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Programs

Our programs reach girls from 5th through 12th grade and their families to build leadership skills, teach financial literacy, increase knowledge of STEM, help improve social and emotional expression, promote health and wellness, encourage empowerment and sisterhood, and foster career readiness.

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Northgate Intermediate School

Since its inception, Girls L.E.A.P. has offered one-on-one mentoring for fifth graders at Northgate Intermediate School in Columbus. Each year, select students are paired with adult mentors who meet twice a month during the school day. Sessions focus on relationship building, social and emotional learning, self-confidence, conflict resolution, interrupting negative cycles, and leadership.

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Horizon Science Academy

In the 2022-2023 school year, Girls L.E.A.P. launched LEAP to EmbraceHer at Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School for first-generation immigrant African female freshmen. The program, initially serving 75 students, now supports over 100. LEAP to EmbraceHer focuses on empowering these girls and nurturing their social and emotional well-being. Girls L.E.A.P. collaborates with Amber Harris of Bridgn Gaps, LLC for weekly in-school lessons.

 

The main goals for the program are:

 

  1. Enhancing the well-being of first-generation African female students: The program seeks to enhance girls' well-being by addressing their social and emotional needs, fostering positive mental health, self-esteem, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
     

  2. Building Self-Confidence: The program aims to empower girls by boosting their self-confidence, self-belief, and assertiveness, helping them overcome barriers and pursue their goals.
     

  3. Fostering Resilience and Coping Skills: The program helps first-generation African female students develop resilience, coping skills, and emotional regulation to navigate challenges related to immigration, cultural identity, and discrimination.
     

  4. Promoting Leadership and Advocacy: The program empowers students to become leaders and advocates by providing skill-building opportunities and encouraging them to effect positive change.
     

  5. Creating Safe Spaces for Storytelling: Providing a safe space for sharing lived experiences is crucial for self-advocacy. Girls L.E.A.P. hopes to break the myth of African culture about mental health by creating safe spaces for girls to share their stories and seek help and support.​

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Sister Circle

Each month, Girls L.E.A.P. hosts Sister Circle sessions for girls of all ages to learn and grow together. Focused on leadership and social-emotional learning, these sessions include guest speakers, panels, and hands-on activities. High schoolers participate as both learners and peer mentors, with additional programming on applying to college and preparing to enter the workforce.

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STEAM Camp

Every summer, Girls L.E.A.P. hosts a week-long STEAM Camp for girls entering 5th-12th grades. Campers engage in STEM projects, art, dance, and social-emotional learning. They also enhance public speaking skills by presenting their projects on the final day.

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Financial Literacy

Our partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co. educates women and girls on saving, budgeting, investing, credit card use, and paying for college. Girls Get Financially Fit events offer opportunities to ask questions, share tips, and highlight the importance of financial knowledge.

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Mother-Daughter Conversation & Self-Care Day

Each year, Girls L.E.A.P. sponsors an event for girls and their female caregivers to enjoy food, fun, self-care activities and conversation. This event allows girls to spend quality time with special adult females in their lives, open up lines of communication and have fun creating crafts and being pampered at self-care stations.

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Family Engagement

To engage family support, we provide access to resources for families to meet their needs. Girls L.E.A.P. can connect families with a social worker to provide information about community and mental health resources and can assist with improving family dynamics and communication. We also partner with the Byron Saunders Foundation to provide food items for Thanksgiving. Girls L.E.A.P. also holds events throughout the year that include both mentees and family members.  

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