Empowered To Be Me!

Empowered To Be Me! is a girls leadership program of Koinonia Leadership Academy, inspired by Black girls. Research continues to demonstrate Black students are not achieving at their highest potential and are in need of role models, leadership development, educational opportunities, rituals and routines that reflect their specific culture and ethnicity. Our curriculum is grounded in our core values; Empowerment, Educate and Engagement creating a culturally responsive experience for girls and their families. Empowered To Be Me! is facilitated by Black women who lead, celebrate and mentor girls grades 9 -12.

WE BELIEVE IN BLACK GIRLS

We believe when Black girls are empowered and given the right supports and access to educational leadership experiences, they will become powerful leaders and use their genius to unite the world.

Mission:

To empower and nurture Black girls through leadership development.

Values:

Education

Providing educational leadership opportunities that celebrate and affirm the genius of Black girls and women.

Empowerment

Building confidence and leadership through experiences that affirm the genius, humanity and identity of Black girls.

Engagement

Providing social engagement opportunities that uplift and unite all communities.

Black girls in Minnesota are SUSPENDED 9.7 times the rate of their white counterparts and 6 times the rate of their white counterparts Nationally

Black girls are more likely to be disciplined for DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS than their white counterparts.

Black girls are less likely to be nurtured and are more likely to be treated like an ADULT than their white counterparts?

WHY FOCUS ON BLACK GIRLS?

TRANSFORMING THE NARRATIVE OF BLACK GIRLS - OUR VALUES IN ACTION!

Black girls deserve to be empowered to be themselves.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Black girls deserve to have access to educational leadership opportunities.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Black girls deserve to have access to transformative community engagement opportunities.

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Empowered To Be Me! Summer Leadership Institute for Black Girls

The Empowered To Be Me! Summer Leadership Institute is a leadership opportunity inspired by Black

girls serving girls grades 9-12. Our curriculum is designed to Empower Black girls to be their authentic selves while discovering their genius through leadership development. Girls will partner with Black women

to co-create safe and nurturing spaces to explore a variety of leadership development opportunities.

Why Choose Empowered to Be Me! Summer Leadership Institute for Black Girls?

Inspired and Co-led by Black Girls and Women
Parent Empowered Component
Culturally Responsive Curriculum
Restorative Practices Leadership Development
Community Engagement Opportunities

SOCIAL ACTION:

"Empowering Black Girls Through Financial Wellness"

THEME:

“Restorative Practices and Financial Wellness for Black Girls"

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EMPOWERED TO BE ME! AFFIRMATION

I am Empowered to be me!

I am Motivated to overcome all barriers.

I am more Powerful than you know.

I am Observant of my history; I acknowledge my ancestors and their prayers for me.

I am Wise…drawing from the collective wisdom of my community, influencing positive change for generations to come.

I am Eager to achieve beyond expectation.

I am Resilient, bold, beautiful and brilliant!

I am Empowered to be me!

I am Dedicated and destined to succeed. Why? Because I have what it takes inside me.

I am Empowered To Be Me!

Dr. Talaya L. Tolefree and Nia-Imani Tolefree