At the heart of the Black Southern Women’s Collaborative (BSWC) is Phyllis M. Hill, our visionary Founder and Executive Lead. Phyllis created the BSWC as a soft place where Black women can fully belong—without defense or pretense—while their labor, leadership, and brilliance are honored and uplifted.

 

Since its founding, Phyllis has led the charge in raising $8 million for Black women-led organizations across the South, fueling movements and strengthening communities. Through training, communications, digital strategy, political engagement, and fundraising support, she has built the organizing capacity and infrastructure of Southern states too often overlooked.

 

Before launching the BSWC, Phyllis served as the National Organizing Director at Faith in Action, where she built a regional support structure for 45 state and local organizing groups. Her work included organizer, clergy, and leader training, as well as campaign and organizational coaching. She rooted the national organizing program in developing public faith-based grassroots leadership that not only changes the narrative of who belongs but also drives public campaigns for material change. Additionally, Phyllis helped create the Black Women’s Caucus of Faith in Action, centering Womanist Theology as fundamental to how Black women can lead with their whole selves.

 

Phyllis embodies the power and persistence of Southern Black women—and we are proud to celebrate her leadership and vision.
 

The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative (BSWC) envisions a South where organizing is second nature. We are building an infrastructure for liberation where communities have the tools, knowledge, and connections to advocate for themselves and build lasting power.

 

In that spirit, we are proud to launch the E.L.L.A. Coaching Program—Embolden, Learn, Lead, Agitate—inspired by the legacy of Ella Baker. This initiative will anchor BSWC’s strategy to contest for power through deep organizing that nurtures ongoing, meaningful connections throughout the community.

 

The program is rooted in the discipline and rigor of organizing, bringing people together to transform their material conditions and, dare we say, build a true democracy unlike anything we’ve seen before. While voting is one important tool in this work, it is not the sole measure of our citizenship.  Elections are not the center, the beginning, or the end—people are, especially those most marginalized and oppressed. Real change begins when people are seen, heard, and believed—fully affirmed in their humanity and empowered to lead with purpose and agency. Inspired by the wisdom of civil rights leader and community organizer Ella Baker, who reminded us that “I believe in the ability of people to understand their own problems and to solve them,” the E.L.L.A. Coaching Program carries forward her legacy by investing in the development of people, not just driving transactional elections.

 

Guiding this transformative work is Jessica Martin-Mitchell, the Director of the E.L.L.A. Program. Jessica is deeply passionate about liberation for all people from the oppressive systems and structures that inhibit healthy, thriving lives. She believes that organizing through authentic community relationships—and creating space for leadership development—is one of the most powerful tools we have for change.

 

Her experience spans community organizing and electoral campaigning, with a strong emphasis on faith-based and membership-driven work.

 

Faith in Florida is making powerful strides across 40 counties, bringing together multi-faith leaders to organize and mobilize communities.

When Governor DeSantis attacked the public school system and sought to erase African American history, Faith in Florida refused to stay silent. Together, they organized 500 congregations across Florida to teach Black history in their churches, ensuring our stories could not be erased. The impact stretched far beyond Florida, with 29 additional states joining to use the DEI toolkit, and even two prisons requesting to teach it.

 

Faith in Florida’s Black Men’s Listening Session has birthed powerful new teams focused on civic engagement, mentoring, and supporting formerly incarcerated brothers. Together, they are tackling critical issues, from mental health to women’s rights, with honesty and courage. FIF’s youth department, ages 14–17, is stepping into leadership—calling voters after the legislative session and lifting their voices on how laws impact their lives as young people. Executive Director, Pastor Rhonda Thomas, is training these youth, many of whom have been directly impacted by gun violence, mass incarceration, and immigration. The organization is intentional about building a platform where every generation has power, voice, and a place in shaping our future. 
 

Through the We Keep Us Safe Campaign, they’ve held over 7,000 conversations across our communities, amplifying visions for safe spaces, economic opportunity, youth support, beautification, and health. They have also restructured their social enterprise ventures into co-ops, putting ownership and decision-making directly in the hands of our people. And with the launch of their new C4 arm, Tennessee Architects for Change, they are expanding regionally and building even greater capacity to organize and win. Together, these victories show what’s possible when there is investment in people power and collective action.

Executive Director Ashley Shelton reflected on 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, as she was featured in a documentary that highlighted the resilience of New Orleans and the people who laid the foundation for the city’s rebuilding. 

 

Looking ahead, they are preparing for the October 15th oral arguments for Callais v. United States, which revisits the redrawing of maps to include a second super-majority Black district. In this critical moment, Power Coalition is calling on leaders and groups nationwide to weigh in because the Supreme Court's decision could keep or neuter Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, affecting all Black and Brown voters nationwide and their ability to elect candidates of choice and have representation in the halls of Congress.

The Black Southern Women’s Collaborative is stepping into a new chapter with a fresh look and an expanded presence—including brand new social media channels and a new website! This rebrand is more than a makeover—it’s about strengthening our connections, sharing our stories, and amplifying the brilliance of Black Southern women leaders.