WHO  WE ARE

The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is a civil rights organization and a
preeminent voice for Black children and families. We operate as a think-and-do tank both
nationally and locally. We think imaginatively and collaboratively to actively work to convene
critical perspectives that amplify the brilliant strength and wisdom that comes from the
knowledge, experiences, and expertise of Black communities. We do this work, in service
of our mission to improve the quality of life of Black children, from birth to age 8, and of
their families by mobilizing movements to drive true systems change. True systems change
transforms mindsets, reallocates power, and redesigns underlying structures and processes;
it addresses the root causes of what is experienced day-to-day and longstanding patterns of
inequity that have been cemented over time.

Our National Village Network is key to who we are as an organization, and to how we
do our work. It plays a vital role in informing our strategies and ensuring that our efforts
are grounded in the diverse yet unified needs of the Black community. The power of our
network of 23 Villages across 17 states and the District of Columbia exists within the
dynamic leaders who forge powerful and authentic relationships with families, children, and
community members. Our Village Leaders develop partnerships at the state and local levels
through their deep community work. They address immediate needs via direct services and
programs and they drive long-term shifts in policy, advocacy, research, and power building to
ignite community-centered movements for justice and Black children's civil rights.

Afrofuturism expresses notions of Black identity, agency and freedom through art, creative works and activism that envision liberated futures for Black life. Using more than 100 objects from music, film, television, comic books, fashion, theater, literature and more, our museum's latest exhibition covers more than a century of Afrofuturism’s rich history of expression and investigates its impact and broad influence on American culture.

Please download the below PDF to find out more on AFROFUTURISM & SYSTEM CHANGE