Leading Ladies of Legacy Programs
2023-2024 Program Year
The Leading Ladies of Legacy program provides a safe and inclusive space for girls to gather once a week after school, during school, or on Saturdays at various locations including local schools, community centers, youth-serving organizations, and our own facilities. Each group typically consists of 20-25 girls and is led by a highly trained Adult Program Coordinator who facilitates guided conversations and activities on topics such as school, identity, self-awareness, diversity, relationships with family or college, and careers.
By focusing on the critical pre-teen years when personal choices can have lifelong consequences, Leading Ladies of Legacy addresses the root causes of poverty, teen pregnancy, violence, and lack of educational attainment. Through our program, girls develop leadership skills and character traits such as honesty, personal accountability, active listening to diverse viewpoints, clear communication, critical thinking and problem-solving.
We are committed to empowering girls to become confident leaders who are equipped to make informed decisions about their futures. Thank you for considering Leading Ladies of Legacy as a valuable resource for the young women in your community.
Our Mentoring Programs
Leading Ladies of Legacy is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to empowering girls and young women to become confident leaders who can make informed decisions about their futures. Our programs are designed to provide a safe and inclusive space where girls can develop the skills and character traits necessary for success in all areas of life.
Our programs are divided into three different age groups: Little Ladies League (Grades K-5), Lovely Ladies League (Grades 6-8), and Leading Ladies League (Grades 9-12).
Each program meets weekly and focuses on a variety of topics, including positive self-identity and self-esteem, personal vision and goals, social and emotional skills, character development, academic success and work ethic, leadership development, visual arts, performing arts, digital literacy, communication, and etiquette.
At Leading Ladies of Legacy, we believe in a gender-responsive culture that celebrates girls. We offer holistic programs that are strength-based and asset-building, taking into account the unique ways in which girls learn and develop. Our research-based program model emphasizes both academic and social-emotional learning for middle and high school-aged girls.
We are proud to have helped dozens of girls achieve their full potential through our programs. Our goal is to continue expanding our reach so that we can empower even more young women to become confident leaders who are equipped to make informed decisions about their futures.
Our Black Girl Literacy Educational Program
The Black Girl Literacy Framework is a comprehensive approach to promoting literacy among young black girls. It was developed by Dr. Kimberly Parker, an educator and researcher who specializes in literacy development among black girls. The framework is based on four key pillars:
1. Identity: The first pillar of the Black Girl Literacy Framework is identity. This pillar recognizes the importance of helping black girls develop a positive sense of self and a strong cultural identity. By promoting positive self-image and cultural pride, the framework aims to create a foundation for literacy development that is grounded in a sense of belonging and purpose.
2. Literacy: The second pillar of the framework is literacy itself. This pillar recognizes that literacy development is a complex process that involves multiple skills and competencies, including reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and critical thinking. The framework emphasizes the importance of providing black girls with high-quality literacy instruction that is culturally responsive and tailored to their individual needs.
3. Community: The third pillar of the framework is community. This pillar recognizes that literacy development does not occur in isolation, but rather within a broader social context. The framework emphasizes the importance of creating supportive communities that value literacy and provide opportunities for black girls to engage with reading and writing in meaningful ways.
4. Advocacy: The fourth and final pillar of the framework is advocacy. This pillar recognizes that promoting literacy among black girls requires systemic change at multiple levels, including policy, practice, and culture. The framework emphasizes the importance of advocating for policies and practices that support black girls’ literacy development, as well as challenging negative stereotypes and biases that can hinder their progress.
Overall, the Black Girl Literacy Framework provides a holistic approach to promoting literacy among young black girls. By addressing multiple dimensions of literacy development within a supportive community context, the framework aims to help black girls develop the skills, confidence, and sense of purpose they need to succeed in school and beyond.
Our Black Girl Literacy Educational Program will launch in August 2023 and will serve girls ages 8-12. It is designed to promote literacy among young black girls.
Some common features of black girl literacy programs include:
- Book Clubs: Our program includes a monthly book club where girls can read and discuss books together. These book clubs often focus on books written by black authors or featuring black characters.
- Writing Workshops: Writing workshops is another common feature of our program. These workshops will provide girls with the opportunity to practice their writing skills and receive feedback from experienced writers.
- Digital Literacy: We want girls to learn to tell their own stories as well so we will teach girls the power of storytelling through the creation of their own digital stories with a variety of media tools.
- Mentoring: Our program will also offer mentoring opportunities, where girls can connect with older women who can provide guidance and support as they develop their literacy skills.
- Community Outreach: Finally, our program will also engage in community outreach efforts, such as organizing book drives and partnering with local schools and libraries to promote literacy.
Benefits of Participation
Participating in Leading Ladies of Legacy programs offers numerous benefits for girls and young women. By joining our programs, participants have the opportunity to develop the skills and character traits necessary for success in all areas of life. Here are some of the key benefits of participating in Leading Ladies of Legacy:
- Improved self-esteem and self-confidence: Our programs are designed to help girls develop a positive self-identity and a strong sense of self-worth. Through our activities and conversations, participants learn to recognize their strengths and build confidence in their abilities.
- Personal growth and development: Our programs focus on personal vision and goals, social and emotional skills, character development, academic success and work ethic, leadership development, visual arts, performing arts, digital literacy, communication, and etiquette. By participating in these activities, girls have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
- Mentorship opportunities: Through our Women of Legacy program, participants have the opportunity to connect with successful women who can provide guidance on how to navigate the challenges of adulthood. This mentorship can be invaluable for young women as they prepare for college and careers.
- A safe and inclusive community: At Leading Ladies of Legacy, we believe in creating a gender-responsive culture that celebrates girls. Our programs provide a safe and inclusive space where girls can feel supported and empowered.
- Preparation for future success: By developing leadership skills, character traits such as honesty, personal accountability, active listening to diverse viewpoints, clear communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills through our programs, girls are equipped with the tools they need to make informed decisions about their futures.
Our Values and Beliefs
Leading Ladies of Legacy was founded under four principles.
Character
Moral or ethical quality
Qualities of honesty, courage, or the like
We are a challenging and supportive group of girls, ladies, and women who are developing character. We lay the foundation for ourselves. Through character development, we unlock our unique potential. We learn to utilize our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual resources.
Education
Act of acquiring knowledge
Developing the powers to judgment and preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life
The most important thing we can obtain in this world is knowledge. Knowledge comes in many forms through schooling, reading,
talking, and experiencing. We will challenge and expose our members to knowledge and develop inquiry skills.
Leadership
Ability to lead, guide, or direct
As a leader, we help others to learn just as we have been helped. We ask the best of others just as someone shaped the best in us.
Service
An act of helpful activity, help; aid
“I hear, and I forget
I see- and I remember, But I do, and I understand”
The pursuit of destiny requires our true best, and our true best cannot be attained without the help of others. Active service helps us to understand others, our community, and ourselves.