BLACK GIRLS ROCK! has been dedicated to the healthy development of young women and girls. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! seeks to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons, and helping them to empower themselves. For the past four years, they have enjoyed the opportunity to enrich the lives of girls aged 12 to 17 years old through mentorship, arts education, cultural exploration and public service. In honor of the BLACK GIRLS ROCK movement I recongized 3 young african-american women helping young girls become confident and intelligent young women.
Name: Shavonte'
Age: 23
Education: Bachelor's in Education
Currently a grad student
Occupation: Elementary school teacher
She rocks because: Shavonte' decided at a young age she would become a school teacher. Growing up she rather stay in the house and play school with her dolls then be outside jumping rope. After going through high school she seen how the girls coming after her were not respecting themselves as they should. It was then she decided to help the youth in her community. Once in college, she bcame to busy to work with the youth as she would have liked but she knew she would have to find someway to be invovled. Once in her senior year she began working with a mentoring program for a local middle school. Now, she is working with younger kids but she knows learning about having confidence in oneself starts at a young age.
Name: Robyn
Age:24
Education: Bachelor's in Sports Medicine
Occuption: Administration Assistant
Assistant Athletic Trainer
She rocks because: Robyn has found a way to combine her love for sports and helping the youth in her community. After taking a job as an athletic trainer in at the high school in her community, she partnered up a high school friend to began an after-school program. The program was opened for all youth but they saw a strong need for young girls in the local high school. The program is designed to help young girls learn to become productive women in society. Even though it is her dream to work as an athletic training for an NFL, she wants to be able to open up multiple program centers in other less privilaged cities.
Name: Unica
Age: 23
Education: Bachelor's in Education
Occuption: Middle school teacher
She rocks because: Unica majored in Journalism as a freshmen in college but after writing a story on the younger generation of girls who were lacking self-respect and respectable role models. She knew helping young girls was truely where her heart was. She fell so in love with kids she switched her major to education. Unica interned with elementary school but soon realized she rather work with older kids. After graduating, she moved back to her hometown and became extremely close with her 14-year old who is a cheerleader at their local high school. Unica began taking her niece to practices and competitions and was soon approached about being a mentor for one of the girls on the team. She was honored to be asked to be a "big sister" for the teenager. Soon the other cheerleaders wanted a "big sister" so Unica recruited some of her friends she felt would also set good examples for the girls.
In our society it is extremely hard to have positive african-american women who are willing to give their time and energy to look after our youth. Shavonte', Robyn and Unica having giving up much more to commit themseleves to the betterment of the younger generation. It is not a task a lot of us would take on because we are too consumed with ourselves. These ladies show us BLACK GIRLS ROCK!
