Why do you work at Girls Inc. of Chicago?
I always have had a passion and mission for creating safe and welcoming spaces for Black girls globally. Growing up as a Black girl on the South Side of Chicago, there were no real dedicated spaces solely focused on developing Girls of Color and providing resources based on our specific needs. GIOC’s commitment to serving girls of Color on the South Side of the city is what resonates with me most. GIOC values teaching all girls to be Strong, Smart, & Bold and I see this happening everyday within the organization. Working here has empowered the little Black girl inside of me, who didn’t really get to fully be in a safe pro-girl environment.
Tell us about yourself personally – outside of your work at Girls Inc. of Chicago
Personally, I am a passionate writer with a focus on Screenwriting, who dreams of balancing the time to connect my advocacy for girls and women to my sitcom scripts one day. I also value the arts and love dancing and performing in the theater when I can. For self-care, I love to travel and explore different parts of the world.
What kind of legacy do you wish to leave behind for girls of the future?
I would like to leave the legacy of being a space creator and a barrier breaker for girls and women of Color. I want other girls after me in the future to value oppressed people and make space for them and all of their intersections. I want to leave behind a legacy of open doors, so the next generation of girls don’t have to spend their time finding new ways to get into white male dominated spaces. Accessibility is my legacy goal!
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
Most of us did not learn when we were young that our capacity to be self-loving would be shaped by the work we do and whether that work enhances our well-being.
-Bell Hooks
What is your favorite Girls Inc. of Chicago event or program?
My favorite GIOC program is our Strong, Smart, & Bold Summer Camp. This program is my favorite because of the impact I have witnessed it has had on girls within the community. As the Director of Community Engagement, I created the structure of the camp, the partnership opportunities, and the explorations which is a ton of work, however, seeing all of the planning that my team worked on get placed into action with the girls is so fulfilling. Seeing the girls faces light up on every exploration we take them on makes my heart smile and motivates me to do even more for our girls!
What do you find most rewarding about Girls Inc. of Chicago?
The most rewarding experience about working at GIOC is getting to see the long term impact we are making with our girls. I also personally love working with a wonderful leadership team of dedicated women of color including our wonderful and fearless Chief Executive Officer, Yani Mason. Yani’s mentorship and guidance is also another major gift about being on the GIOC team! Seeing a Black women at an executive level leading an entire organization with grace and care, has been so inspiring and motivating to me.
Learn more about Girls Inc. of Chicago HERE!
