For 12 years the Black and Missing Foundation (BAMFI) has been the voice for thousands of families of color struggling to find their missing loved ones. As advocates for this often voiceless group, BAMFI ensures that families receive law enforcement, media coverage, and motivates others to come forward with additional information.
What We Know:
- The Black and Missing Foundation is a non-profit organization that brings awareness to people of color who have gone missing. The foundation formed in 2008 by Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson. Derrica Wilson has a background of law enforcement and Natalie Wilson of strategic public and media relations. They found that their expertise can be a valuable tool for families who struggle to receive answers.
- When asked about the impact and what inspired the creation, co-founder Natalie said the following:
“The inspiration behind the organization began with the disappearance of Tamika Houston who went missing from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was a beautiful young lady but her story didn’t receive the local and national media coverage as we saw with other cases of missing women, no one was talking about it. The motivation continues to be the families that we serve who are desperately searching for their missing lvoed ones.”
- The process for family members to contact the foundation is very accessible. Co-founder Natalie stated that “time is of the essence” when a person is missing. Their criteria are that a missing person report is filed with law enforcement. If it is not, BAMFI assists families in getting it done. As soon as the Black and Missing Foundation gathers all the information needed, the information is published to their clearinghouse, shared on their social media platforms and with their media partners.
“We believe that someone knows something that can help find a missing individual or provide much needed closure for their families. One person with one tip can make that difference. We ask anyone with information on a missing person to submit that tip anonymously on our tip line at bamfi.org.”
- In many cases, law enforcement usually labels young children who are missing as “runaways” which prevents their right for an amber alert or simply ignore the pleads of the families since “crime” is categorized as part of their daily lives.
- The foundation not only helps raise awareness but also helps the families prepare for interviews when the media finally contacts them. Natalie prepares them to work with the media since it is a scary process for them to go through. There are only a few seconds being aired where your loved one is being featured.
The non-profit organization has fought for the families of the missing as well as raising awareness for sex trafficking happening abroad with minorities. If you know something or have further information about a missing person you can anonymously leave a tip at www.BAMFI.org or to report a missing person.
