‘Girls with Goals’ program empowering teens in Passaic County
PATERSON, N.J. (PIX11) -- Yomarley Rosa, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Paterson, said her confidence has skyrocketed since completing the ‘Girls with Goals’ program at the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic.
“It helped me go from zero to 100,” said Rosa. “It’s now, after the program, that I’m opening up my shell, basically.”
Girls with Goals is a ten-week program where young women learn how to create business proposals and presentations, ultimately presenting them to a room of more than 100 people.
“We essentially sat down with a group of women who are industry leaders, who are entrepreneurs themselves, and allowed for them to come in each week and coach our girls,” said Dr. Christina Brown, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic.
Rosa and her friends created a concept for an app, designed to make teens look and feel their best. It connects them with mental health professionals, while also offering skincare and beauty tips.
“We made the app revolved around our own issues,” said Rosa.
When it came time to present, Rosa was ready.
“When I went up there, I was so confident,” said Rosa. “Something came into me that was like, ‘You can do this. You’re gonna speak in front of all these people.’ And I did.”
That confidence is now translating to her career goals. She plans to one day become a corporate lawyer.
The program was so successful, it’s already been planned again for next year.
“Overwhelming success,” said Dr. Brown. “More than 50 girls involved in the program. It was an amazing experience for us as staff, but also for the young women that we supported.”
“It teaches you how to open up to people and express your ideas,” said Rosa. “So I would definitely encourage anyone and everyone to join.”