Our Mission
The Black Butterfly Foundation, Inc. (TBBF) has a mission to Educate, Encourage and Empower women and families affected by domestic abuse. We provide emotional and financial support to help restore confidence and resilience, enabling survivors to overcome low self-esteem and self-doubt caused by violence.
Our Vision
We envision a society that safeguards communities from domestic violence by offering direct support to survivors, fostering leadership opportunities, and raising public awareness about the issue.
Our Herstory
In response to the rising prevalence of domestic violence and a deep commitment to helping women affected by it, Erica Denise Powell founded The Black Butterfly Foundation in 2008. She set out to Educate, Encourage, and Empower those who felt helpless and hopeless. Her guiding mantra was: "Unlock the Power of 'E'" to bridge the gap between public awareness and self-love.
As a survivor herself, Erica recognized how often the cries of survivors went unheard and the urgent need for more resources for those affected by domestic abuse. She chose the name "Black Butterfly" as a powerful metaphor: black symbolizing the physical and emotional bruises endured, while the butterfly represented the biblical themes of rebirth and transformation, embodying the resilience, beauty, and strength of battered women.
Devastatingly, Erica couldn't free herself from the cycle of violence and lost her life following her divorce request. Despite this, her legacy and indomitable spirit continues to inspire through the foundation she created. Erica's story has been featured on the nationally syndicated television series Fatal Attraction, Season 12, Episode 15, titled "Warning Signs."
In Loving Memory
8/24/1970 - 7/20/2017