MISSION
Provide girls and young women of color the necessary resources and tools to exercise the power of their voice.
OUR VISION
A world that cultivates the power of girls and young women of color to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers.
OUR BELIEFS
Community – We believe there is power in networking, partnering and authentic community building.
Creativity – We believe in building bold, transformation solutions with our partners.
Empowerment – We believe in the strengths of the individuals and the communities we serve.
Excellence – We believe in engaging students by providing high quality and creative content and strategies.
Integrity – We believe in the mission above our own self-interest.
Resilience – We believe resiliency comes from social connectedness.
Strength Focus – We believe that positive and long-term change occurs when we take a strengths-based approach and meeting our girls where they are on their individual path.
Youth Voice – We believe the needs of youth must be at the center of every conversation about expanding access to the quality of youth development and learning opportunities.
In the United States, girls and young women of color face deep seated disparities. From birth, girls of to suffer child sexual abuse, be sexually harassed on the street and at school, and experience dating violence. Distinct differences in the ways in which class, race, immigration status, sexual identity and other identities intersect in the lives of girls of color also drive unique disparities. Black girls, for example, are six times more likely to be suspended in school than their white peers. Native American girls experience the highest rate of physical assault by an intimate partner. Twenty-two transgender women and girls were murdered in 2015, with women and girls of color making up a disproportionate number of victims.
Pamela Shifman
Nova Foundation
It is for these reasons, we will serve a targeted population of young girls of color, ages 10 -18, from under-resourced communities in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb and Fulton Counties. Girls of color hold tremendous power to act as agents of change.
While Be That G.I.R.L.! has chosen to focus on girls and young women of color, ALL girls and young women are welcome to participate in our programs, as our vision is for EVERY girl and young women to be seen, heard and celebrated.
