What we do!

MISSION

To encourage, enlighten and empower girls with a focus on the strengths, challenges and choices within the context of adolescent teens today.

SELF CARE AWARENESS

Self Respect- This program is designed to use education and leadership skills to keep girls who may become at risk out of the influence of negative peer pressures. Self Care-  This program will help girls realize the importance of maintaining their physical, mental or emotional health. This component is to help girls feel healthy, relaxed and to be prepared to take on real responsibilities. Self Efficacy– we will focus on the strengths, challenges and choices within the context of adolescent teen girls today addressing the domains of the “Whole Girl”.  We will address real issues facing young people on individual and community level to address problems and challenges. 

WHAT WE DO

Gem-N-Me concentrates on providing self awareness education by building our young ladies self-esteem, to empower them to build their desired future in leadership within an educational setting. The literacy component will address academics, social and life skills training to help discover strengths, exploring career opportunities, cultural awareness, peer activities, leadership skills and community involvement. We will address the particular needs of our participants in a format that is interactive, experiential, engaging and supportive.

GIRLS SPEAK TO US:

through their words

through their action/behavior

through their music/writing/art

through their bodies

In their silence

 

EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH EDUCATION

Founded in 2014, we have provided services for young girls , ages 7-19 in the Cleveland area. This program is designed to use education and leadership skills to keep girls who may become at risk out of the influence of negative peer pressures. We address real issues facing young people on an individual and community level and give young ladies tools to address these issues through education. We are dedicated and will also focus on the domains of the “Whole Girl”- her physical, mental, education, and psychological needs. Why? Simply because “girls got issues”. Our goal is to create partnerships in schools, to educate the community on empowerment and how it’s important for girl, to create youth development opportunities and focus on school, home and community engagement.

 

EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH GROUPS

Girls who are empowered with the information taught in these groups are equipped with tools and information to make positive choices and educated decisions regarding their lives. Such groups encourage the development of critical thinking skills and academic achievement, thus discouraging delinquent behavior.

 

WHAT DOES GENDER SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING LOOK LIKE

A comprehensive and research based approach deals with behavior in context, enabling each girl to focus on her individual needs, to understand how risk factors have shaped her development, and to address issues that arise in her relationships with others (Lindgren, 1996; Valentine Foundation, 1990), including family, peers, community, and society. By preventing problems before they occur, intervening early to change risky behaviors, and providing follow-up care after treatment to reinforce new skills and prevent recidivism, comprehensive programs provide girls with a continuum of services. Gender-specific programming provides girls with decision making and life skills that will assist their development into womanhood. Given the importance that girls place on relationships, gender-specific programming teaches positive relationship-building skills. Empowerment teaches girls to use their voice, to speak for themselves, and to recognize that they have choices. Gender-specific programming also recognizes the dangers and risks that girls face because of gender. This means acknowledging that the lives of girl offenders may have been affected by:

• Sexism, which means less power and fewer options for females in society
• Victimization, including sexual abuse, child pornography, prostitution, and other forms of exploitation
• Poverty, which affects teen mothers in disproportionate numbers and also increases girls’ vulnerability to dropping out of school, joblessness, health problems, and delinquency
• Racism

Gender-specific programs are designed with an understanding of the connection between risk factors girls face at adolescence and protective factors that can help them avoid delinquency.