NCNW’s Shavon Arline-Bradley Leads With Faith, Fire, and a Vision for Black Women’s Empowerment
Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women, outlines her bold vision to fight economic injustice, political violence, and cultural erasure—while building a new legacy for Black women across generations (Photo: Instagram).
For Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley, seeing the dismantling of the Black Lives Matter Plaza about a mile from her Washington D.C. office was an actual and symbolic loss that was personal.
“It feels like a bulldozer coming down your heart,” she said. “It feels like we don’t have control.”
In speaking of “we,” Arline-Bradley speaks of Black people in America, especially Black women, who are living at a time where fundamental aspects of Black life are facing erasure, from its history and culture to its economics and existence.
It’s all the more reason for Arline-Bradley—president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women—to dig in and stand up.
“At the same time, because of the people that we are and where we come from, our resilience is also the fuel you need to fight,” she said.
As head of the only Black women-led organization based on Pennsylvania Avenue, she’s not just honoring the NCNW’s legacy—she’s pushing it forward. That means confronting the forces working to erase Black voices while organizing to meet the everyday needs of Black women.
“That legacy is in my bones,” she said.
Founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune, the NCNW stands on nearly 90 years of educational leadership, economic development and advocacy for justice.
The movement is multigenerational, with members ranging from 9 to 98. It is also gaining younger members, especially those on college campuses.
“We’re on 100 campuses across the country,” Arline-Bradley said. “Black girls at HBCUs and predominantly white institutions are building NCNW sections because they want sisterhood, service and advocacy.”
Economic Justice in a Precarious Moment
From January to March 2025, Black women’s unemployment fell by 306,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April 2025 alone, more than 100,000 Black women lost their jobs. The Trump administration’s moves to cut federal jobs and target diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs are blamed for these losses.
Arline-Bradley’s response? Action.
NCNW recently launched Project RISE, a financial literacy program for Black women that offers resources for investment, savings, and economic empowerment.
The program is intended to help members tackle core questions: How do you save? How do you invest in this moment? How do you gain access to education?
“Our job has been to identify ways to help sisters manage their money, manage their talent, but then also, quite honestly, manage the stress,” Arline-Bradley said.
The organization has been working to help those women find replacement opportunities.
The NCNW has also expanded its Bethune-Height Changemaker Pathways program, which provides mentorship, internships and leadership training for college students transitioning into careers.
Confronting Violence—At Home and in Politics
Job loss isn’t the only thing Black women are facing. They’re also dealing with a spike in intimate partner violence and, increasingly, threats linked to political activism.
Through its Red Card Campaign, NCNW is partnering with the United Nations and African nations to address gender-based violence. “We’re calling out infractions against women,” Arline-Bradley said, “and working with communities to understand how to respond to intimate partner violence.”
Arline-Bradley also said that they are partnering with national organizations that mentor young men, especially those who are also victims of intimate partner violence, “to ensure that young people understand the value of Black life.”
But safety also means physical and political survival.
NCNW’s headquarters sits between the Capitol and the White House—an iconic but exposed location. Arline-Bradley acknowledged that in today’s climate, her organization, from her staff at home to her members in sections across the country, faces threats from more than one direction.
“When we say violence, it’s a dual conversation,” she said. “Community violence and political violence are both on our radar.”
The “Home of the 92%”
One of Arline-Bradley’s favorite mantras is that NCNW is “the home of the 92%”—a reference to the overwhelming number of Black women who voted for a Black woman in the last major election.
“We’re not saying all 92% are Democrats,” she said. “We’re saying they cared enough to show up—for their bodies, their minds, their money and this movement.”
And for those wondering if NCNW is “just for older women,” Arline-Bradley has a firm rebuttal.
“We are building tables where nine-year-olds and 98-year-olds sit together. If you’re committed to the advancement of Black women, this is your home.”
Leading With Faith—and Fire
Dr. Shavon Arline-Bradley (Photo ncnw.org).
As both a reverend and a civil rights leader, Arline-Bradley doesn’t separate her spiritual convictions from her activism. She calls it “righteous response—and righteous rage.”
“We pray, and we perform,” she said. “My faith gives me the empathy and resilience to do this work, and my family keeps me grounded. I’m leading a national organization and doing school pickup. That balance matters.”
She also credits her mentors—many of whom have passed recently, including former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman—with preparing her to navigate turbulent political waters. “They told me: keep living, and you’ll learn. And I have.”
Chicago, Chapters, and the Road Ahead
During her visit to Chicago, Arline-Bradley connected with local donors, sorority sisters, and NCNW members, helping to chart new “sections”—what other organizations might call chapters—across the state.
“There’s a richness in Chicago that other cities don’t have,” she said. “We’re expanding on Chicago State’s campus and beyond.”
Looking ahead, she wants to double NCNW’s membership in five years and create a stronger pipeline for younger women to step into leadership. But she also wants to hold space for Black joy, connection, and legacy.
“The NCNW of your grandmother is not the NCNW of today,” she said. “Our foundation is the same, but our expression is new. Social media, young leaders, faith, action—it’s all here.”
And for Arline-Bradley, it all comes back to legacy.
“My dash—the line between the year I was born and the year I die—I want it to matter. I want it to say NCNW was in the middle of it. And I want that dash to be lived well.”