By Erika Davis
Having a safe space for young Black and Brown girls can make an impact on their mental health. Finding that safe space, however, can be a challenge for school-age girls. In Nashville, the nonprofit organization F.I.N.D. Design—which stands for Families In Need of Direction—was formed to create exactly that.
F.I.N.D. Design also offers healing-centered professional development to educators, schools, and community partners. Reshaping the narrative for troubled Black and Brown girls is important to Kara James, Co-founder and Executive Chair of the organization.
“We learned very quickly that about 90% of our girls had experienced a violation. Instead of addressing their PTSD, they were being pushed into systems—whether it was suspensions or juvenile court,” says James. “We wanted to tell that story and create a new narrative to show who they really are and not who they were picked to be.”
Currently, the program is school-based. “They can reach out to their school personnel or any point of contact. Or they can reach out directly to us, and we will, on their behalf, go to the school and explain how we can bring the services to them,” says James.
From Families to Girls
The organization began about 10 years ago with the goal of working with families facing systemic barriers in low-income neighborhoods. Over time, the focus narrowed to the girls themselves.
“It became about giving Black and Brown girls safe spaces to be unapologetically themselves, and to reassure and help them understand emotional intelligence,” says Matthew, who also helps lead the program. “We start with middle school girls in the 5th grade, and we keep them after they graduate.”
Black and Brown girls are the most suspended group by race and gender in Tennessee. F.I.N.D. Design intervenes when schools report high absences or frequent behavior issues, offering conflict resolution strategies and mental regrouping so girls can return to class ready to learn.
Funding Challenges
The Trump administration’s cuts to DEI forced the organization to pull out of some schools. “We lost a lot of funding,” said Matthew. “Meanwhile, we are getting schools begging us to come back, because we’ve made that kind of impact.”
Despite setbacks, F.I.N.D. Design has expanded its reach. After hosting a temporary program at Margaret Allen Middle School, it was officially invited to take over the school’s programming.
Embracing Technology
With advancements in AI and automation, F.I.N.D. Design is integrating new technology to give the girls skills for the future. Matthew, with a background in tech, HR, and operations, is helping design AI and automation tools for the program.
These tools will:
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Equip girls with skills Forbes highlights as essential for 2030 careers.
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Provide transparency for donors to see real-time program impact.
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Reduce administrative work by automating attendance, volunteer hours, and other data tracking.
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Capture pivotal data for continuous improvement and impact reporting.
The organization is also exploring virtual reality (VR). Partnering with Harlem Film, they plan to teach girls to tell their stories through VR and AI, allowing them to create avatars, build virtual communities, and participate in sisterhood circles and therapy in safe, protected spaces.
“If you are a girl in our program, you can go home, put on your headset, and enter your safe space community with girls you already know,” says Matthew. “It gives them the creativity to build and create a world that feels safe and welcoming.”
Community Engagement
On September 18th, F.I.N.D. Design hosted The Becoming—an online informational event updating the community on their impact and vision. The event drew a strong turnout of parents and community leaders. Attendees heard program updates, learned about new initiatives, and received a call to action for donations, volunteering, and board participation. A representative from Margaret Allen Middle School also attended, highlighting the school’s support of the partnership.
For more information about donating or volunteering, visit www.thefinddesign.org or explore the organization’s social media platforms.
