Each March, Women’s History Month invites us to reflect on the women whose leadership and conviction shaped the institutions we cherish today. In Catholic education, few figures are more inspiring than Anne Marie Becraft.
Born in 1805 to a free Black Catholic family in Washington, D.C., Anne Marie Becraft was a pioneering educator at a time when opportunities for Black Americans were painfully limited. As a teenager, she began teaching other Black girls in her home. What started as a small, courageous act of service grew into one of the earliest schools for Black girls in the United States.
Around 1820, she founded a school dedicated to rigorous academic formation rooted in faith and dignity. Later, she joined the Oblate Sisters of Providence, one of the first religious orders created by and for Black American women. Through her vocation, she united her passion for the Catholic faith with her unshakeable belief in the transformative power of education.
Anne Marie’s work was radical for its time. She insisted that young Black women deserved intellectual formation, spiritual growth, and opportunity long before society was willing to affirm their full dignity. Her leadership reflected a truth we embrace at Fulcrum: education is not simply about instruction; it is about belonging, opportunity, and unlocking God-given potential.
That vision resonates powerfully in Fulcrum’s work today, especially through the Becraft Scholars Program, which carries forward her legacy by supporting students who have historically faced barriers to access and opportunity in Catholic schools by centering relationships, fellowship, and community.
Alana Bell, Director of the Becraft Scholars Program, reflects on Anne Marie’s enduring influence:
“Anne Marie Becraft reminds us that courage and conviction can change the trajectory of generations. Her commitment to faith-filled excellence continues to inspire our scholars to lead with confidence, resilience, purpose, and heart.”
At Fulcrum, we see Anne Marie Becraft’s legacy alive in classrooms across the archdiocese. Students are known, loved, and challenged to thrive. We see it in leaders who believe deeply in access and equity. And we see it in scholars who are becoming the next generation of educators, professionals, and servant-leaders.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, may we honor Anne Marie Becraft not only with gratitude but also with renewed commitment to the mission she began nearly two centuries ago: forming young people of faith, intellect, and leadership who will shape a more just and hopeful world.