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A Black Woman's Sabbatical

A Black Woman's Sabbatical
$2,770
Given by 62 generous donors
87 days left to reach our $100,000 goal
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WayGiver Donors

  • Anonymous WayGiver $5.00
  • Anonymous WayGiver $5.00
  • Deannah Burke $25.00
  • Anonymous WayGiver $25.00
  • Megan McNamara $15.00
  • Anonymous WayGiver $50.00
  • Rachel Paster $50.00
  • Donald Bankston Jr $25.00
  • Rebecca Meriales $50.00
  • Anonymous WayGiver $15.00

The Team

  • Brandy Walker

The great New Jersey poet Joe Budden asked in his song 10 minutes, "if everybody's depending on me and i just stop.....then what the f*** happens?"
This intentional journey is about exploring what it looks like for a Black woman to divest from a world always asking her to do more and instead choosing to do what she does best....exist.

 

I want to take a year to explore this as a vote to divest from work and invest in rest because as a Milenial Black woman, I's a tired boss!

 

I have been working and working through the trauma of life finding my second, third and infiity wind and will to keep going. From the age of 5 when my father died, I was adultified. Cooking, cleaning, taking care of adult responsibilities and that has never gone away. I started working at age 11 taking in laundry, babysitting and other odd jobs to contribute to my household. School, work and sleep (not rest) and then do it all again, and Again, and AGAIN.

 

I got pregnant in college and on the day after giving birth, I went to school and took 3 final exams. As a single parent, those early years proved my most difficult task. There was no maternity leave, no time off. I went back to work 2 weeks after delivery before my stitches could heal.

 

Everything I have done up to this point has been about survival and I realize that is no longer sustainable.

 

As my son graduates high school this Spring it is not lost on me that this may be the first and only opportunity to rest, reinvent myself and reclaim the direction of my life.

 

Typically, this would be the other way around. A teenager might opt out of college or career to "figure it out" but because I ahve never been afforded that opportunity, I believe my time is now.

 

This "gap year" or Black woman's sabbatical is about exploring what it means to be without the expectation of work, worry or performance.

 

During this year I’ll:

 

Read, write, and think without pressure or deadlines

 

Travel when it feels necessary and follow wherever curiosity leads

 

Explore new foods, cultures, and experiences

 

Build community, connect with people, and lean into shared learning

 

Reflect deeply on what it means to rest, reclaim, and become

 

I’m crowdfunding $100,000 to make this possible. Your support will:

 

Cover the logistics of a year of intentional rest, exploration, and travel

 

Allow me to document the journey authentically and share the lessons, stories, and discoveries along the way

 

Sustain me while I create a space for reflection, growth, and inspiration that others can witness and learn from

The Sabbatical will run from Aug 2026-July 2027

Fundraiser Updates

4 posts
  1. 4 days ago
    Latest

    I remain hopeful, though donations have come to nearly a halt.

    I knew going into this that my goal was ambitious yet possible.

    I also know that ambitious goals can scare people off.

    "Wow," "OMG, " and "Good Luck!" are phrases I have heard numerous times.

    So I want to thank everyone who has donated to the campaign. Since launching just before March, we have raised $2,770 on this platform. Donations have ranged from $1 to $500, and 3 people have even donated multiple times.

    I started with $0 and hoped people would hear my story and be supportive.

    You absolutely have been.

    I started the campaign and then immediately started A Substack to write out my thoughts, express why my and keep people updated on the journey. That space has been liberating for myself and others. Through those writings, I quickly realized what I thought was my personal problem was actually an issue many Black women were facing.

    So many women started commenting and sharing similar sentiments, and they celebrated the courage I showed by asking for what I needed. That is one reason I haven't given up hope that this journey will be fully supported.

    Over the past few months, I have been interviewed on several news outlets and podcasts, I have been applying for grants and documenting this process on my Substack

    That being said, one of my goals in doing this journey is to document it and share it with the world. Since starting this campaign, that idea has taken shape as a documentary project. I recently launched a separate Kickstarter campaign to contribute directly to the production of that project.

    My Waygiver campaign ends 12/31/2026, and all monies raised here will support my living expenses during sabbatical, which will begin in April 2027. Kickstarter funds are contingent on being fully funded. I am asking for $15,000 to create the documentary, so instead of donating, you can pledge, and if I reach my goal, the money will be collected. It's a risk. But so is life.

    Here's another thing: Kickstarter launched a creator fund where they would donate to amazing projects. That investment is dependent upon engagement. The more eyes I get on the project, the more visibility and potential to be named a "project we love," be featured on Kickstarter's homepage, and be included in their monthly email to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. It also increases my chances of receiving funding directly from Kickstarter.

    This is very scary for me, but I am committed to making this happen

    And since you have supported me this far, let's keep it going.

    Here's my ask:

    1) Share my story with someone. The best place to get up to date with everything is Substack: https://theblackwomanssabbatical.substack.com/

    2) Join the pre-launch list on Kickstarter. The campaign goes live Oct 1st, and then I will have until Nov 15th to try and get $15,000 in pledges. Right now, you can join the lsta nd be notified once it goes live.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/606564159/is-rest-for-black-people

    3) If you are able, make a donation on WayGiver https://waygiver.com/campaigns/3791 or the Kickstarter when it launches.

    I believe a few generous people can push this project towards completion.

    Let's do it!

  2. 5 months ago

    Grateful to everyone who ahs donated and shared. I am still so excited and want to keep the momentum going. 

    1. Share the Mission or Tell Someone About It.
      If this project resonates with you, share it with your community:post it, text it to a friend, or forward this email. People can’t support what they don’t see. If you believe rest should not be a luxury for Black women, help me spread the word.

    2. Make an Introduction or Point Me in the Right Direction.
      If you know someone at a foundation, company, media outlet, or in wellness spaces who should be connected to this work, I’d love an introduction. If not, feel free to send me names, organizations, or even links I will do the outreach. I believe this project grows through connections that spring from the community I have already built.

    3. Offer Your Skills or Lend Your Expertise.
      If you have experience in PR, design, video, grant writing, or anything that could move this work forward, I’d welcome your support. I am seeking collaborators.

    4. Share Your Story or Join the Conversation.
      If you’ve experienced burnout, overwork, or the need for rest, I invite you to share your story with me here in the comments or on your own page and tag me. It’s bigger than me and I want people to know that. Your voice helps illustrate why this project matters. You can also support by engaging with posts, commenting, and keeping this conversation visible.

    Follow the journey on Substack 

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