Bolles rising junior Taylor Richardson ’22, an internationally known advocate for literacy and girls in STEM, is using her voice and platform for the Black Lives Matter movement. She hosted the only youth-led GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Freedom Fund, an initiative to raise bailout funds for youth detained since May 30. She raised more than $12,000 in three days, exceeding her $10,000 goal.

Called the StarBright Freedom Fund, Richardson’s campaign was named for Astronaut StarBright, the moniker she uses as part of her girls in STEM advocacy work.

Richardson participated in her first peaceful protest march on May 30 in support of Justice for George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter momentum. She said she was angry after this experience and wanted to do more.

“I felt that I would create the StarBright Freedom Fund that would help provide community support for those whose civil liberties have been deprived, survivors of injustices and educational tools for youth like me who want to learn how to help through various outlets and resources,” Richardson said on her GoFundMe page. She said support would go toward bail outs, medical expenses, mental health resources and basic needs. “I don’t know all the answers. But I know it will take me finding the best initiatives and programs already in place and lend my support to those organizations that have been doing this work for years to bring about change.”

Richardson also was interviewed for a front page story on the Black Lives Matter movement in the June 6, 2020 edition of the Florida Times-Union. Read story here: https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20200606/civil-rights-protests-are-part-of-jacksonvilles-past---and-future