Designer Terresa Hardaway Infuses Culture, Care and Resistance Into MMBWG Logo

The Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls (MMBWG) has unveiled a powerful new logo. Designed by Terresa Hardaway of Blackbird Revolt, the symbol honors the lives of Black women and girls who have been lost or harmed and centers their stories in ongoing efforts to address systemic violence, support families and push for lasting change across the state.

“Despite the gravity of this issue that affects the community in which I am directly a member, I was honored to craft a symbol that might represent a movement for my community,” Terresa said. “It also calls attention to the important work happening in this inaugural and first-of-its-kind office in the country.”

The MMBWG Office was established in 2023 to address the systemic neglect and violence disproportionately affecting Black women and girls. 

“Our new logo carries both the weight of our purpose and the hope of our communities,” said MMBWG Director Kaleena Burkes. “It honors the lives of Black women and girls who should still be with us, and it reflects the strength of those who continue to fight for answers.”

Designing a symbol for a movement

For Terresa, the project was both deeply personal and profoundly meaningful. Her design process involved extensive research and exploration of cultural symbols—from the North Star and African tribal patterns to crowns, Adinkra symbols and representations of natural Black hair.

Ultimately, the periwinkle flower emerged as the most resonant. “The periwinkle holds significant meaning in Black culture and the legacy of enslaved people,” Terresa explained. “In my anti-racist and Black liberatory design work, the color purple also represents liberation.”

The Office for MMBWG partnered with Blackbird Revolt, a Black woman-owned, social justice-focused creative studio, to bring the vision to life. Leading the design was Terresa Hardaway, Ph.D., the studio’s owner and creative director, whose work is deeply rooted in advocacy and cultural storytelling.

A defining feature of the logo is the integration of hair texture into the flower’s design—an intentional nod to shared cultural experience across the African diaspora. Terresa drew on both personal and academic expertise, referencing her graduate research on Black natural hair.

“Natural hair is one of the throughlines of the Black woman's experience—it is something we can all relate to and understand. And because our crowns are sacred, they are constantly under attack, policed, and judged,” she said. “Ask any Black woman and they will tell you how salons that are unfamiliar with natural hair care are rough on our hair causing damage to our strands. So, while the flower represents resiliency against systemic harms, Black women are also delicate and to be treated with care—like our hair.”

A silhouette of a woman’s face is also woven into the design, grounding the symbol in the real lives and families the office serves.

Day of Action, Remembrance and Change

The Office for Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls is hosting it's 2026 Day on the Hill on Monday, April 13 at the State Capitol. The office is encouraging community members, advocates and partners to show up, stay engaged and support ongoing efforts to protect Black women and girls across Minnesota.