The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc. (NCBW) has received a $10,000 grant from the Front Porch Alliance for its girls’ mentoring program at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA). CGLA is the first single-gender charter school in the state of Tennessee. Its curriculum focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) to foster critical thinking skills and prepare girls for college and future careers.
NCBW is concentrating its mentoring activities at one school. By doing so, the organization can systematically track its mentees’
progress and accomplishments in this single-sex school environment, based on pre-determined benchmarking criteria developed with the assistance of CGLA’s Executive Director, Dr.
Elaine Swafford and her staff. Results will be published and shared with the public, including school board members, elected officials, NCBW National Office and others. This is a four year program, beginning with approximately 50 girls, starting with this year’s 9
th grade class.
The mentoring program will consist of four learning modules: health, education, economic empowerment and leadership development. Each module will focus on age appropriate issues for young women such as body image, anxiety and depression, peer pressure, choices and consequences, financial literacy, conflict resolution, role modeling, and career selections. Mentoring will be provided by NCBW members as well as individuals from the community who are proficient in the learning modules areas.
To complement the formal mentoring program, each girl will be required to volunteer a specific number of hours of community service at a nonprofit organization such as a hospital, daycare center, animal shelter or senior citizens’ home. This experience is designed to teach girls the value of volunteerism and the rewards for making positive contributions to their community.
“The Front Porch Alliance is pleased to support the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Mentoring Program, said Al Chapman, Executive Director of The Front Porch Alliance. “Through this comprehensive program, members of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women will not only invest the gift of time but more importantly, they will impart knowledge and sow lessons deep into the lives of the young women at the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy. These experiences will certainly serve them a lifetime.”
The mission of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women is to advocate on behalf of Black women and girls to promote leadership development and gender equity in the areas of health, education and economic empowerment. Michele McNeill-Emery is National President and Beverly P. Johnson is President of the local chapter.