Their Story: Derrica and Natalie Wilson

Derrica and Natalie Wilson started the Black and Missing Foundation Inc. (BAMFI) to help minorities find missing friends and family. The foundation was created in 2008 but it was a tragedy in 2004 that prompted Derrica to focus on changing how missing minorities are reported in the media. After Tamika Huston vanished from her Spartanburg, S.C., apartment in 2004, Derrica noticed that there was no media coverage or local help for the family. This upset her and made her want to create an organization to help.

Derrica Wilson is a co-founder and CEO of Black & Missing Foundation, Inc. Wilson was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina, so the disappearance of Tamika Huston hit close to home. She began her career in law enforcement in 2000 with the the Arlington County Sheriff's Department in Virginia.

After working with the the Arlington County Sheriff's Department in Virginia for two years, Derrica accepted a position with the City of Falls Church Police Department. At the department she made history by being the first and only African-American female officer! While there she focused on creating programs and leading initiatives that were meant to keep children safe.

By 2010, Derrica was ready to go on to her next step in life and that was by working for the District of Columbia Government. At that time she was also working diligently on her Black & Missing Foundation.

Another half of the dynamic duo is Derrica's sister-in-law Natalie Wilson. Natalie is a co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. Her role is to place a focus on community and media outreach for the non-profit organization.

Prior to founding BAMFI, Natalie Wilson gained her Masters in Communication Trinity University in Washington, DC. Before that she received her Bachelor's of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Communications, from Howard University. With her degrees Natalie is a successful public relationships specialist. She uses her skills to spread knowledge and awareness of their organization.

Since 2012, these two ladies have held their annual BAMFI 5k Run/Walk Charity Event. The 5th Annual 5k event took place on June 3rd of this year. This event was a success as they raised $20,000 to help in efforts to finding missing minorities. About 1200 people participated in the event as well!

Through Derrica and Natalie's efforts more than 128 missing people of color have been located and 71 of them alive. The duo collaboratively worked with the media, police and family members to locate these missing individuals.

Derrica and Natalie truly work out of the kindness of their hearts. The pair fund the organization almost completely by themselves. The Wilsons pull together their resources to produce results and find missing loved ones. They are changing the community one story at a time.