Welcome to The lab!

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The Lab is a collective space dedicated to addressing epistemic injustice in higher education by amplifying and valuing the knowledge systems of Black women. We provide culturally grounded support for the mental health and well-being of Black women scholars, recognizing that thriving in academic spaces requires both intellectual and emotional care. Through research, community, and healing practices, The Lab creates pathways for Black women to be fully seen, supported, and empowered as they pursue scholarship and contribute to transforming the academy.

We are a growing community of more than 450 Black women across North America, Africa, and Europe. We meet every week for co-working sessions that cultivate accountability, connection, and collective care. Alongside our weekly gatherings, we offer an active online group chat, host pop-up Sister Circle discussions, and will soon launch a series of events, workshops, and classes centered on belonging, healing, motivation, and scholarship. Our team also provides consulting and speaking engagements, bringing expertise in education, mental health, physical health, and culturally grounded practices to organizations, campuses, schools, and community groups.

The Lab is actively engaged in several research and writing initiatives. We recently had two proposals accepted for the 2026 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles (April 8–12, 2026):

• The Lab: Building Belonging and Motivation for Black Women in Higher Education
• The Lab: A Collaborative Autoethnography on Building a Peer Support System for Black Women Scholars 

These projects examine the lived experiences of Black women scholars and reimagine how belonging, motivation, and community care shape academic success and well-being.

Members of The Lab are currently developing manuscripts, books, and multimedia projects that disrupt traditional academic norms and center Black women’s wisdom as a catalyst for liberation and epistemic justice. Our work amplifies voice, creates spaces for healing, and advances culturally grounded understandings of knowledge, wellness, and community.

Whether you’re interested in joining our co-working sessions, participating in sister circle discussions, collaborating on research, or exploring consulting and speaking opportunities, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out, share your story, and let’s build together.