Mary J. Blige found her strength and now wants to help other women find their own

Mary J. Blige found her strength and now wants to help other women find their own

Mary J. Blige may be the most famous native of Yonkers, New York, but she hasn’t forgotten her roots there.

The newly announced Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are giving back to the community that helped launch them.

Blige’s “Women’s Power Festival and Summit” partnered with Pepsi to launch a fundraiser with $100,000 available in grants to local organizations whose work empowers and educates underserved women in Yonkers.

The singer couldn’t be happier about the partnership and how it helps her continue the work she does to uplift women.

“It’s very satisfying,” Blige told CNN. “It’s everything about my movement. I always want to give back, especially to the women in Yonkers.”

Known as the “queen of hip-hop soul,” Blige’s early career was marked by passionate, yet often sad songs that reflected her own struggles in her personal life.

Her 2021 documentary “My Life” explores Blige’s past struggles with depression, substance abuse and abusive relationships.

He perseveres through it all, and in the process learns that his healing can help others.

Blige said she didn’t realize she had a “ministry” in terms of her music until the release of her 1997 album “Share My World,” which resonated so much with her fans.

“My testimony is only to help. Helping a lot of people,” he said. “Helping people who say ‘Mary, me too. Me too.’ And if you can go through it, what I can go through so can you.”

In 2022 she launched the “Women’s Strength Festival and Summit,” a multi-day event filled with panels, concerts and fellowship.

The new fund is part of the outreach that Blige feels called to do.

Created in partnership with United Way of Westchester and Putnam, which helps residents become independent and thrive in stronger communities, the funds will be distributed through grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to deserving organizations that support programs in education, financial stability and food security. .

Blige returned home Thursday to announce the fund during a surprise appearance at Westchester Community College. This year the festival and summit will move from Atlanta to New York City.

“I love it. This is my home. This is where I was born and raised and this is where I originally wanted to be,” Blige said of the change of venue. “I’m excited to be here. And New York is excited, and the world is excited. Everyone comes to that.”

The event will take place May 10-12 and more information can be found on the “Women’s Power” site.