Empowering Women Through Boxing & Wellness
Join Black Girls Box for the Release Experience
Who We Are at Black Girls Box
Who We Are
Makeba Reed-Johnson, Founder
Makeba Reed-Johnson, Founder
Black Girls Box was founded on the principles of teaching women of color, boxing as a form of therapy, to create a space where women can release trauma. A cross-sectional analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry examined exercise habits and mental health data from 1.2 million Americans collected across three separate years. Among all t
Black Girls Box was founded on the principles of teaching women of color, boxing as a form of therapy, to create a space where women can release trauma. A cross-sectional analysis published in The Lancet Psychiatry examined exercise habits and mental health data from 1.2 million Americans collected across three separate years. Among all the exercise types studied, boxing stood out. People who trained in boxing reported a mental health burden that was 20.1% lower than people who didn’t exercise at all. That number deserves a second look. Not jogging. Not cycling. Not yoga. Boxing delivered one of the strongest associations with improved mental well-being of any exercise type in the study.
Makeba Reed-Johnson, Founder
Makeba Reed-Johnson, Founder
Makeba Reed-Johnson, Founder
Makeba Reed-Johnson is an award-winning public health professional, mental health advocate, wellness innovator, and the visionary founder of Black Girls Box™, a groundbreaking movement redefining the relationship between boxing, emotional wellness, and women's health. Recognized for pioneering an innovative approach to healing through mov
Makeba Reed-Johnson is an award-winning public health professional, mental health advocate, wellness innovator, and the visionary founder of Black Girls Box™, a groundbreaking movement redefining the relationship between boxing, emotional wellness, and women's health. Recognized for pioneering an innovative approach to healing through movement, Makeba is leading a national conversation about how boxing can serve as a catalyst for resilience, emotional release, and personal transformation.
With more than 30 years of experience spanning public health, mental health, wellness, fitness, higher education, and community leadership, Makeba has dedicated her career to helping individuals heal from the inside out. Her work is rooted in a simple but profound belief: true wellness is achieved when emotional, mental, and physical health are addressed together.
Makeba holds a Master of Public Health, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Social Work. She is a certified Life Coach, a two-time Women's National Golden Gloves Champion, and a former college professor. As the creator of the first boxing fitness curriculum at Spelman College, she introduced an innovative model that combined boxing, fitness, stress management, and confidence-building, inspiring young women to discover strength beyond the ring. Throughout her career, Makeba noticed a recurring theme. Women were arriving at the gym seeking more than physical fitness, they were searching for relief from stress, grief, anxiety, trauma, burnout, and life's many transitions. Time after time, participants described boxing as therapeutic. Those experiences inspired the creation of Black Girls Box™, where boxing became more than exercise; it became a pathway toward healing, empowerment, and community. Drawing upon her expertise in public health, mental health, social work, coaching, and integrative wellness, Makeba developed Release Therapy (trademark pending), an innovative, evidence-informed framework that integrates boxing, mindful movement, breathwork, sound, and emotional awareness to help individuals process and release stored emotional stress. Rather than teaching people to simply manage difficult emotions, Release Therapy encourages participants to acknowledge them, move through them with intention, and emerge with greater resilience, clarity, and confidence. Her philosophy is grounded in the growing body of research demonstrating the connection between movement, nervous system regulation, and emotional well-being. Boxing uniquely combines cardiovascular conditioning, bilateral coordination, mindfulness, focused attention, and controlled physical exertion, creating opportunities for participants to reduce stress, build self-efficacy, improve emotional regulation, and reconnect with their bodies in healthy, empowering ways. Complementing her work in boxing, Makeba is also a certified Vibrational Sound Therapist and Qigong practitioner, integrating restorative wellness practices that promote mindfulness, recovery, and whole-person healing. She believes wellness is not a destination but a lifelong practice and personally embraces swimming, running, cycling, meditation, and movement as essential components of healthy living. Today, Makeba is a thought leader whose work bridges the fields of public health, mental wellness, trauma-informed fitness, and women's empowerment. Through Black Girls Box™, she is helping redefine what fitness can look like for women, particularly Black women, by creating culturally responsive spaces where healing is just as important as physical strength, vulnerability is recognized as courage, and community becomes part of the recovery process. As Black Girls Box™ continues to grow, Makeba remains committed to expanding access to innovative wellness experiences that help women release emotional burdens, reclaim their power, and thrive in every area of life. Her vision is not simply to teach women how to box; it is to inspire a movement where healing, resilience, and transformation begin the moment they put on the gloves.
Coach Maria Merritt, CEO
Makeba Reed-Johnson, Founder
Dr. Cynthia Williams, Director of Grief, Trama, and Family Healing
Maria Merritt is a professional and amateur boxing coach, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate for inclusive and adaptive boxing. With more than 13 years of experience in the sport and over nine years of coaching, Maria has built a career dedicated to expanding access to boxing as a powerful tool for health, wellness, education, and commu
Maria Merritt is a professional and amateur boxing coach, entrepreneur, educator, and advocate for inclusive and adaptive boxing. With more than 13 years of experience in the sport and over nine years of coaching, Maria has built a career dedicated to expanding access to boxing as a powerful tool for health, wellness, education, and community transformation. Holding both a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Business Administration, Maria combines strategic leadership with a deep passion for service and innovation. She is a founding trainer at AFighter4Life Boxing & Fitness in Atlanta, where she has coached individuals ranging from first-time participants to competitive athletes, helping people of all ages and abilities discover confidence, resilience, and strength through boxing. As the creator of Healthy Hitters Inclusive Boxing, Maria has become a recognized leader in adaptive boxing, developing innovative, evidence-based programs for children on the autism spectrum. Her coaching philosophy combines boxing fundamentals with adaptive teaching strategies that create an environment where every participant has the opportunity to succeed. Her work reflects the growing body of research demonstrating that non-contact boxing can provide meaningful benefits for neurodiverse populations. Through Healthy Hitters, Maria continues to translate this research into practical, community-based programming that makes wellness accessible to individuals and families who have historically been underserved. Maria also works with individuals living with Parkinson's disease, incorporating non-contact boxing techniques that support balance, mobility, and functional movement. Recognizing the growing scientific evidence supporting boxing as an effective exercise intervention for people living with Parkinson's disease, Maria incorporates non-contact boxing techniques to support improved quality of life. She is committed to expanding access to therapeutic boxing that helps individuals improve physical function and overall well-being. In addition to her community work, Maria serves as an adjunct professor at Spelman College, where she teaches boxing fitness and wellness. Through her classes, she empowers young women to cultivate confidence, leadership, discipline, and resilience while introducing boxing as an innovative approach to fitness, stress management, and personal growth.
A respected leader within Atlanta's boxing and fitness community, Maria has partnered with schools, universities, healthcare professionals, nonprofit organizations, and community agencies to expand access to inclusive boxing programs that improve both physical and mental well-being. She has also collaborated with two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed world champion Claressa Shields, further advancing opportunities for women and girls in the sport while promoting boxing as a vehicle for empowerment and social impact.
Whether coaching competitive athletes, mentoring college students, supporting individuals living with Parkinson's disease, or creating adaptive programs for children with diverse abilities, Maria's mission remains unwavering: to make boxing accessible, inclusive, and transformative for every person who steps into the gym. As an educator, coach, and community leader, Maria believes boxing is far more than a sport; it is a pathway to lifelong wellness. Through innovation, compassionate leadership, and a commitment to inclusion, she continues to expand opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to experience the life-changing benefits of boxing.
Dr. Cynthia Williams, Director of Grief, Trama, and Family Healing
Dr. Cynthia Williams, Director of Grief, Trama, and Family Healing
Dr. Cynthia Williams, Director of Grief, Trama, and Family Healing
Dr. Cynthia Williams is an internationally respected grief and trauma specialist, author, speaker, and community advocate dedicated to helping individuals and families transform pain into purpose. She is the founder of Love From Afar: The Christopher Allen Williams Foundation, as well as Parents Against Distracted Driving (P.A.D.D.), orga
Dr. Cynthia Williams is an internationally respected grief and trauma specialist, author, speaker, and community advocate dedicated to helping individuals and families transform pain into purpose. She is the founder of Love From Afar: The Christopher Allen Williams Foundation, as well as Parents Against Distracted Driving (P.A.D.D.), organizations committed to grief recovery, trauma education, emotional wellness, and community healing. Dr. Williams' work was born from profound personal loss following the tragic death of her eldest son, Christopher Allen Williams, in a distracted driving crash in 2006. Rather than allowing grief to define her life, she transformed her experience into a mission of service, creating programs that provide education, hope, and practical tools for individuals navigating grief, trauma, and life transitions. Through workshops, support groups, speaking engagements, and community initiatives, she has become a trusted voice for those seeking healing after unimaginable loss.
A recognized leader in grief recovery, Dr. Williams is a Certified Teen Life Coach and Mentor, PRIDE (Parents Reducing Injury and Driver Error) Instructor, certified Mediator, Generational Conflict Resolution Specialist, and Grief Recovery Specialist. She is widely known for her trauma-informed, healing-centered approach, helping individuals, families, schools, and organizations build resilience while addressing the lasting effects of grief and generational trauma.
Dr. Williams is also an accomplished author whose books provide compassionate guidance for healing and personal transformation. Her published works include Concrete Soil: A Memoir of Overcoming Grief, a deeply personal account of navigating unimaginable loss; After My Daddy Left, which explores childhood trauma, healing, and resilience; and additional works that encourage readers to confront difficult experiences with honesty, courage, and hope. Her writing reflects her belief that healing begins by acknowledging pain rather than suppressing it. Through Love From Afar, Dr. Williams leads grief recovery workshops, youth mental health initiatives, restorative dialogue programs, conflict resolution training, and community-based healing experiences. She is also the visionary behind national awareness initiatives, including the Distracted Driving Awareness & Prevention Summit and the Broken Crayons Still Color Youth Safety & Mental Health Summit, bringing together educators, clinicians, survivors, families, and community leaders to promote prevention, emotional wellness, and lasting change. Driven by compassion, authenticity, and lived experience, Dr. Cynthia Williams continues to inspire audiences across the country with a powerful message of resilience, forgiveness, and hope. Her life's work reminds us that while grief may forever change us, it does not have to define us. Through education, advocacy, and heartfelt service, she empowers others to move beyond survival and embrace healing, purpose, and the possibility of new beginnings.
Ursula S. H. Langford, Esq., CFO
Dr. Cynthia Williams, Director of Grief, Trama, and Family Healing
Christina Gordon, Director of Women's Health
Ursula S.H. Langford, Esq. is a nationally recognized attorney, trusted advisor, entrepreneur, sought-after speaker, and business strategist with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of law, media, sports, branding, and business.
Known for helping creatives, executives, athletes, and entrepreneurs protect, monetize, and
Ursula S.H. Langford, Esq. is a nationally recognized attorney, trusted advisor, entrepreneur, sought-after speaker, and business strategist with more than two decades of experience at the intersection of law, media, sports, branding, and business.
Known for helping creatives, executives, athletes, and entrepreneurs protect, monetize, and maximize the value of their intellectual property and brands, Ursula has represented Grammy and platinum-selling recording artists, award-winning actors, content creators, and major media and production companies. Throughout her career, she has structured and negotiated high-impact transactions involving entertainment and media powerhouses, including TV One, MTV, TLC, Discovery, and Tyler Perry Studios and its affiliates. Expanding her influence into the sports arena, she has successfully brokered lucrative Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnerships for athletes, helping them transform their personal brands into sustainable business ventures and long-term wealth-building opportunities. A respected authority on intellectual property, entrepreneurship, entertainment law, branding, and business growth, Ursula is frequently invited to speak on national stages, industry panels, universities, legal education programs, podcasts, radio shows, and television platforms. Her engaging, dynamic, and results-driven approach equips and empowers audiences to transform their expertise into profitable assets, navigate complex industries with confidence, and build sustainable legacies through strategic ownership, growth, and protection of their brands. In addition to leading her law firm, I Am Legally Urs, LLC, Ursula is the founder of Sincerely Urs Live!, a full-service entertainment and production company that has managed and consulted on local and national concert stages, produced marquee signature events, and executed large-scale and high-impact live experiences across the country. Through her work in talent management, event production, media development, and strategic entertainment consulting, she has become a trusted advisor to artists, entrepreneurs, organizations, and industry leaders alike. A graduate of the University of Georgia and Michigan State University College of Law, Ursula launched her legal career under legendary entertainment attorney Gregory J. Reed, contributing to matters involving cultural icons including Rosa Parks, Outkast, Eminem, the Estate of James Brown, and Martha and the Vandellas. Whether addressing executives, entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, or emerging leaders, Ursula delivers transformative insights that challenge audiences to think bigger, lead boldly, own their value, and build legacies that extend far beyond their professions.
Christina Gordon, Director of Women's Health
Dr. Cynthia Williams, Director of Grief, Trama, and Family Healing
Christina Gordon, Director of Women's Health
Christina is a wellness educator, certified personal trainer, women's fitness specialist, entrepreneur, former NCAA Division I athlete, and nationally respected advocate for women's health and Black maternal health. She has dedicated her career to advancing health equity by empowering women to improve their physical, mental, and emotional
Christina is a wellness educator, certified personal trainer, women's fitness specialist, entrepreneur, former NCAA Division I athlete, and nationally respected advocate for women's health and Black maternal health. She has dedicated her career to advancing health equity by empowering women to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through education, movement, and community. A graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration, Christina has built an impressive career at the intersection of wellness, public health, education, and community impact. Her work has included serving as a college professor, leading community health initiatives, and consulting with nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving Black maternal health outcomes, reducing health disparities, and advancing equitable access to care for women and families. As a recognized advocate for Black maternal health, Christina is passionate about addressing the systemic inequities that disproportionately affect Black women before, during, and after pregnancy. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, she works to raise awareness, empower women to advocate for themselves, and promote culturally responsive approaches to maternal wellness and long-term health. In addition to her public health expertise, Christina is a certified Personal Trainer, Women's Fitness Specialist, and Pre- and Postnatal Fitness Expert. Her professional knowledge is complemented by her experience as a former NCAA Division I basketball athlete and boxing enthusiast, giving her a unique understanding of how movement can transform not only the body but also confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being throughout every stage of a woman's life. A devoted mother of four, Christina brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every audience she serves. She understands that wellness extends far beyond physical fitness; it encompasses identity, healing, motherhood, recovery, confidence, and the ability for women to reclaim ownership of their bodies and their stories. Known for her warmth, authenticity, and ability to connect deeply with others, Christina creates spaces where women feel seen, heard, and empowered. Whether speaking to audiences, coaching clients, or leading wellness initiatives, she inspires women to embrace movement as a pathway to healing, self-discovery, and lifelong health. As a member of the Black Girls Box team, Christina helps advance the organization's mission of creating culturally relevant, inclusive, and community-centered wellness experiences that support women in mind, body, and spirit. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to health equity, maternal wellness, and empowering women to become the strongest versions of themselves.
What Is Release Therapy?
Release Therapy is the practice of releasing what the mind has processed, but the body continues to carry. Many people understand their emotions intellectually, yet still experience chronic stress, anxiety, tension, or emotional exhaustion. That's because the body often holds onto experiences long after the mind has made sense of them. Fear, grief, anger, disappointment, shame, and survival responses can become stored in the body through muscle tension, breathing patterns, posture, and the nervous system.
For many women, especially Black women, there is a lifelong expectation to remain strong, composed, agreeable, and resilient, often at the expense of expressing what they truly feel. Over time, emotions become contained rather than released. Release Therapy creates space for that release through intentional movement, breath, sound, and physical expression.
Within the Black Girls Box experience, boxing becomes more than exercise. Every punch, every breath, every movement, and every moment of exertion offers the body an opportunity to let go of accumulated stress instead of continuing to absorb it. Vocalizing while striking encourages permission to be heard. Moving with purpose creates permission to take up space. Physical effort becomes a pathway toward emotional release.
Release Therapy also supports nervous system regulation by teaching participants how to breathe through discomfort, remain grounded under pressure, move instead of freeze, recover after challenge, and reconnect with confidence in their bodies.
It is not about fighting others. It is about releasing what no longer serves you so you can move forward with greater strength, resilience, and peace.