Tanika Salmon
“I created Black Girl Magic Day to empower and inspire girls ages 2–15 with confidence, creativity, and community. My mission is to build a space where Black girls can see themselves reflected and uplifted — every single day.”
Why I Created the Afterschool Program tap to read ▾
I spent my early school years moving between different education systems, which gave me early insight into how much the right support can shape a child’s confidence and ability to learn. As a Black child navigating the education system, I was often misunderstood in how I learned and what support I needed.
What wasn’t always recognized was that I excelled creatively. Art was where I thrived. As a child, I attended R.H. King Academy in Scarborough, Ontario, where I was part of a program for gifted kids in art.
Years later, after high school, I was accepted into a scholarship-based multimedia web design program through the YMCA and Centennial College in Toronto, which required a strong artistic foundation.
After creating the annual Black Girl Magic Day event and seeing how impactful even one day of affirmation and creativity could be, it became clear that the support girls needed couldn’t stop there.
The Black Girl Magic Day Afterschool Program is a virtual program designed to extend that impact—creating creative, affirming spaces where girls of color from anywhere can discover their strengths, build confidence, and feel seen.
- Activity Specialist, Harlem Commonwealth Council — experience supporting youth programs and teaching creative skills.
- Former American Girl Place associate — experience in a girl-centered brand focused on confidence, identity, and storytelling.
- Founder, Girls Pop-Up Salon (2022–2024) — brought creativity, confidence, and empowerment directly to Harlem.
- 20+ years in design & multimedia — blending creativity, storytelling, and operations to build engaging virtual programs.