Announcement: The Be Present Inc. records and the Lillie P. Allen papers are now at the Rose!
By The Be Present Team
The Rose Library is pleased to announce the acquisition of two dynamic collections, the Be Present Inc. records, and the Lillie P. Allen papers.
Lillie Allen speaking at her first “Black & Female: What is the Reality?” workshop at the First National Conference on Black Women’s Health Issues Spelman College, 1983
The Lillie P. Allen papers and the Be Present, Inc. records together tell the story of how one visionary leader can ignite change and create an inclusive movement toward societal transformation that ripples across boundaries of all kinds. We are honored and excited to house both living archives in the Rose Library’s African American History and Culture Collection. Together with Emory University, we are seeding knowledge and achieving a more just and sustainable future, one in which all people learn and thrive.
Be Present is a movement-building organization dedicated to advancing social justice. We teach how to bridge divides that separate and shift injustices that are present within our own selves, in our relationships, institutions, and society to strengthen connection and sustain transformative change.
Our nation is experiencing unforgettable history-defining moments, and Be Present, Inc. is a key leader in the transformations of justice leadership. There is renewed hope and emphasis on creating effective partnerships across differences and developing bold solutions to ensure equity in all aspects of our lives. There also is an increased call to take collective responsibility for making visible and supporting Black women and Black gender-expansive leaders across sectors and bringing forth alliances that dismantle systems of racism and sexism, and all forms of oppression. This is the legacy and current work of Be Present, Inc.
The vibrant roots of Be Present, Inc. are grounded in the work of social justice leader Lillie P. Allen, the developer of the Be Present Empowerment Model® who in the early 1980’s brought together Black women and girls to talk about the realities of our lives; to envision and organize in our communities. In 1992, these founding leaders partnered with BIPOC women and white women to create Be Present, Inc. Today the organization houses an expanding global movement of people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Join the movement and learn how to be a leader of transformative action at https://bepresent.org/.
If you have any questions about the collections contact Kayla Annan (KGMORR2 [at] emory [dot] edu).