Black Men Flower Project
Give him his flowers
Only 12% of men receive flowers before their funeral. At the same time, declining social connection and increasing isolation have contributed to a growing loneliness epidemic amongst men.
Black Men Flower Project has taken the popular phrase "give him his flowers" and made it literal. Our mission is simple: through the medium of flowers, we allow Black men to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
We use flowers as a tool for connection, affirmation, and community-building. In a society that has unnecessarily gendered expressions of care and beauty, even something as natural as flowers can feel off-limits to men. By placing flowers directly into the hands of Black men, we challenge those assumptions and create new social permissions for vulnerability, gratitude, and brotherhood.
The result is often profound. Men share stories, reconnect with one another, express appreciation they have never voiced before, and experience the rare feeling of being publicly celebrated without expectation. What begins as a bouquet frequently becomes a conversation, a memory, or a deeper relationship.
With support from the Santa Fe Community Foundation's Empower Fund, we are expanding this work throughout the state of New Mexico and continuing to cultivate spaces where Black men and boys can thrive, connect, and receive their flowers; both figuratively and literally.
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The Santa Fe Community Foundation invited its nonprofit partners to submit stories related to our June topic of Equity & Belonging.
The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
By making high-quality music education accessible to more than 2,000 young people each year, the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus is helping students build confidence, creativity, and community. Through lessons, ensembles, and school partnerships, the organization is inspiring the next generation of musicians across northern New Mexico.
El Rancho de Las Golondrinas
Through hands-on learning at New Mexico Heritage Days, El Rancho de Las Golondrinas helps thousands of students experience the state's history firsthand, creating meaningful connections across generations.
Chimayo Cultural Preservation Association
Each year, the Chimayo Cultural Preservation Association's San Isidro Day celebration brings neighbors of all ages together to honor Chimayó's acequia traditions through blessing the water, planting the community garden, and passing cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.
