Our Story
Black Girls Leadership Academy (BGLA) is led by 5 Black women leaders from various states and professional backgrounds, who all share a common goal: to serve young Black girls and women. We began crafting our vision for Black Girls Leadership Academy back in April 2020, as we recognized that Black people, particularly young Black girls, were left vulnerable to educational inequities, mental and emotional distress, and economic instabilities in this new COVID -19 reality. While COVID-19 shed a light on the racial inequities already plaguing our society, there was less attention to how this crisis exposed the long-term marginalization of Black girls. We knew that if we did not act urgently to bridge the gap, we would deprive Black girls of the chance to live out their fullest potential. We will fill this gap by building the self-esteem and self-worth of Black girls by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons, and helping them to empower themselves and others. We value the opportunity to enrich the lives of young Black girls and women aged 11 to 24 years old through mentorship, arts, education, cultural exploration, and community service.
"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman
Our Board
Jazzalyn D. Livingston
Jazzalyn D. Livingston is the Co-Founder of Black Girls Leadership Academy, a national organization dedicated to cultivating the leadership skills of young Black girls and women aged 11-24 by providing mentorship, cultural programming, and global service. Previously, she served as the National Program Manager for the NAACP Youth and College Division. In this role, she managed local, state, and national programs that engaged youth on issues of criminal justice, civic engagement, education reform, voting rights, environmental & climate justice, economic advancement, and health and wellbeing.
Livingston is an alumnus of the University of California, San Diego, where she double majored in Psychology, B.S. and Public Health, B.S. with a minor in African American studies. She was awarded the Class of 2015 Most Outstanding Senior of her graduating class in recognition for her leadership, activism, and academic achievements. As a student leader and organizer, she held several leadership positions including President of UCSD’s Black Student Union (BSU) Executive Board. As President of BSU, she led and organized political demonstrations and protests against anti-black violence and police terror, and reigniting Black student activism on campus. She successfully initiated the process of establishing Black Themed Housing on UCSD campus, while actively engaging in the development of their Black Resource Center, Black Legacy Mural, and hiring process of UCSD's Vice Chancellor of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Livingston was previously the Director of Student Affairs for the Afrikan Black Coalition (ABC), the largest Black collegiate organization in California. In this role, she conducted leadership training for Black student leaders across the state of California, and facilitated monthly meetings amongst the Black Student Union (BSU) Presidents. Under her direction she oversaw the development of 16 Black Student Unions throughout California, including recruiting new campuses, leadership development, programming, and supporting the development of political campaigns. Under her leadership, she supported the Political Director of ABC in organizing a “University of California Prison Divestment”, an anti-mass incarceration statewide campaign that was led by Black Student Unions. Through her facilitation and support, the BSU Presidents’ successfully carried out a campaign to demand the University of California to divest 450 million dollars from private prisons and their major financiers in 2015.
In May 2018, Livingston received her M.S. in Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice Education from San Diego State University. During her graduate career, she served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Southern Indian Health Council, a Native American organization committed to protecting and improving the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our American Indian community. In this role, she coordinate innovative programming that promoted prevention and early intervention strategies to reduce risk factors for suicidal behavior and substance abuse amongst American Indian youth and young adults. She distinguished herself as a scholar, advocate, and a change agent for underserved communities. Her commitment to social justice and equality has inspired her to continue the work to ensure the ultimate liberties and freedoms of historically marginalized communities are realized. She is a proud native of South-Central LA and currently resides in Washington, DC.
Victoria Gichohi
Victoria Gichohi is a true community advocate for all. Victoria holds a BA in Sociology and minor in African-American Studies from UC San Diego and Masters in Public Health at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA. She currently resides in her beloved hometown of Compton, CA.
Previously, Victoria served as Right to Health Organizer at St. John's Well Child & Family Center helping underserved populations in South Los Angeles. She organized with youth and created conversations regarding health issues at their local schools as well as holding parent discussions regarding health topics such as diabetes and breast cancer. Her passion is finding resources that make people's lives more sustainable. In the Midst of COVID, she provided patient registration for COVID19 Testing for St. John's Mobile Truck. She, along with her fellow medical staff, have tested over 1700 patients living in urban cities in Los Angeles County.
Victoria’s work has reached across global platforms. She has served as the first Inaugurating Young Leaders Network (YLN) for the World Health Organizations (WHO). She along with her 20 other colleagues have participated in monthly conference calls regarding practices in primary health care in our respective countries. Victoria presented on her past work with engaging and organizing youth surrounding conversations around health and served as an assistant and editor for our cohort blog and other publications. Vicky was blessed enough to have attended and participated in the Global Health Conference of Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2018 and Attended the 72 World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2019.
She is most passionate about finding resources and tools that make lives more sustainable and advocating for others. This stems from her upbringing as a child. Growing up in Compton, California, she was accustomed to seeing poverty in her community. She has seen some of her peers and loved ones encounter poverty, housing issues, and even substance use and abuse because of the system conditions that were living. She continuously urges students to combat and create equitable measures for all populations that they serve and invite communities to the table on how to make a more sustainable community.
Currently, Victoria is a Health Education Trainer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In her new position, she will be training several healthcare facility workers at 2,500 locations in Los Angeles on various infections and prevention to sustain themselves in the workplace in COVID-19. She is also the Co-Founder of Black Girls Leadership Academy, a national organization that she founded with her peer and fellow UCSD Alum, Jazzalyn Livingston. They are dedicated to serve, sustain and retain young black girls and women aged 11-24 on a national platform. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, catching up with her close friends and spending time with her family, dancing, and all things Beyonce’.
Ahliyah S. Chambers
Ahliyah S. Chambers (she/her/hers) was born in Bellflower, CA but was raised in Corona, California. She graduated from Corona Centennial High School in 2014 and went on to pursue her undergraduate studies at San Diego State University. Ms. Chambers earned her Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Africana Studies from SDSU in Spring 2018. Before graduating, she was initiated into the Nu Upsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in the Spring of 2017. Then, Ms. Chambers went on to earn a Masters of Arts degree in Postsecondary Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Student Affairs from SDSU in Spring 2020.
During the summer of 2019, Ahliyah began to serve as the Coordinator of SDSU’s Black Resource Center and was soon promoted to the Assistant Director of the space, where she currently serves. Ms. Chambers leads the center’s programming, as well as, a mentoring program that supports the academic, racial identity and professional development of second-year Black students. In Fall 2020, she began pursuing a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Education in a joint program at SDSU and Claremont Graduate University. In all of her roles, Chambers remains committed to recruiting, retaining and supporting Black students, faculty and staff, especially at predominantly White postsecondary institutions. In her personal time, Ahliyah enjoys activities such as going to the beach, kickboxing, traveling, painting, spending time with loved ones and rooting for everybody Black -- word to Issa Rae.
Nancy V. Luxama
Nancy Luxama is an Educator who believes in the power of education and the impact that it has on our youth. Her passion stems from her parents who moved to the states from Lagonov, Haiti. They moved to the U.S for an opportunity to have a better life for their growing family. While growing up, Nancy's parents constantly spoke about the importance of an education. They instilled in her that education meant a better future. A better life. It meant open doors and it meant respect. Nancy continues to carry these teachings with her.
Nancy was born in Fort Pierce, Florida where she graduated from Fort Pierce Central High School in 2012. She then completed her Associates Art degree at Indian River State College and went on to graduate from the University of Central Florida with her Bachelors in Elementary Education in 2017. During her time at UCF she served as Education Chair for Projects for Haiti. She also served as the Volunteer Coordinator for Carribean Student Association (CSA) after winning the title Miss. CSA in 2016.
After graduation in 2017, Nancy received a teaching position at Shingle Creek Elementary. She has been an educator now for 4 years. She has taught grades K through 2nd. She believes in the power of creating a strong education foundation and teaching her the students that they are able to accomplish anything, through chants, songs, affirmations and dance. Nancy's passion continues to grow. She loves to see youth excited when it comes to their future and chasing their dreams. When Nancy is not teaching, she enjoys working out, watching movies, traveling and spending time with her family and loved one.
Aareka Davis
Aareka is passionate about addressing the reproductive & mental health outcomes of sexual minorities. Through various positions, Aareka has curated intentional programming to address the social impacts of health for these communities. As a health educator, Aareka has experience in health education and intervention among adolescents. Covering topics such as consent, decision making, dating, pregnancy prevention, and health advocacy. She has worked to bridge the gap of inadequate health education in underserved communities. She hopes to continue her work in health education, to equip youth with the agency to practice autonomy in their mental, reproductive, and sexual health.
In May 2020, Aareka graduated with her B.S. in Health Science: Community Health from California State University Dominguez Hills. In her time at CSU Dominguez Hills, Aareka served in various leadership positions such as student programmer for the Women’s Resource Center, Resident Assistant in University Housing, and a volunteer in the Queer Resource Center. Additionally, Aareka worked to launch and lead a collaborative health education partnership with Peer Health Exchange. In her time serving as a Co-coordinator with Peer Health Exchange, Aareka managed the education of over 2000 students in Los Angeles County.
Post-graduation, Aareka interned with Black Women for Wellness in their sexual health department Get Smart B4 U Get Sexy. Aareka worked to create a strategic plan to disseminate health education via social media after the 2020 Covid Pandemic was announced. Aareka now serves as the Program Coordinator for Get Smart B4 U Get Sexy with Black Women For Wellness. Aareka hopes to continue empowering youth and young adults to manifest health and wellness in their lives.
