On September 13th, over 75 participants gathered to celebrate the launch of this year’s Journey Into Womanhood (JIW) program. The day began with an overview of JIW’s mission, engaging icebreakers, and the chance for attendees to meet our incredible mentors and volunteers. 

This year’s event featured a special guest presentation from Maya G. Morris Founder and Executive Director of Carrie’s Kids, Inc. Carrie’s Kids exposes youth to STEM careers through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. Maya combines her expertise as a Systems Engineer and Certified Scrum Master to create impactful STEM programming. Maya shared her journey with her education and profession in technology as well as the creation of Carrie’s Kids, Inc. After that guests were invited to participate in a hands-on STEM activity making music with the use of metals such as jewelry worn by participants. 

Following the presentation, the girls joined JIW mentors and VyStar Credit Union volunteers for an afternoon of games, including pinball, giant Jenga, and various board games.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to VyStar Credit Union for their generous support of Empowerment Resources. Not only did VyStar donate their space for the event, but their team members also volunteered their time, making this day even more memorable. This effort was part of VyStar’s “Good is Everywhere” initiative, which fosters a spirit of togetherness among employees, members, and community partners like Empowerment Resources.