JIW Application Page

About Empowerment Resources

Empowerment Resources Inc., a private 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to focus on making children and their families stronger while empowering them to become successful leaders in the community. Empowerment Resource’s Journey Into Womanhood (JIW) program originally started as a summer program in 2003. Due to the success of the program and request from parents, youth, and the community, the JIW program was extended throughout the year. Empowerment Resources Inc. currently offers the following services; Journey Into Womanhood program, life-skills workshops for male and female teens, parenting seminars and coaching and to date has served 1,500 youth and families. 

Elexia Coleman-Moss, executive director and founder of Empowerment Resources, Inc., is a civic-minded humanitarian committed to utilizing her passion, education, experiences and time to empower children and families, by helping them identify and promote the “power” within them. 

She is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, but was raised and attended school in Sarasota, Florida. Coleman-Moss exhibited leadership skills as a teen and put her skills to work for the betterment of her school. Elexia has worked throughout her career supporting children, adolescents and families facing social and economic problems. Upon graduation from high school, she furthered her studies at Florida A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. In 2002, she completed coursework at the graduate level for behavior analysis. Mrs. Coleman-Moss is a Nationally Recognized Trainer/Consultant in the Nurturing Parenting curriculum since 2007 and is a certified life coach under the CAPP Institute. In 2013 she completed her Master’s in Public Administration. 

A tireless advocate for children, Elexia has been nominated for awards to include the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and received the WJCT’s American Graduate award.  She currently serves as a dedicated volunteer for the Florida Department of Education as a CROP Advisory Council Member, University of North Florida’s Marketing Advisory Council, and serves on the Leadership team for the First Coast Girls Initiative. 

Volunteers and Mentors for the JIW program

Empowerment Resources, Inc., is run by dedicated community volunteers.  All volunteers must go through an application process, which includes an interview, background screenings, DCF Affidavit of Good Moral Character and letters of recommendation before they are allowed to volunteer with the program. All volunteers who serve as mentors must complete a comprehensive training. Only female adults are allowed to volunteer at JIW youth meetings. The JIW program is facilitated by experienced leaders and volunteers who put them on the path to positively impact the communities in which they live.  Past mentors for the program have included social workers, educators, marketing managers, physical therapist, nurses and journalist. 

Journey Into Womanhood usually takes place TWICE A MONTH on Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. The program runs from  until September to May. For a listing of dates, time and location, please see the last page. We meet at 431 University Blvd N., Jacksonville, FL 32211 (Arlington Congregational Church). Public transportation is near. Additionally girls are required to meet once a quarter with their assigned mentor via Zoom. Schedules to come once assigned a mentor. Parents are only welcomed to sit in on meetings when invited (i.e. parent/youth meetings). This allows your child to open up and develop a bond with the volunteers and program directors.  

Participants are encouraged to attend monthly.  Absences are allowed for illness and special family circumstances.  If absence is known in advance, please notify one of the program coordinators. Since this program has limited seating, we ask that all ladies attend on a consistent basis. If more than 4 meetings are missed, consideration for future outings will be pending. We try to start and end of time to be fair to our presenters, volunteers, and the youth. Please have your child arrive between 9:50am-10am to assist us with staying on schedule. 

In order for a participant to remain in the program this year, you must remain in good standing through the entire program year.  Participants may be evaluated mid-year to ensure they remain in Good Standing. The following criteria must be met to remain in Good Standings:

• Attendance 85 % (no more than 4 absences for the JIW year, September-May) 
• Program participation 
• Behavior and Attitude
• Parent Participation (more to come during quarterly parent meetings)  

Total 2024-2025 fees are as follows:

•  NEW participant – Price includes a onetime application fee $250 ( save $25 if you pay in full)
•  RETURNING participant – $200
•  On average the cost comes out to about $12.00 a workshop. The fee schedule pays for journal/day planner, JIW materials, and some enrichment trips. Last year, the average program cost per child was $1,800.00  PLEASE make your payments on time. We are a small nonprofit organization. At times, we receive additional funding through our annual end of the year JIW program, fund-raising events, public donations and grants. No refunds will be offered. A limited number of financial assistance scholarships are available. Please contact us for more info. Valid proof of income is required.

• Payment #1 due 9/28/24- 50% of the fee
• Payment #2/final payment and balance due 10/26/24

Cashiers checks can be made payable to Empowerment Resources Inc. No checks will be accepted! A $25 late fee will be applied after 11/1/24 and participants will be dropped from the program if the payment is not made. NO REFUNDS

Payments – The following are payment methods:

•  https://paypal.me/empowermentresources
• Cashapp at $empowerjax 
• https://empowermentresourcesinc.org/donate

Please list the child/JIW’s name when making the payment in the subject/memo line

Mailing Address: 3820-010 Baymeadows Road, Unit 348, Jacksonville, FL 32217

Voice Mail Number: 904.268.8287 Cell:904-770-5488 E-mail: elexia@empowermentresourcesinc.org

**Incomplete applications will not be processed. Please see the checklist above** 

Parents are asked to donate one of the following by 10/26/24:

~Thank you~ 

• JIW Calendar Dates	Events
  September 14	JIW Kickoff- game day/open house – At VyStar Credit Union Downtown Jacksonville- MUST Register
  September 28	JIW Meeting
  *(Sunday) October 6 Meet around 11:30am. Game kick off at 1pm. Ends at 4:30pm	Jaguar Honor Rows Game- must quality. More details to come.
  October 12	JIW meeting
  October 26	JIW Meeting
  November 2	JIW Meeting
  * November 15 (Friday) 5:30pm -730pm	Cardboard City – Optional Community Service Project. Transportation Not provided. More details to come.
  November 16	JIW Meeting
  December 7	JIW Meeting
  December 14	JIW Meeting
  December ?	JIW X-Mas Special Event – More details to come.

• All JIW meetings are from 10am-1pm unless otherwise noted. All meeting at our Arlington location unless otherwise noted. 
• A complete calendar to include topics covered will be issued once enrolled in JIW program. Topics for Sept. to Dec. include: A is for Academics, Community Building, Drug & Alcohol Prevention, Health & Fitness/Food & Nutrition, Value of Self. 
• The January to May calendar will be issued in early December 
• Calendar can be modified at any time. Participants will be notified in advance of any changes.
• JIW girls will also have quarterly 1 hour group zoom mentor connections. Exact dates to be determined by mentors with 7 to 10 days notice provided. 

*= optional event