Story & Lesson Highlights with Quiana Malone of Southside Henry County

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Quiana Malone. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Quiana, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
“I’m chasing impact through Dear Black Girl — creating spaces where Black women and girls can heal, grow, and access education. For me, it’s about more than just building a program — I’m chasing the vision of breaking cycles of trauma, helping women rediscover their wholeness, and opening doors for the next generation through scholarships and resources.” If I stopped chasing this, it would mean silencing a calling that I believe God placed in me. It would mean leaving women and girls without access to healing spaces or opportunities they might otherwise never receive. And for me personally, it would feel like abandoning both my purpose and the people I’m meant to serve.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Quiana Malone, and I’m the founder of Dear Black Girl, a personal development and education-based initiative created to help Black women and girls heal, grow, and thrive. Our work is rooted in the belief that every Black girl deserves more than survival — she deserves wholeness, purpose, and the opportunity to succeed in school and in life.

What makes Dear Black Girl unique is the way we bring healing and education together. Through our personal development cohorts and community programs, we provide safe spaces for women to process trauma, reclaim their power, and step into leadership. And through our education initiative, we’re committed to supporting Black girls who are Seniors in high school, freshmen in college, or pursuing postgraduate studies with scholarships and resources that help them move forward.

At its heart, this work is personal for me. I know what it means to carry the weight of being ‘strong’ while quietly needing healing, and I’ve seen how mental health and education together can change the trajectory of a life. That’s why I’m working to build a movement that invests in both — because when Black women and girls are whole and educated, we don’t just change our own stories, we change generations

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, creative girl who believed anything was possible. I was soft, hopeful, and full of dreams — but over time, life and expectations pushed me into roles where I felt I always had to be strong, to carry everything. Rediscovering that original version of myself is what inspired Dear Black Girl. It’s about returning to that wholeness, honoring both the strength and the softness, and creating space for other women and girls to do the same while pursuing education, healing, and purpose.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. Success can celebrate you, but suffering shapes you. It taught me patience, empathy, and how to see people beyond their smiles. It showed me the importance of healing, because unhealed pain only repeats itself. Without my suffering, there would be no Dear Black Girl — because it was in my lowest moments that I learned the value of restoration, community, and the kind of strength that doesn’t just survive, but transforms. Success affirmed me, but suffering refined me.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
No, the public version of me is just a curated reflection of my journey and my purpose. The real me is still evolving — it’s the part that wrestles with doubt, learns from failure, and quietly nurtures the dreams that drive Dear Black Girl. I show the world enough to inspire and lead, but the full version of me is private, intentional, and always growing. I think everyone has a public face and a private truth, and my work is about helping women and girls embrace both — to be seen while also honoring their inner world

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people tell a story of a woman who showed up, even when it was hard — a woman who healed herself while helping others do the same. I hope they remember that I created spaces for Black women and girls to reclaim their wholeness, embrace their purpose, and pursue education and growth without apology. I want them to say that I used my life to lift others, to break cycles, and to build a legacy of empowerment, resilience, and transformation that continues long after I’m gone.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: OfficialDearBlackGirl
• Linkedin: Dear Black Girl
• Facebook: OfficialDearBlackGirl