Life & Work with BeAnka Masefiade

Today, we’d like to introduce you to BeAnka Masefiade.

Hi BeAnka, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Hello, my name is BeAnka Masefiade, and I am the Founder and Executive Director of Osofomaame, a local Grand Rapids, MI, non-profit organization that serves Black youth and families in foster care/foster-care adoption locally in Michigan and globally in Ghana, West Africa. I am a GR native, born and raised on the southeast side of Grand Rapids, MI, in the 49506 zip code. I am also a proud GRPS Union High and first gen college student Calvin College/University Alumni.

Local is in my blood. I am a passionate youth and community development advocate as well as what I like to call a “Community Auntie”. I have over 15 years of experience working across private, public, and non-profit sectors, serving vulnerable and historically marginalized youth and communities. My passion is in DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) work and applying that lens in how we as a community show up for, support, advocate, and empower BIPOC youth and families across sectors, especially in Child Welfare.

I grew up in a single-parent home where we experienced poverty daily. I have lived experience with the Child Welfare system. My mom experienced abuse and hardship and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia. I am the youngest of five children, my three older siblings where sent to live with their biological fathers and me and my twin brother ended up in an unconventional kinship placement with my maternal grandparents.

Both my grandparents and mom raised us. Mentorship and access to youth programming in my local neighborhood/community exposed me to various life possibilities, which played a critical role in where I am personally and professionally and heavily influenced my desire to have the same impact on youth today. My faith, family, and community ground and center me.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Speaking specifically to the obstacles and challenges faced as an organization, the road to where we are now has not been smooth, but it has been organic. We believe that it’s about the journey and the destination. The journey prepares you for the destination.

Although we have been doing the work for over a decade, we officially formalized it as a non-profit in 2021 for sustainability and greater impact. A lot of the challenges we’ve experienced along the way are around those that most organizations experience in the start-up stage/phase. This includes but is not limited to funding, organizational development, capacity and infrastructure, marketing, and communicating your mission and impact so that others understand it.

Yet, we have remained hopeful and grateful that the community has shown up for us in many ways. Our motto is “We Are The Village!” We are excited about partnerships and collaborations that will allow us to carry out our mission and lead to lasting and transformative impact on Black youth and families in our community.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
There are over 10,000 foster you in Michigan. Over 600 reside in Kent County alone. Black Youth are overrepresented in the system, and their individual ethnic/cultural needs that are so critical/vital to their development and well-being are overlooked.

We are unique in that we specifically serve Black youth and families in foster care/foster care adoption. We do this through 2 programs. 1. Caring for Children of Color provides education, tools, and resources to Black youth and families to reduce barriers to their care through a 3-class curriculum, as well as a Black Book Bank and Textured/Curly Black Hair Care Bank.

2. Abundant Life Academy provides empowerment and life skill development programming as well as mentorship to foster youth aging out of the system. We specialize in doing this work through a DEIB lens. We are most proud that this work is youth-centered.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
For me, Grand Rapids is home. I was born here, and most of my family is here, and my husband plans on raising our family here. As someone who has had the privilege of traveling globally, nationwide, and locally, I’m always glad to call Grand Rapids home. I like that it’s city enough and urban enough for me. I like that Grand Rapids location allows us to travel short distances to some of Michigan’s other beautiful and vibrant spaces and places, such as Detroit and Traverse City.

I love that there are so many resources in Grand Rapids, yet I dislike how these resources are distributed and who gets access. We are considered a highly generous/philanthropic city, yet so many BIPOC-founded and led organizations are struggling to secure the necessary funding and technical assistance to be sustainable. We are one of the best cities to raise a family but one of the worst cities for African Americans to prosper.

We can definitely do better with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for All across sectors. I dream of an equitable future for all of my fellow Grand Rapids. A city where everyone not only survives but can have a sense of belonging and thrive, especially our youth.

Pricing:

• Currently fundraising $10,000 for Book/Hair Care Bank, which serves 300 youth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.osofomaame.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caring4childofcolor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088579253140
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100519388/admin/feed/posts/

Image Credits
BeAnka Masefiade