Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable
About Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable
Founded over twenty years ago in Jackson, Mississippi, the Mississippi Black Women's Roundtable carries a legacy of activism and community leadership rooted in the work of pioneering organizers Stephanie Parker Weaver and Deborah Robinson. After a period of transition, MSBWR was relaunched and formalized in 2018 under Executive Director Cassandra Welchlin, receiving 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2019. The organization's mission centers the experiences and leadership of Black women and girls while welcoming participation from all individuals committed to equity and empowerment. MSBWR's history reflects the resilience of Black women in the South, who have always been central to movements for economic, political, and social justice. The organization is built on four priority goals: strengthening intergenerational networks and coalitions, educating policymakers about solutions to economic and social justice concerns, creating pipelines for emerging leadership, and establishing forums where Black women are valued and affirmed. Operating as an affiliate of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's Black Women's Roundtable, MSBWR prioritizes Black women-led organizing with deep connections to grassroots movements. The organization's work is rooted at the intersection of race, gender, and economic justice, engaging low-income women of color and building leadership infrastructure for long-term movement building throughout Mississippi and beyond.