On Saturday, October 16, BET Networks will air BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards at the Paradise Theatre in New York City to honor the most influential women of color who promote youth empowerment through the arts. The network premiere will be televised exclusively on BET on Sunday, November 7th from 8pm – 10pm.

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! was established in 2006 by DJ Beverly Bond to showcase individuals whose contributions and accomplishments have enriched and advanced women of color and culture, and to encourage positive, life-changing activity and critical thinking through the arts for “at risk” teenage women of color to help foster their dreams of a better tomorrow without comprising their integrity and self-worth today.

According to the BGR! Awards website,“For the past four years the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards show has served as the premiere fundraising event for BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc., a non-profit, youth-empowerment mentoring organization founded by celebrity DJ Beverly Bond. All of the proceeds will go towards operational funding for BLACK GIRLS ROCK! programs. The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards honors the influential achievements of exceptional women of color in fashion, media, business, the arts and entertainment, and public service.”

DJ Beverly Bond expressed her excitement for the rising popularity of the BGR! movement on the BET Awards website in saying, “I am proud that BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is at the forefront of a movement inspiring women of color to take charge of our images, our dignity and our impact on the world…This historic partnership with BET Networks gives BGR! an incredible and much needed platform to highlight our ‘heroes’ and hold them up as shining examples of the great women that we are, so that future generations of girls in our communities can see positive examples of who they can become.”

As listed on the BET Awards website, the following award categories will be included in the Black Girls Rock! televised special:

The “Rock Star” Award: This will be awarded to a fierce and fearless woman who has successfully pushed the envelope and carved a niche where other artists dutifully follow.

Social Humanitarian: This award will honor an artist that uses her celebrity to raise awareness about world issues, voluntarily giving to the community and addressing the emotional, physical and material needs of people in crisis, hardship and impoverished conditions.

Who Got Next?: This award recognizes ultimate talent straight ‘out the gate.’ This fire-starter has created a buzz and proved herself as a force to be reckoned with.

Living Legend: This award is given to a select individual of remarkable talent whose life long contributions and accomplishments have enriched and advanced our culture.

Young Gifted & Black: This award recognizes the young go-getter under the age of 25 who has achieved an insurmountable amount of success through ideal metamorphosis, and the acute ability to stand and deliver.

The BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards are an incredible advancement for the BGR! mission and their movement. Make sure you don’t miss out on the honoring of amazing women who are positively influencing young women of color through the arts.