There's something about BBG that is truly impossible to explain unless you've felt it. Of course, there are the inside jokes made at programs, meeting new people all around the world, and building leadership skills you couldn't find anywhere else, but the real heart of this organization lives in the separates. Separates are moments where sisterhood and individuals can grow; it's making space to let your guard down, connect on a deep level, and just be. 

A separate in BBG is a program designed to bring girls together to connect on a more vulnerable and open level. It's a safe space where you can open up, learn and really see each other. 

One moment that truly showed me the power of separates was during this year's AIT/MIT convention, where I attended as my chapter's MIT mom. A part of this convention was a chapter separates planned by each chapter MIT Mom and N'siah. I was determined to make it intentional and personalized, and make everyone in that room feel loved, inspired, and seen. Leading up to the convention, I made it a personal goal to try and have a coffee date with each MIT and truly get to know them (even the ones who couldn't attend the convention). I had an outline of questions and topics to talk about, ranging from what their schedule looks like for future programs to their favorite movie. Afterwards, I decorated personalized boxes for each MIT and my chapter's board members with handwritten letters about what I admired and loved about them. During the program, we did activities like writing on puzzle pieces about what we each bring to our chapter, writing letters to our future selves, and giving flowers to those we admired in the room.

To be honest, at this point in my experience as a MIT mom, I was struggling a lot with MIT attendance. It felt as though I was pouring so much energy, heart, and time into making my MITs feel special, but due to conflicting schedules and lack of interest, the attendance was not nearly as high as I hoped. But during that separates that I put so much energy and heart into, and being able to watch everyone open up to each other, laugh, smile, and even tear up, was a heavy reminder that every effort I put in, even as small as a handwritten letter, makes a difference. 

One of my MITs had teared up and told me I inspired her, and in that moment, I had never felt more moved to continue being myself. Even if it can mean being too much, and spending countless hours writing out letters and texting a million paragraphs about why someone as an individual is cared for, even if it can sometimes go unnoticed. Because in the long run, those love-filled efforts are never a waste, because even if it's one girl I'm inspiring or showing how loved she is, it is so much more than enough.

This experience reminded me that separates truly are the heartbeat of BBG. It is where love is felt in its purest form and where real impact and connections are made. This example is just one of many, but they all reflect the same truth: BBG is built on these intentional programs where even one girl feeling seen, supported, and deeply loved can make all the difference.