Hi, my name is Sylvia. I am the Founder of Empower Black Families
I was born and raised right here in Pensacola. That little girl on the left is me and she is proud of the woman she grew up to become.
I did not grow up in power. I grew up in survival. I was raised in a community that was overlooked, underestimated, and underserved, yet it taught me everything I know about strength, resilience, and purpose.
Like many in my community, I have lived through experiences that statistics say I should not have survived. Domestic violence. Sexual abuse. and Rape. Those experiences shaped me, but they do not define me. What defines me is what I chose to do next: rebuild, learn and turn survival into service.
I’ve studied criminal law because I wanted to understand why justice so often fails people like me, and people like us. I learned how silence hurts people and I learned how easy it is for society to judge someone without ever understanding what they’ve lived through.
I earned a degree in Human Services because service is where my heart has always been. I became a substitute teacher because I believe education is liberation. I believe every child growing up today, on a street like mine, deserves to know that their future is not limited by their past.
Empower Black Families was born from my journey, not as a reaction, but as a commitment to ensure Black families in Pensacola have access to information, resources, and advocacy rooted in dignity, transparency and long-term stability. I advocate inside the system and organize outside it.
This work is personal, but it is deliberate. I show up informed, prepared and focused on outcomes, because our communities deserve more. I am driven by experience, compassion, and the unshakeable belief that no matter where you start, you matter.
To learn more about my other organization, click the link: Sistas In Solidarity
Sincerely,
Ms. Sylvia