If you don’t have anything planned, there’s no need to cook dinner tonight. Late this afternoon and evening, you can purchase and eat BBQ while defending Black girlhood at the “Drive-Up BBQ” at Christ Presbyterian Church, 944 E. Gorham St., on Madison’s near east side. Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Lilada Gee’s organization that defends Black girlhood and creates safe places for Black girls to heal.
“The Drive-Up BBQ is a pretty cool idea. People don’t necessarily have to call ahead to order their meals, but they can if they want to,” Gee tells Madison365. “Just looking at the great food we will have available is making me hungry right now.”
GatherX, an inclusive, dynamic community for young adults aged 23-30 in the Madison area, is hosting tonight’s fundraiser. Community members will get to choose between sausage or vegetarian chickpea jambalaya and all plates include roasted green beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. For those looking for something sweet, you can add a chocolate chip cookie for dessert.
The Drive-Up BBQ will take place from 4-7 p.m. All BBQ plates will come in single portion to-go containers with flatware. People can take their plates home or enjoy them in the local park and church grounds. “People can just pick up the BBQ right in their cars and keep on going if that’s what they want,” Gee says.
All of the proceeds from BBQ plates sales will go to support Lilada.org, an organization committed to the defending of Black girlhood and the healing of Black women. With more than 30 years in the fields of education and social services, Gee founded Black Woman Heal — a Madison-based non-profit organization that inspires Black women to join her in her life’s work to defend Black girlhood.
“Proceeds will go towards supporting my work with defending Black girlhood. Some of the initiatives that I’m taking right now include launching some distance work for girls and in support of girls,” Gee says. “I’m launching an activity and affirmation coloring booklet for Black girls.
“One of the things that I’m understanding from talking with folks from school and the public library is that the social-emotional learning support is really missing – particularly for Black girls with the socially distanced learning,” she adds. “This will be a way to give them some support. It’s a booklet that girls can do alone or with their mothers, their siblings or their guardians.
Gee will be at the Drive-By BBQ with some of her beautiful art that she has been selling to raise money for her organization. “Yes, I will be there. I’ll be selling some mugs and stickers and lawn signs. It should be a great event,” Gee says. “I’m hoping to see a lot of people out to support this initiative and getting some great BBQ.”
For more information about tonight’s Drive-By BBQ or to place an order, click here.
