Black Educated Lesbians

Nonprofit Organization

Online

Black Educated Lesbians (BEL) is a global 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment, wellness, and advancement of Black lesbian women. Founded in 2014 as a grassroots Facebook group and formally established as a nonprofit in 2021, BEL has grown into an international community serving over 5,000 members across local chapters, digital spaces, and programs worldwide. Our mission is to create intentional spaces where Black lesbian women can connect, lead, heal, and thrive. We focus on five core pillars: leadership development, mental and physical wellness, economic empowerment, community building, and youth mentorship. Through these pillars, BEL offers conferences, workshops, healing circles, financial literacy programs, virtual talks, and culturally responsive wellness initiatives that center lived experiences often overlooked in mainstream spaces. Signature initiatives include our annual BEL Conference, monthly Let’s Talk virtual discussion series, leadership and mentoring programs, wellness and healing spaces, and economic empowerment projects focused on financial literacy, legacy building, and entrepreneurship. We also prioritize access, representation, and sustainability—ensuring our programs are affirming, inclusive, and rooted in collective care. BEL is more than an organization; it is a movement grounded in sisterhood, accountability, and liberation. We are committed to building long-term impact by investing in people, strengthening community infrastructure, and creating pathways for Black lesbian women to live fully, authentically, and with purpose.