Programs & Initiatives
Sister, Sister
Iyanla Vanzant once stated, "I am not my sister's keeper. I am my sister." Sister, Sister initiative is to empower each other through tough times. We are here to encourage, motivate, and be used as a vessel to aspire to inspire. The concept is important because it names and identifies how women of color make time for themselves, celebrate themselves, and connect.
Brown Girls Coalition
The Brown Girls Coalition is our mentorship program designed specifically for 9th-grade young ladies, providing guidance and support during critical life transitions. Mentoring plays a vital role in helping youth navigate challenges, whether adjusting to changes at home, managing academic pressures, or preparing for adulthood. Central to the program’s success are close, healthy, and supportive mentor-mentee relationships that are sustained over a meaningful period of time, fostering trust, growth, and resilience.
Our program emphasizes social-emotional learning and trauma-informed practices, ensuring a nurturing and empowering environment for all participants. The Director plays a pivotal role in embedding these principles into the program’s foundation, ensuring their consistent application and development. As the Brown Girls Coalition grows, the Director will also guide strategic planning and help shape the program’s future, ensuring its continued positive impact on children, youth, and their families.
Building and maintaining strong relationships with students, parents, and community members is a top priority. The program actively fosters open communication, provides opportunities for parental involvement, and promptly addresses concerns, creating a collaborative and supportive network. Through this comprehensive approach, Brown Girls Coalition aims to equip young women with the skills, confidence, and support they need to thrive and reach their fullest potential.
Boys II Men
The Boys II Men youth mentoring program offers opportunities for enrichment, exposure, support, and guidance through structured group mentoring sessions led by dedicated mentors. This program focuses on fostering relationships between at-risk youth and adult male mentors who provide guidance and encouragement to help them navigate challenges and achieve success.
Designed for 9th graders, the program will offer positive alternatives and a strong support network to promote individual growth and potential. Through meaningful, long-lasting mentor-mentee relationships, Boys II Men aims to empower young men to make positive life choices and maximize their potential.
Our mentoring program relies on committed adult male volunteers to lead, support, and inspire our youth. By providing guidance and fostering leadership, Boys II Men: Mentoring to Manhood will play a vital role in shaping the next generation of confident, capable leaders. The program is set to launch in Summer 2026.
Jump$tart
Financial literacy equips individuals with the confidence to manage their finances effectively and develop a sound money philosophy. To support this, we are hosting a series of financial literacy workshops called Jump$tart in Jackson and Atlanta. These workshops aim to empower community members by enhancing their understanding of financial concepts and services, enabling them to make informed decisions and take steps to improve their economic well-being.
Financial literacy involves more than just understanding statistics or financial terms—it’s about applying that knowledge to make smart, consistent decisions that lead to positive financial outcomes. For instance, true financial literacy isn’t achieved until individuals can regularly manage their money in ways that prevent living paycheck to paycheck—a challenge faced by nearly 80% of Americans. Similarly, budgeting is a critical skill, yet only 32% of people earning a paycheck actually stick to a budget.
Through Jump$tart, we aim to address these gaps by providing practical tools and strategies to help participants master financial skills, improve their money habits, and build a more secure financial future.
Gender Equity
In Fall 2025, we will launch a gender equity program designed to educate women about their rights at home, in the workplace, and within society. The program aims to expand women’s access to justice and human rights while addressing gender-based violence. Key focus areas include raising awareness about women’s rights and labor laws, such as the Protection of Women Against Harassment Act, Equal Pay, and other pro-women legislation. Additionally, we have prioritized integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our organizational culture, operations, and grantmaking practices.
The significance of this work became even more evident during a year of heightened awareness around racial, gender, and global inequities. We recognize that addressing systemic injustices requires a shift not only in how we provide resources but also in how we engage and communicate. We remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing equity by accelerating efforts to shift power, decision-making, and resources closer to the communities we aim to serve, ensuring meaningful and sustainable change.
Community Capacity Building
Community Capacity Building
Community capacity building empowers local communities to develop, implement, and sustain their own solutions to challenges, allowing them to shape and exercise control over their physical, social, economic, and cultural environments. This initiative focuses on improving community health—a field dedicated to enhancing the physical and mental well-being of people within specific geographic regions. By working at the community level, we aim to promote healthy living, prevent chronic diseases, and deliver meaningful health benefits to those who need them most.
Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected. The relationship between chronic physical conditions and mental health challenges significantly affects individuals’ quality of life. Addressing these connections is essential to developing strategies that reduce the prevalence of co-existing conditions and improve support for those already affected.
The purpose of this initiative is to positively influence the health behaviors of individuals and communities. Our overarching goal is to promote optimal wellness by reducing stress, lowering the risk of illness, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.
FANNIE LOU HAMER INSTITUTE
Youth Leadership Program
The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute advances understanding, respect, and civic engagement among leaders committed to social justice. Through leadership development, the Institute empowers individuals to take on roles that drive equity-focused strategies, foster collective action, and build the capacity of others to challenge injustice, amplify marginalized voices, and create transformative change within their communities. In the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute, students will participate in workshops, community service activities, team-building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and leadership development activities. The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute is a (4) month leadership program beginning the 2026 academic school year. Our primary focus is advocacy and social action.
For Brown Girls, Inc. believes that youth development is a process that prepares a young person to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood and achieve his or her full potential. Youth development will be promoted through activities and experiences that help youth develop social, ethical, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies.
Interested youth scholars must be:
- U.S. Citizen - based on the guidelines utilized by the U.S. Department of Education for Federal Financial Aid eligibility
- Current high school students attending a school in Jackson Metro Area are classified as a sophomore and junior in the upcoming academic school year.
- Cumulative academic GPA of 2.5
- Minority status is a significant factor in acceptance decisions
Mission
The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute is dedicated to fostering positive environments that empower, inspire, and educate teens to unlock their leadership potential while embracing diversity and recognizing the equal value of every individual.
"Never to forget where we came from and always praise the bridges that carried us over." ~ Fannie Lou Hamer
For Brown Girls, Inc. Program Goals:
Physical development
- Good health habits
- Good health risk management skills
Intellectual development
- Critical thinking and reasoning skills
- Knowledge of essential life and vocational skills
- Good decision-making skills
- School success
- In-depth knowledge of more than one culture
Psychological and emotional development
- Strong moral character
- Positive personal and social identity
- Good emotional self-regulation skills
- Good conflict resolution skills
- Mastery motivation and positive achievement
- Confidence in one's efficacy
- Sense of personal autonomy
- Optimism coupled with realism
- Prosocial and culturally sensitive values
Social development
- Perceived good relationships and trust with parents, peers, and some other adults
- Sense of social place/integration
- Ability to navigate in multiple cultural contexts
- Commitment to civic engagement
What You Need to Know
The Fannie Lou Hamer Institute, as part of our new initiative, focuses on recognizing and cultivating the strengths of youth to promote positive development and social justice leadership. Rather than solely addressing risks of isolation, the Institute emphasizes the importance of connecting youth to constructive learning experiences, supportive peers, and positive adult role models. By fostering these connections, youth are less likely to engage in risky or self-defeating behaviors and are empowered to become agents of change.
As young people progress through developmental stages, they acquire critical personal assets and supports that enable them to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. These assets build resilience and equip youth with the tools they need to thrive. Their success depends significantly on the support they receive from families, schools, and communities.
At For Brown Girls, Inc., we believe creating conditions for positive youth development is a collective responsibility. We are committed to fostering healthy development by:
• Advocating for youth and their rights
• Guiding and monitoring behavior to promote accountability
• Modeling positive, responsible, and healthy behaviors
• Empowering youth to serve as role models and advocates for social change
As John Quincy Adams said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”
Youth leadership is integral to the development process. It involves equipping young people with the ability to analyze their strengths and weaknesses, set meaningful goals, and develop the confidence, motivation, and skills to achieve them. Leadership also includes fostering the ability to influence others, serve as role models, and drive positive change in their communities. At the Fannie Lou Hamer Institute, we strive to nurture these qualities, enabling youth to become powerful advocates for equity, justice, and social transformations.
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