About Us
Learn about our mission to advance research and understanding of Black girlhood experiences across Europe.
Who We Are
Black Girl Streams C.I.C. is a holistic, multifaceted and interdisciplinary field-building infrastructure where Black girls and Black women are centred, elevated and nourished.
Mission
Black Girl Streams exist to build and sustain more Black girls/Black women researchers in academia, and the field of Black Girlhood Studies, ensuring that Black girl-centred knowledge is developed with rigour, care, and ethical integrity.
Our Values
Our values are rooted in love, care, ethical governance, and Black girl-centred knowledge. These guide how Black Girl Streams grows, collaborates, and sustains its work over time.
Our Community
Academics, researchers, practitioners, students, creatives, community workers, and professionals across various sectors.
Our Impact
Creating positive change through research, practice, policy and community building and collaboration.
Founder
Meet the visionary behind Black Girl Streams.
Dr Silhouette Bushay, Founder and Executive Director
Dr Silhouette Bushay is a Senior Lecturer, Course Leader, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy at the University of East London; and an interdisciplinary scholar whose research centres the lives, experiences, and knowledge of Black girls and women in British contexts. Her scholarship spans Black Girlhood Studies, Black feminism, critical race feminist pedagogy, Hip Hop and Grime, health, disability, neurodivergence, and decolonial and culturally responsive pedagogies. She publishes across peer reviewed journals, book chapters, and public facing platforms, delivers EDI and social justice training to higher education institutions and has also done so for ministerial government departments, and is a multiple award winner for EDI in Practice and Most Inclusive Teaching. A Screen Nations Award nominated film director, member of the 2025 100 Black Women Professors Now cohort, and a member of the Black Women's Health Manifesto Steering Group. Dr Bushay founded the ElevateHer Conference at UEL and convened BGS CIC's inaugural symposium. As Founder and Director of Black Girl Streams CIC, Britain's first field-building infrastructure dedicated to Black Girlhood Studies, she translates research and lived experience into community knowledge, advocacy, and grey literature. A Black disabled woman, she builds with, as well as, for the communities her work concerns.
Board of Directors
Founder and Executive Director
Dr Silhouette Bushay
Dr Silhouette Bushay is a Senior Lecturer, Course Leader, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy at the University of East London; and an interdisciplinary scholar whose research centres the lives, experiences, and knowledge of Black girls and women in British contexts. Her scholarship spans Black Girlhood Studies, Black feminism, critical race feminist pedagogy, Hip Hop and Grime, health, disability, neurodivergence, and decolonial and culturally responsive pedagogies. As Founder and Director of Black Girl Streams CIC, Britain's first field-building infrastructure dedicated to Black Girlhood Studies, she translates research and lived experience into community knowledge, advocacy, and grey literature.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Placida Uzoamaka Ojinnaka
Placida Uzoamaka Ojinnaka is an award-winning lawyer (UK-qualified solicitor) and social worker, known for her commitment to disability, equity, and inclusion. She serves on Boards and committees, advocates for disabled professionals, and drives positive organisational change. Her lived and professional experience fuels her dedication to anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive practice and to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces.
Non-Executive Director
Appointment in progress
Hyperlink will be provided when available.
To find out more and apply for open board roles, please contact us.
Governance Approach
Black Girl Streams is committed to transparent, proportionate, and ethical governance. Board appointments are being made carefully to ensure appropriate checks and balances while maintaining the organisation's research integrity and long-term sustainability.
Additional governance capacity will be developed as funding and activity expand.
Our Team
Meet the people behind Black Girl Streams.
Dr Silhouette Bushay
Founder and Executive Director
Dr Silhouette Bushay is a Senior Lecturer, Course Leader, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy at the University of East London; and an interdisciplinary scholar whose research…
Placida Uzoamaka Ojinnaka
Independent Non-Executive Director
Placida Uzoamaka Ojinnaka is an award-winning lawyer (UK-qualified solicitor) and social worker, known for her commitment to disability, equity, and inclusion. She serves on Boards and committees, advocates…
Stephanie Henry-Dennis
Volunteer Executive Assistant
Stephanie Henry-Dennis is an Education Studies undergraduate with a background in project coordination, community engagement and supporting young people and families. She is passionate about educational equity, mental…
Dr Cecily Jones
Blog Editor
After an academic career as a sociologist and historian in the UK and the Caribbean, I founded Zenubian Academic Practice, a consultancy offering editing and proof reading services,…
Natasha Boyce
Blog Editor
Natasha is a PhD researcher within the School of Education at the University of Glasgow. Her research is situated at the vital intersections of race, gender, and class,…
Our Mission & Vision
Understanding our core purpose and the future we're working towards.
Our Mission
Black Girl Streams exist to build and sustain more Black girls/Black women researchers in academia, and the field of Black Girlhood Studies, ensuring that Black girl-centred knowledge is developed with rigour, care, and ethical integrity.
Our Vision
To drive active participation in protecting Black girls and Black women against inequalities, violence, trauma, and erasure while recognising, highlighting, and nurturing their assets and agency; through advancing Black Girlhood Studies research, scholarship, practice, and policy; and creating better conditions for health, wellbeing, and career advancement of Black girls and Black women.