The month of April is "Black Women's History Month!" The Virginia Black Lifestyle Magazine is excited to highlight incredible Black women throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia!
Meet Bianca Myric:
A Petersburg, Virginia native, Bianca Myrick is a mother, daughter, sister, and connector of people and resources. She is the founder and executive director of Pretty Purposed, a non-profit organization that inspires communities to empower young women and girls through girl centered social emotional learning, mentorship, and enrichment. As a former 5th and 6th grade educator, Bianca saw a need in her community to cultivate joyful spaces for girls, which propelled her into starting Pretty Purposed, which now supports over 175 girls across multiple communities. The recent Style Weekly Top 40 Under 40 (2023) recipient is also executive director of the Virginia Association for Environmental Education, a statewide network of educators that advance environmental literacy. Through her consulting business, Bianca supports organizations in the areas of youth and organizational development. She is a graduate of Virginia State University, where she is also an adjunct professor, teaching her students about the nonprofit sector, education, social change, and philanthropy. In addition to being a nonprofit leader, she dedicates her time advocating for funding for Black and Brown led organizations, as a founding board member and board chair of Collective 365, a grant- making entity that has freely moved $55,000 in funding to Black and Brown led businesses, organizations, and movements, since its launch in June of 2020. Although she has many roles, her favorite is staying home and being a mother to her son, Bryce.
What are you most known for?
I am most known for my work as a Nonprofit Executive Director, Adjunct Professor, Consultant.
How would your friends describe you?
My friends would describe me as a deep thinker, calm, quiet, yet hilarious all at once.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by community, creativity, collaborative systems change work, history, nature, reading, and rest.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is an ongoing commitment to living in process and outcomes.
In a perfect world, what would you like to see happen for Black women?
I would love to see a world where Black women can dream, play, rest, imagine, and be healthy spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally in a limitless way.
What are three songs on your playlist, that you think other women should add to theirs, and why?
I listen to a lot of different music, so this is a hard question. The last three songs on my Apple Music list are:
"To Summer, From Cole," by Summer Walker & J Cole
"Ain't Understanding Mellow," by Jerry Butler
"Jireh," by Elevation Worship
I like them because they sound and feel good. It's that simple.
If you could go back in time and have a conversation with your younger self; which year would you return to?
If I could go back to my younger self, I would return to being 18 years old and remind myself that relationships are taking you closer to your destiny or to your death, so be wise. On the contrary, I would also tell myself that the most high will use my experiences for good so not to worry so much.
Where can our readers connect with you?
@biancaladie (Instagram);
@prettypurposed (instagram);
@vaee (Instagram);
@collective365info (Info);
