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About
The Black Footwear Forum (BFF) exists to celebrate and safeguard the influence, leadership, and creativity provided by blacks in the global footwear industry. As a collective of footwear industry professionals and supporters from around the country, BFF encourages collaboration in establishing industry goals that center on developing and advancing black talent at all levels.
The Forum also works to cultivate community for Black footwear professionals through its national and regional chapter events and activations.
The Story of the Black Footwear Forum
Inspired by the opening of the National Museum of African American History & Culture on the National Mall, Matt Priest, President & CEO of FDRA, imagined a platform that would highlight and celebrate the role of Black culture in the footwear industry. With this idea, he partnered with industry leader and visionary Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, Founder of PLC Detroit, creating the African American Footwear Forum (AAFF), with the inaugural event in Washington, DC held February 2019. The Forum has since been renamed the Black Footwear Forum, hosting a multitude of events around the country that bring the Black footwear community together to create spaces exploring industry goals, developing Black talent at all levels in the industry, and closing the gaps one step at a time.
Matt Priest and D'Wayne Edwards, 2019Matt Priest and D'Wayne Edwards, 2023
The Mission
The Black Footwear Forum (BFF) seeks to enhance access, education, and awareness to increase opportunities for Black professionals to influence, lead, and impact the global footwear industry and consumer culture. The Forum is intentional in its efforts to make footwear an increasingly diverse industry, one that not only caters to Black consumers but is also well-represented by Black voices and leadership. The mission is to:
- Represent the collective voice of Black industry professionals and serve as an advocate for the Black footwear community to bridge gaps between brands and their employees
- Connect Black footwear workers to create community and mentorship opportunities
- Cultivate national and regional events across the country to facilitate dialog surrounding issues affecting Blacks in the footwear industry
- Create a more diverse industry through strategic partnerships and pipeline programs
- Establish long lasting partnerships that provide access to education and career opportunities
The vision of the BFF is to be THE platform that makes footwear an increasingly diverse, stronger, industry.
Black Footwear Forum Advisory Board
Providing invaluable guidance and expertise for the Black Footwear Forum organization
Dr. D’Wayne Edwards
NATIONAL FORUM LEAD
PLC Detroit
Portia Blunt
BOARD CHAIR
BOSTON CHAPTER LEAD
Reebok
Jazerai Allen-Lord
NYC CHAPTER LEAD
Founder, True to Size Agency
David Ballin
BOSTON CHAPTER LEAD
Puma
Darius Billings
ATLANTA CHAPTER LEAD
The Athlete's Foot
LaShae Boone-McCray
COLUMBUS CHAPTER LEAD
RG Barry Brands
April Dinwoodie
NYC CHAPTER LEAD
Steve Madden
Chris Dixon
BOSTON CHAPTER LEAD
Timberland
Brandis Russell
BOSTON CHAPTER LEAD
Converse
Kris Wright
PORTLAND CHAPTER LEAD
NIKE
Connect
For more information about the Forum, email Sabria Butler or Dion Walcott
Black Footwear Forum Annual Sponsors
© 2024 FDRA