For over a decade we've provided scholarships, workshops, and mentorship for youth ages 14-24. We’re breaking the cycle of poverty with a holistic wellness initiative called "Discover Your Inner Warrior." Each week participants are educated on domestic violence, reproductive health, emotional wellbeing, how to apply for college and much more. 

The youth we serve come from low-income households, and according to the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services children that grow up in poverty are highly likely to be exposed to trauma or have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs.) Children that experience trauma often have low self-esteem. Black girls and women of color experience high rates of Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACEs) such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction particularly those girls who are living in poverty. Children with a higher number of ACEs are more likely to score lower on standardized tests, be suspended or expelled, or even fail a school grade(Felitti, 1998.)

Girls are more likely than boys to have four or more ACEs (Felitti, 1998.) Adults experiencing four or more ACEs are twice as likely to have a heart attack, twice as likely to have severe financial problems, and are six times more likely to have clinical depression. In order to achieve their academic and economic dreams, girls of color need more exposure to positive experiences. Research proves that ACEs do not have to be fatal and can be overcome by introducing positive experiences to children who live in poverty. Positive experiences can buffer bad experiences and when children feel connected to their community, when they know they can grow their social capital and experience positive relationships with adults and their peers then the impact of ACEs can be overcome.

Positive experiences help students regulate their emotions and will increase their resilience academically and socially. Our “Discover Your Inner Warrior” program is all about ensuring students at risk for or already experiencing ACEs have these positive experiences which have been shown to reduce the negative health outcomes of ACE exposure. Such positive experiences include increasing self-esteem, meeting positive role models, viewing one's culture as an asset are core pieces of our weekly curriculum.