The Bridge Builders Pilot Program:
Creating Systemic Change for Black Women in Academia
During the past few days, we have shared a lot about the struggles regarding Black women as unpaid labor in religious academia. If you are a religious scholar, you have a role to play - regardless of your demographic.
The issue of unpaid labor in academia is not just personal—it's systemic. While the Sistah Scholars Pilot Program focuses on empowering a collective of Black women, through financial independence strategies and paid opportunities, the Bridge Builders Pilot Program takes the next critical step: transforming institutions from within.
Launching on February 19th, the Bridge Builders Pilot Program is designed to partner with universities, faith institutions, and research organizations to challenge the systemic exploitation of Black women’s labor while creating sustainable, equitable structures for compensation and support.
Why Black Women Are Essential to Religious and Academic Sustainability
The historical and ongoing erasure of Black women’s contributions in religious scholarship has far-reaching consequences. Black women, especially those of African descent, are not only the fastest-growing Christian demographic worldwide but also among the most dynamic voices shaping faith communities and theological discourse.
Without their leadership and insights, institutions face:
Closures of religious departments, divinity schools, and seminaries.
Reduced theological diversity and limited responses to complex global issues.
A widening gap in faith-based leadership and social justice engagement.
Black women’s voices are not optional—they are critical to the survival and flourishing of religious and academic spaces.
What Is the Bridge Builders Pilot Program?
The Bridge Builders Pilot Program is a groundbreaking initiative that focuses on institutional reform by creating long-term funding pathways and compensated partnerships for Black women scholars. It aims to address the structural inequalities that perpetuate the addiction to unpaid labor by holding institutions accountable and offering tools for systemic transformation.
Key Objectives of the Bridge Builders Pilot Program
1. Institutional Partnerships for Lasting Change
Formal collaborations with universities, theological schools, and seminaries.
Creating funded positions for Black women scholars through fellowships, grants, and advisory roles.
Restructuring leadership committees and advisory boards to include paid Black women’s expertise.
2. Academic Grant Access and Revenue Generation
Financial Impact: An independent scholar can generate between $50,000 and $150,000 annually through academic grants, with much of this funding benefiting the hosting institution.
Training for Institutions: The program educates institutions on how to apply for and manage grants supporting Black women scholars.
Mutual Benefit: By providing grant-writing expertise, institutions gain financially while scholars receive the compensation they deserve.
3. Structural Reform and Accountability
Assisting institutions in revising policies around unpaid labor.
Providing audits of existing practices to identify areas where compensation should be prioritized.
Encouraging the dismantling of exploitative “love offering” models where Black women’s work is undervalued in parish and academic spaces.
4. Community Empowerment and Mutual Benefit
Building networks of scholars and institutions committed to fair pay and equity.
Hosting collaborative workshops where Black women can mentor, teach, and lead—while being compensated.
Centering nourishment, care, and financial wholeness as essential components of professional success.
The Connection Between Institutional Health and Black Women’s Leadership
The closures of seminaries, religion departments, and theological schools are not accidental. They are linked directly to failing to invest in the leadership of those most qualified to sustain theological inquiry—Black women scholars.
When institutions marginalize these voices by withholding fair compensation, they not only silence critical theological perspectives but also weaken their own sustainability.
The Bridge Builders Pilot Program makes it clear:
Diverse theological insights strengthen curricula and student engagement.
Compensated scholars attract grant funding and elevate institutional prestige.
Investing in Black women scholars fuels long-term institutional health and expansion.
Why the Bridge Builders Pilot Program Matters Now
The addiction to free labor has led to the burnout and exclusion of countless brilliant Black women in academia and faith spaces. It’s time for institutions to be part of the solution, not the problem.
By participating in the Bridge Builders Pilot Program, institutions can:
Demonstrate a commitment to justice, equity, and theological diversity.
Attract new grant funding through partnerships with independent scholars.
Empower Black women as compensated leaders and knowledge creators.
This program is not about charity—it’s about justice, sustainability, and systemic equity.
The Power of Collective Impact: Joining the Movement
The Bridge Builders Pilot Program recognizes that true change requires collaboration and accountability. By bringing together institutions, faith communities, and independent scholars, the program fosters a mutually beneficial ecosystem where:
Black women are compensated.
Institutions gain financial stability.
Theological scholarship flourishes.
This isn’t just about financial investment—it’s about investing in the future of theological education and justice work.
How to Get Involved
Applications for the Bridge Builders Pilot Program open on February 19th.
If you are:
✅ A university or seminary seeking to expand theological perspectives and address equity gaps.
✅ An advocacy group or individaul ready to lead and thrive with fair compensation.
✅ A faith community wanting to empower diverse voices and combat religious extremism.
Join us.
Let’s work together to build institutions where equity isn’t just a value—it’s a lived reality.
Call to Action: Be a Bridge for Justice and Change
The Sistah Scholars Pilot Program was just the beginning. The Bridge Builders Pilot Program amplifies that vision by ensuring systemic transformation across institutions and faith communities.
It’s time to end the addiction to Black women’s free labor and build a future where equity, justice, and shared prosperity define the landscape of religious and academic spaces.
Be part of the solution. Apply today and help build bridges toward a better future.
Want to be part of a movement toward equity in academia?
📢 Keep reading this Substack for details. We hope to see you next month!