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.

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.

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.

She also drew inspiration from Deborah, the biblical judge and prophetess (Judges 4-5). Deborah (the bee) 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 Bees are deeply committed to community and guiding, uplifting, and empowering the next generation of Black women leaders, propelling them towards their destiny with personalized mentorship.

The Womanist Freedom School is the signature leadership formation program of the Womanist Freedom Project—a transformative two-week immersion designed for young women of color who are ready to step into their power, deepen their spiritual grounding, and engage with the global African Diaspora.

Each year, the program highlights the life of a Black woman in history who harnessed spirituality as a pathway to freedom, modeling courage, creativity, and liberation. For 2026, our guiding exemplar is:

The first week begins in the United States and centers on Sankofa, the Akan principle of remembering, reclaiming, and honoring history as a foundation for shaping one’s future.

Participants will:

This week is intentionally quiet, reflective, and restorative—a gathering of strength before moving outward in community.

The second week expands the arc of learning across the Atlantic to South Africa, reconnecting participants with the broader African Diaspora and the global struggle for liberation.

Rooted in Ubuntu, the South African principle of shared humanity and mutual care, participants will:

This week embodies outward movement—learning to lead with compassion, courage, and collective responsibility.

Participants conclude their two-week experience with a public presentation of their Beehive Project—an entrepreneurial, income-generating initiative inspired by the “fruits of the hive.”

These projects may include:

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.

Queen Bee 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.

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.

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.