Girls Opportunity Alliance provides more than $1 million in support on International Day of the Girl

A Long Walk Home provides arts-based leadership programming that empowers young people to help end gender-based violence, creates safe spaces for survivors, and promotes racial and gender equity. With this funding, A Long Walk Home will support the development of the first online curriculum for the organization’s leadership institute, which will include girl-led educational campaigns and lesson plans focused on gender-based violence prevention, radical storytelling, and wellness.

Box United utilizes boxing as a pathway for girls to unlock their full potential and build a movement of positive mental health for girls. With this funding, Box United will expand a research-backed leadership development initiative that combines boxing with lessons on physical and mental wellbeing to increase girls’ confidence, strength, and self-compassion

Focus Fairies Mentoring uplifts and supports at-risk women and girls who have experienced violence on Chicago’s West and South Side through personalized mentoring, group therapy, and social-emotional learning. With this funding, Focus Fairies will repurpose a 17-passenger van into a mobile mentoring unit to reach girls in vulnerable communities who face transportation barriers and access to traditional site-based mentoring programs. 

Girls 4 Science enriches the lives of girls ages 10 to 18 through early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). With this funding, Girls 4 Science plans to expand its flagship program, the Saturday STEM Academy, which provides hands-on scientific exploration, field trips, and professional mentorship to young girls of color

Girls Like Me Project helps Black adolescent girls examine social and cultural stereotypes in media and become authentic changemakers and storytellers. With this funding, Girls Like Me Project will host collaborative events where girls will participate in personal development and mindfulness activities and learn about community resources, scholarships, and empowered storytelling.

Girl Security supports adolescent girls, young women, and gender minority youth from underrepresented communities with the skills, experiences, networks, and support to pursue national security careers. With this funding, Girl Security will establish the first National Security Clinic for high school girls on Chicago’s South Side, leveraging Girl Security’s flagship workforce training program.

Goddess Mentoring provides mentorship to girls to support their leadership skills and self-confidence and to build a community of support. With this funding, Goddess Mentoring will provide girls ages 10 to 18 in Garfield Park with a 35-week intensive mentoring program where participants will engage in cultural enrichment activities, community service, special events, and weekly workshops. 

Jumping Juniors supports the physical health and wellbeing of adolescent girls through the art of double Dutch jump rope. With this funding, Jumping Juniors will expand its programming into a new elementary school, teaching participants about sportsmanship, team building, and self-confidence. 

Lost Boyz, Inc—Lost Girlz provides violence prevention and intervention support to youth using social emotional learning, mentoring, and trauma sensitive coaching methodologies. The program leverages team sports as a foundation, and with this funding, the Lost Girlz program will expose adolescent girls to softball while providing tutoring and study sessions under its MVP Girls Softball Program, teaching girls how to be successful on the diamond, in the classroom, and in the community.

Project Exploration works to address inequities in STEM education by cultivating a dynamic learning environment, providing young women and girls with comprehensive STEM knowledge, and inspiring a new generation of scientists, technologists, engineers, and innovators. With this funding, Project Exploration will establish the Sisters4Science Design Lab to serve middle- to high school-aged girls. 

STEM From Dance empowers girls of color with the skills, experiences, and confidence to pursue careers in STEM—all through the power of dance. With this funding, STEM From Dance will provide clubs and pop-ups in the South Shore and Avalon Park communities throughout the academic year to provide hands-on activities blending STEM and performing arts and to ignite interest in STEM on a wider scale. Additionally, the funds will support an immersive three-week summer camp experience to deepen participants’ STEM skills and sense of belonging, culminating in a dance-tech performance.