She’s doing transformational work!
Angela Patton, the founder of “Camp Diva Leadership Academy” and the CEO of “Girls For A Change,” is a beacon of hope. Her transformative work, aimed at preparing “Black girls for the world and the world for Black girls,” has been instrumental in bringing about cultural and systemic change on a national level for more than two decades. Her innovative approaches have not only received numerous awards and accolades but have also empowered young Black girls to tap into their brilliance and decide how best to change their lives and communities.
“Black women are often portrayed as too much. We do too much, we are too much, and we take up too much space. Because of these societal beliefs, when Black girls and women decide to speak up for themselves, it’s construed as loud, sassy, and negative. This feeling of always having to be aware of one’s own behavior to make others comfortable can create feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and unhealthy choices,” Patton explained in a statement on her website.
“Navigating the world with a mindset that you cannot take up space robs you of the ability to be yourself, love yourself, or do for yourself. As a leader, organizer, and activator for Black girls, I want to offer a space for girls to be bold, to be loud, and most importantly to be seen. Girls For A Change encourages girls to be honest and respected, and love themselves and others, she continued.
In 2008, Camp Diva Leadership Academy’s Girl Action Team established “Date With Dad Weekend,” an initiative that brought fathers and their daughters together for a fun-filled community-wide weekend of dinner, comedy, and a daddy-daughter dance. While the dance was a hit, some of the girls felt left out since their fathers were incarcerated.
“What if we had the dance in the jail?,” one participant asked the team.
That question was the spark that would ignite “A Dance of Their Own.” The girls ended up writing to former Sheriff C.T. Woody, at Richmond City Justice Center, who granted them the opportunity for their incarcerated fathers to enjoy an afternoon dance in the jail with their daughters. Taking place inside a correctional facility, the fathers, mothers/guardians, and daughters spent weeks preparing for the dance, participating in “community healing circles led by trained facilitators.” The goal was to strengthen the family relationships and enhance the connection between dads and their daughters. The men were able to dress in semi-formal attire and enjoy an hours-long date, with a meal, live comedy, games, a dance, and other activities with no physical barrier.
Eventually, Patton expanded the work to Washington, D.C. Film Director Natalie Rae discovered the work Patton was doing through her TED talk, eventually reaching out and asking to film one of these dances. The result was an eight-year journey, and the film “Daughters,” which debuted at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, earning the “Festival Favorite,” and “Audience Choice: U.S. Documentary Competition” awards.
Patton co-directed the film alongside Rae, and it has received rave reviews. The Daily Beast called it a film “every father needs to watch,” and critics gave it a perfect 100% score, according to Forbes reports. The film follows four girls and their fathers as they prepare for the dance at the D.C. Jail. Patton makes an appearance in the film, meeting with the fathers and their daughters as she works to heal the family unit, emphasizing the importance of the fathers showing up, even from behind bars. An emotional rollercoaster, the film highlights the necessary work that Patton has been doing for decades.
A U.S. Department of Justice analysis of current recidivism rates in 24 states shows that 43 percent of formerly incarcerated people were rearrested within one year. In comparison, 95% of the fathers who have participated in Patton’s program have not returned to prison after their release. The organization is surely proud of this stat, one that is undoubtedly improving the lives of fathers, daughters, and the community at large.
“There’s no denying that a woman’s relationship with her father is one of the most crucial in her life. The quality of that connection— good, damaged, or otherwise—powerfully impacts dads and daughters in a variety of ways. A father’s effect on his daughter’s psychological well-being and identity is far-reaching. A daughter’s sense of self, for instance, is often connected to how her father views her. A girl stands a better chance of becoming a self-confident woman if she has a close bond with her father.”
“Daughters” is streaming on Netflix now.
Cover photo: Meet Angela Patton, the Woman Behind the Inspiring New ‘Daughters’ Documentary on Netflix/Photo credit: Angela Patton/Girls For A Change