and inspiring in-person retreats, guided by an esteemed circle of wise women. Discover deeper connections, nurture your spirit, and empower your journey.
Queen Bee Mentorship &
Womanist Ethnography
Every conversation is an act of preservation. Every story pollinates the future.
Intergenerational Mentorship
Forge profound connections as accomplished "Queen Bees" (25+) guide aspiring young leaders (16-24). This journey cultivates a vibrant ecosystem of shared wisdom, fostering personal growth and professional development for the next generation of women of color.
Womanist Ethnography Training
Mentees delve into the art of womanist ethnography, learning to collect, interpret, and preserve the rich narratives of their communities. This specialized training empowers them to become diligent archivists of living history, ensuring diverse voices are heard and remembered.
Living Legacy Projects
Translate collected stories and insights into tangible "Living Legacy Projects." These impactful initiatives, guided by mentors, document and celebrate community histories, cultural traditions, and personal journeys, creating lasting contributions to the womanist archive.
Annual Hive Harvest Showcase
Culminate the year's work at our inspiring Annual Hive Harvest Showcase. Mentees present their ethnographic research and Living Legacy Projects, celebrating their achievements and the collective power of storytelling in a vibrant community gathering.
🐝 Queen Bee Mentor Program
A Womanist Freedom Project Pollination Pathway
The Queen Bee Mentor Program fosters intergenerational relationships between women of all ages. Rooted in womanist values of community, justice, and healing, mentors guide and listen as companions.
🐝 Why Become a Queen Bee Mentor?
Join a legacy of leadership by walking alongside the next generation of leaders—girls of color preparing for college and purposeful living. As a Queen Bee, you inspire, listen, and nurture. Your wisdom sustains their growth, helping us pollinate change and ensure Pauli Murray's vision lives on.
🐝 Who is a Model Queen Bee?
  • Embodies womanist leadership values (justice, hospitality, spirituality)
  • Honors intergenerational mentorship
  • Brings professional experience and wants to share that within community
  • Practices cultural humility & deep listening
  • Commits to confidentiality & consistency
The Queen Bee Mentoring Process
Student Profile
Students complete interest inventories (goals, values)
Mentor Portfolio
Mentors submit bios (background, philosophy, story)
Matching
Matches use a "mutual inspiration" model (student and mentor rank choices)
Orientation
Virtual mentor orientation in June (womanist pedagogy, trauma-informed practices)
Commissioning Service
Mentors meet mentees at July Commissioning Service and sign covenant
Yearlong Engagement
  • Monthly Harambee Hive virtual meetings (students)
  • Beekeepers Council virtual meetings (mentors)
  • Quarterly in-person Queen Bee Brunches (DMV)
  • Mid-year leadership coaching (required)
  • August Queen Beehive Harvest Gathering
🎯 Commitments
  • Attend August Harvest
  • Sign a shared covenant.
  • Monthly virtual Hive Gatherings.
  • Quarterly Queen Bee Brunches (Oct, Jan, Mar, and June).
The Queen Bee Mentorship Model fosters meaningful connections through a structured, flexible process that honors preferences.
The Womanist Freedom School
Each summer via our signature outreach program to young women we embark on a transformative week of leadership, profound learning, and spiritual growth.
This intensive program runs for five full days, from Monday to Friday. Each year we focus on different Black woman in history who harnessed her spirituality as a powerful pathway to freedom.
Participants immerse themselves in deep learning, meaningful community service and profound personal development, culminating in a public presentation of their leadership projects.
Save the Date: August 3– August 7, 2026
Harriet Tubman Freedom School
Summer Leadership Summit
Theme:
The Enduring Life and Work of Harriet Tubman
Focus:
Spirituality as Resistance
Through engaging interactive workshops focusing on public speaking and community organizing, young women will hone essential advocacy skills, empowering them to become powerful agents of change within their own communities. They will culminate their learning by presenting a capstone project: an entrepreneurial income-generating initiative centered around the 'fruits of the hive,' such as making and selling honey products, specifically designed to equip and uplift other young women.
The Beehive Project:
Cultivating Community and Empowerment
The Beehive Project is more than just beekeeping; it's a transformative initiative empowering women through environmental stewardship, cooperative economics, and collective leadership.
Our vision extends to building vibrant community gardens, rich with beehives and diverse pollinator gardens. Participants will cultivate and harvest their labor's sweet rewards—from golden honey and fragrant beeswax candles to nourishing soaps and lotions—selling them at bustling local farmer's markets. This fosters entrepreneurial spirit, economic independence, and thriving community bonds.
Science & Spirituality
Each community hive becomes a living classroom, where young women learn from seasoned beekeepers about the intricate science of pollination, vital ecological balance, and the profound spiritual connection to creation care. We explore the sacred wisdom found in nature's cycles.
Shared Enterprise
Through hands-on experience, participants harvest honey and beeswax, craft artisan products, and develop entrepreneurial skills. By partnering with local markets, our collective enterprise sustains scholarships and funds vital community programs, creating a powerful cycle of support.
Leadership in Motion
This project is a dynamic fusion where environmental stewardship meets cooperative economics. Here, vision transforms into action, and dedicated work cultivates true freedom. Young women emerge as confident leaders, equipped to drive positive change in their communities.
When women build hives, communities thrive.
National Network of Community Hives
Imagine a vibrant tapestry woven across the nation, connecting women in a powerful network of community and creation care. Through shared "pollination pathways," we envision an ecosystem where women everywhere are empowered, supported, and uplifted, fostering a future of collective growth and environmental harmony.
Wisdom Hive Workshops
The Power of Testimony and Womanist Wisdom
Personal Healing
Sharing our stories helps us process trauma and reclaim our narratives.
Community Building
Testimonies create bonds of empathy and understanding between women.
Knowledge Preservation
Our stories preserve wisdom that might otherwise be lost to history.
Truth-Telling
Speaking our truths challenges dominant narratives and exposes injustice.
Spiritual Practice
Testimony is a sacred act that connects us to our ancestors and the divine.
In the womanist tradition, testimony transcends mere storytelling; it is a sacred act that elevates our lived experiences as profound sources of wisdom and truth. Through this powerful 'pollination pathway,' we assert that every woman's perspective matters, deserving to be heard, honored, and celebrated.
The practice of testimony within womanist spaces represents a radical reclamation of our right to name our realities and have them acknowledged as valid—a foundation for collective liberation and empowerment.
"When and where I enter, in the quiet, undisputed dignity of my womanhood, without violence and without suing or special patronage, then and there the whole race enters with me."
— Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, Episcopal Scholar
Wisdom Hive Workshops feature wise women who share on various topics, creating an environment that empowers not only the speaker but also the listener, generating ripples of healing and awareness that extend beyond the individual to touch the entire community. This pollination pathway provides an inclusive platform where women gather to share their diverse wisdom—from the educated woman who brings academic insights to the woman taught by life, we understand that women from all walks of life can offer invaluable life lessons.
Our workshops are intentionally designed to uplift every woman's voice, creating sacred space for all forms of wisdom and experience to flourish. Through this process, we honor the legacy of womanist thinkers like Alice Walker, Delores Williams, and Katie Geneva Cannon, who recognized the theological and political significance of Black women's everyday experiences and ways of knowing,
The Womanist Freedom Quilt
The artistic expression of our work is the collaborative creation of a Womanist Freedom Project Quilt. Quilting has a rich history in Black women's traditions, serving as both an artistic expression and a form of resistance. During times of enslavement, quilts were used not only for warmth but also as coded maps for those seeking freedom along the Underground Railroad. In African American communities, quilting circles became spaces where women could gather to share stories, offer support, and pass down cultural knowledge.
Our Womanist Freedom Project Quilt will continue this legacy by inviting members to contribute a piece of fabric or personal memento that holds significance to them or their families.
Our individual contributions will be woven together by our commissioned Master Quilter, Ms. Linda Mose Meadows to create a visual representation of our collective story—a tangible symbol of how our individual experiences connect to form a beautiful, complex whole.
Ancestral Threads
Sacred pieces of traditional textiles that weave the vibrant tapestry of your cultural heritage and ancestral lineage into our collective story.
Echoes of Experience
Cherished objects, handwritten notes, or photographs that encapsulate pivotal moments of resilience, joy, and wisdom from your unique life journey.
Words of Power
Fabric fragments inscribed with profound quotes, empowering affirmations, or the revered names of ancestors whose strength continues to sustain us.
As we sew our contributions together, we'll learn the symbolism behind our chosen items and the stories they represent. This process of interweaving and sharing stories allows us to practice the art of testimony—bearing witness to our experiences and having them affirmed by a supportive community.
The completed quilt will serve as a visual reminder of our interconnectedness and the strength we draw from our shared histories.
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www.womanistfreedomproject.org Rev. Dr. Terri Ofori Founder & President

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Reverend Dr. Terri Ofori
CEO & Founder

A scholar, chaplain, and ordained minister, Dr. Ofori leads with a vision for restorative justice, womanist education, and vocational discernment.
Rev Ofori's academic and pastoral work includes 15+ years in higher education, DEIB strategy, and community-based spiritual leadership.