By: Naiomi C. 

This summer, Sweet Blackberry partnered with Fresh Air Fund on a captivating, unique program teaching young minds about the importance and need for journalism. Through our workshops, Sweet Blackberry shed light on the numerous contributions of Black Americans in American history including, Ida B. Wells, an investigative journalist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement as founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. We also hosted a workshop on Gordon Parks, prominent in U.S. documentary photojournalism in the 1940s through 1970s—particularly in issues of civil rights, poverty and African-Americans.

Both Wells and Parks helped show Americans the injustices many Black people faced during their respective time and we wouldn't be where we are today without their contributions or the contributions of their peers.

As a final project, we assigned Fresh Air Fund interns a project of their choice focusing on an underserved community or injustice they believe needed to be shared. Please check out our blog each Monday as we begin to post their wonderful work.