The GIRL$ Program is a life readiness and skills development program designed to increase the self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency of middle and high school girls, ages 12-19, residing in metropolitan Atlanta.
Artists and Entrepreneurs Series
Established in 2010, the Enchanted Closet Artists and Entrepreneurs Series is designed to introduce girls to those who have leveraged the love of their craft into nontraditional careers and business ventures.
GIRL$ MOVE!
The GIRL$ MOVE! Health and Wellness Program was inspired by the Michelle Obama’s National Let’s Move Initiative. It was developed in 2011 to promote more healthy eating and increased physical activity. We were blessed to have Jahleeka “Jelly” Morris of BET”S BORN TO DANCE Show to participate and help s kick off the program.
STEM and STEAM
Through the Enchanted Closet GIRL$ Program, metro Atlanta girls, ages 12-19 years old, are exposed to careers in science, technology, engineering and math. One of the first STEM programs offered was Girls Can Create Games, Not Just Play Them with Torrance Hill and other gaming industry professionals.
College Prep 101
A study by the National Center for Education Statistics shows that Black women have been obtaining degrees at a consistently high rate since 2008. Indeed, Black women accounted for 68% of associate’s degrees, 71% of master’s degrees and 65% of doctorate degrees. Although this study highlights the positive aspects of Black women and education, as of 2012, only 15% of students enrolled in college were African-American, a drastically low number relative to that of 60% of white students enrolled. Moreover, although Black women continue to pursue higher education at increasing rates, they only make up 8% of private sector jobs. This program is intended to encourage girls to pursue higher education, by equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to apply and succeed in college, as well as provide them with information on how to fund college. Moreover, this program will offer the young ladies opportunities to tour the Spelman College campus and seek advice and one-on-one mentoring from current college students.
CONVERSATIONS with Young Sisters
Inspired by the actor and author, Hill Harper’s book, “Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny” which provided inspirational advice to girls, the Enchanted Closet developed the program CONVERSATIONS with Young Sisters in 2009 to provide girls an opportunity to converse with positive men who provide them advice, encouragement, and inspiration to aid their growth and self esteem. CONVERSATIONS with Young Sisters enables girls to obtain a more balanced perspective, to express their feelings, and gain understanding of issues important to them.
Several positive men in metropolitan Atlanta have supported this effort to mentor girls and be father-figures for the day. Some include Actor-Tony Parker, Artist-Charlton “CP the Artist” Palmer, WAOK Radio Show Host-Derrick Boazman, Entertainment Executives-Torrance Hill and Paris “PK” Kirk, A&R Head of Ludacris’s Disturbing Tha Peace Records, two-time NBA Champion and current player for the New York Knicks, Josh Powell, and NFL Veteran Takeo Spikes.
Most recent participants include writer, director and motivational speaker Jamel Latimore with We Write Movies; inspirational speaker and youth development consultant James Lingo with Lingospeaks; Theodore Riley, a pharmaceutical project manager with Ennaid Pharmaceuticals and member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; and Torrance Hill, president and CEO of Executive Life Consulting.
Cute, but Counting My Coins
Cute, but Counting My Coins GIRL$ Program is an economic empowerment program designed to teach girls how to manage money and be smart and stylish shoppers. As part of the program’s Balling on a Budget Shopping Challenge, girls are given money to purchase items participate in a fashion show.
Tell Me, Then Show Me
Research from the National Institute of Mental Health indicates that many people, particularly women, suffer from a fear of public speaking. This fear can limit one’s engagement in important discussions and valuable school, civic, and career opportunities. This program is intended to reduce the fear of public speaking among girls. Girls engage in confidence boosting exercises, and presenters help girls Understand why public speaking is important, learn tools and techniques to manage speaker anxiety and communicate effectively with others, use critical thinking to solve problems, and consider career opportunities that utilize these skill sets.
Human Trafficking Awareness Program: Our GIRL$ Are NOT For Sale Girls hear the real life story of a human trafficking survivor, and converse with advocates, law enforcement, and a therapist. Girls engage in interactive activities to learn the signs of luring and trafficking behavior, and gain safety resources and reporting information.
- Atlanta is known as the number one hub of human trafficking and child sex exploitation in the United States. (U.S.)
- Atlanta Magazine named the city of Atlanta as “Sex City”, the capital of sexual exploitation in the U.S.
- Atlanta was named by the FBI as one of 14 U.S. cities with the highest rate of children used in prostitution
- In Georgia, 12,400 men purchase sex with young women in any given month.
- Approximately 100 adolescent females are sexually exploited each night in Georgia.
- In Georgia, adolescent females controlled by the child sex trafficking trade are sexually exploited by an adult male on an average of three times per night.
- Trafficked girls are lured by teen recruiters at school and parties, their boy and girl friends, family members, authority figures, organized criminals and gangs, and online predators.
GIRL$ SERVE! in the Spirit of Thanksgiving
Studies show that youth exposed to community service become more compassionate and understanding of others. Additionally, doing something that matters gives them a sense of responsibility which helps to build their self-esteem and confidence. This community service program provides girls the opportunity to give service to multiple causes, apply their creative talents, and gain more knowledge, confidence, and compassion for others.
GIRL$ Get Your Minds Right: Emotional Intelligence and Mental Wellness Program
This program helps girls to realize that stress and problems are normal, and provides them with tools to manage them. Girls learn about mental health conditions, resources for addressing them, and approaches to release harmful thinking and behaviors. Girls engage in interactive activities that help them to focus and be more mindful of their mental health. Additionally, girls have the opportunity to engage in discussions with those who have related personal and/or professional experience.
