Creating Black Joy & Black Liberation in safe spaces for Black women to
Play, Connect, and Heal.
WELCOME TO
BWP didn’t start with ideas or theories - it started with three Black women looking to find Black joy and liberation in their lives and careers. Donicia Carlos, Kimberly Hess, and Carmen Perkins were answering the call to serve the highest version of themselves, their ancestors, and their beliefs that all Black women deserve to Play, Connect, and Heal.
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Donicia Carlos, Chief Play Officer & Co-Founder
Donicia has relied on play since she moved from her home in Brooklyn, NY to San Francisco, CA. Her favorite playtime as a young girl was highjump. Being able to jump on the rubber bands she and her friends strung together brought her many hours of joy and friendship. Donicia believes life is more fun when you play. To learn more about her work as a mental health activist, connect with her on LinkedIn
Kimberly Hess, Co-Founder
Kimberly has been playing for as long as she can remember. Dancing, hopscotch, and reading were some of her favorite pastimes as a young child. Now she is on a quest to master the hula hoop, become a double dutch expert, and purposefully color outside all of the lines. She’s excited about having flesh toned crayons that match everyones skin color, and dancing like nobody's watching. To learn more about her work as an adult Black lady anthropologist, connect with her on LinkedIn and tell her your favorite childhood toy.
Carmen Perkins, Co-Founder
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Carmen’s ideal play date includes coloring, creative writing, reading and playing softball. Carmen’s passion for Black Women play is motivated by this quote from Michaela Angela Davis,“ Black women have been cultured to compare not connect”. She aims to change the culture for Black Women Play to build community, heal, connect and play. To learn more about her work as a DEI Operations Consultant/Executive Coach/Angel Investor, connect with her on LinkedIn.
Jackie Provost, Board Member
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Born and raised in Oakland, transplanted and raised again in Los Angeles. Ms. Provost’s career has focused on ensuring historically marginalized communities have access to high-quality health care, including women’s health, mental health, and overall wellness. She began her career in non profit health care, focused on reproductive justice and sexual health education, supporting community health centers to integrate women’s health and sexual health services that are culturally appropriate and comprehensive; specifically working to impact access to care for young women of color. Jackie loves to play poker, enjoys cheating her diet, staying active, and taking on new challenges.
Kisha Barnes, Board Member
Kisha’s ideal play date includes an afternoon of kickball followed by evening rounds of jacks. Kisha is passionate about inclusive innovation, development strategies, and efforts that address broader systemic patterns related to wellness and financial independence for black women. Kisha’s ethos is to bring people together to create lasting change. Being a liaison to provide access and opportunities for Black women is precisely her zone of genius.