Start Date: 2010-04-22 01:00:00

Think Tank for African American Progress
"What is the Future of Black Girls?"
Long Island, NY
April 22-April 24, 2010

The Think Tank for African American Progress – to be held in Long Island from April 22 to April 24, 2010 – seeks solutions to challenges confronting Black girls. We are inviting scholars, activists, and advocates to join us for the 2010 Think Tank with the theme “What is the Future of Black Girls?”. Practitioners, community activists, and researchers whose efforts are related to the following thematic areas are especially invited to submit a solutions’ proposal relevant to one of 2 areas: (1) Health and (2) Community/Economic Development. Specific topics within each area are detailed below. We invite proposals from community based organizations, civic groups, faith based organizations, academic institutions, community residents, businesses and legislators. Solutions should discuss,
address, or offer strategies to community challenges. Such solutions should be based on research, community‐based work, and/or programs with demonstrated efficacy. The abstract should outline specific solutions or strategies for an issue in one of the previously mentioned areas, include a rationale for the proposed solution(s), strategies that the target audience (i.e., practitioners, parents, educators, and policy makers) could implement, and empirically‐based, anecdotal, or theoretical evaluations of the efficacy of strategies that are offered. In addition, applicants should identify their roles in the implementation of the proposed solutions. First authors of accepted proposals will receive free registration to the Think Tank to present their paper. In addition, there will be publication and collaboration opportunities from the Think Tank for African American Progress on Long Island.

Proposals should be between 750 – 1000 words.

Topics

Solutions for Health include examinations of Obesity, Mental Health and Sexual Health.

Obesity
• We invite proposals describing resolutions to the social determinants of Black girls/young girls’ inactivity and eating behavior, intersection of obesity and aspects of psychosocial well‐being such as self‐image, identity, or intimacy, knowledge of nutrition and health enhancing behaviors, and/or access to health education related to obesity and its health consequences. Under this rubric, we welcome a wide array of proposals, including models of health‐promoting interventions within a variety of settings (e.g., families, schools, churches, community based organizations, and juvenile justice) as well as strategies aimed at prevention of obesity.

Sexual Health
• We invite proposals describing primary and secondary prevention
strategies for teen pregnancy among Black girls, initiation of sexual behavior, sexually
transmitted diseases including HIV infection and self‐efficacy with regard to negotiation of safer sex behaviors. Evidence‐based strategies that address individual, relationship, and social variables related to Black girls sexual health and teen pregnancy are encouraged.

Mental Health
o We invite proposals examining Black girls’ psychological health and the impact of community, family and interpersonal violence, depression and suicide among Black girls,
or trauma and psychosocial well‐being. We request proposals outlining effective
prevention and intervention efforts.

Solutions for Community Economic Development include examinations of environmental health, educational opportunities and cultural resources

Environmental Health
• We welcome a wide range of approaches in this section, but are especially interested in
solutions that examine the impact of toxic waste on young girls’ development. This includes educational and community outreach programs that addresses zoning laws, urban planning strategies, public policies and other institutionalized practices that contribute to poor air quality, toxic waste dumping and the related health concerns such as high rates of asthma in Black communities.

Educational Opportunities and Cultural Resources
• We invite proposals that address the relationship between mentoring and educational
outcomes among Black girls, as well as inadequate educational services, limited access to educational resources and the high dropout rate, in addition to the effect of gang activity on black girls and the lack of community based programs to deal with teen issues or concerns.

Proposals are due March 1 and should be submitted via email to cphhpr@gmail.com; those accepted for the Think Tank will be notified by March 15.