What is Leadership
Education And Development
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Rhode Island
Chapter is a non-profit organization that enables African-American
women to meet the diverse needs of their community through
organizing programs, establishing networks, developing leadership
talent and recognizing the historic achievements of African-Americans.
One of the primary focuses of the NCBW-RI Chapter is to provide
guidance, mentoring, educational and employment opportunities
to young Black females.
LEAD is an after school program for African-American females
in grades 6 through 12, developed and run by NCBW-RI. Its
purpose is to provide guidance and instruction to adolescent
girls to assist them socially, emotionally, intellectually
and culturally, to become strong, successful women. LEAD works
to develop and foster leadership capabilities in young black
females by providing them with black female role models, educational
enrichment activities, employment skills, work experience,
public speaking opportunities and other activities designed
to enhance their self-esteem and prepare them for leadership
roles in the community.
During the first four years, the program mentored high school
students. In January 2005, we began our LEAD Middle School
program with 18 girls mostly from Providence inner-city middle
schools. Each year since then we have accepted approximately
30-50 high school and middle school girls into the program.
The girls are given the opportunity to remain in the program
each year until they graduate from high school. Middle school
participants are given first preference for the high school
program as they enter 9th grade. The intention is to begin
mentoring girls in middle school and continue mentoring them
until they graduate from high school. Since its inception
in 2001, LEAD has mentored over 168 girls.
The LEAD Mentoring Program runs from October through April.
Participants meet once a week from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Feinstein
High School in Providence, RI. During the first half hour,
all program participants eat dinner together. After dinner,
participants separate into small groups of 7 - 10 girls each
led by 2 adult mentors. They participate in targeted discussions,
seminars, and activities that promote character building,
cultural pride, goal setting, academic excellence, advocacy
and practical life skills. In addition to these regularly
scheduled meetings, all participants are given the opportunity
to attend plays and other field trips. Cultural events have
included: a trip to New York City to see The Color Purple
and The Heights musical on Broadway; The Lion King and Wicked
at the Providence Performing Arts Center, the plays Annie
and West Side Story at Trinity Rep, The Bluest Eye at Providence
Black Rep, Langston Hughes Black Nativity in Boston, a visit
to the Pequot Museum and the Bodies Revealed Exhibit in Connecticut.
High School participants traveled to Washington, D.C. for
activities that included a tour of Howard University, the
Smithsonian Museum, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial,
and the Capitol, as well as a meeting with Senator Jack Reed.
At the conclusion of the program, the girls participate in
a “Rites of Passage” Ceremony, during which they
are recognized for completing that phase of the program.
Young Black women often face choices and complicated circumstances
that can significantly affect their future. LEAD gives them
the skills, knowledge and self-confidence to make the positive
choices that can have an impact on generations of Black men
and women to come.
If you have any questions about the LEAD Program, or know
a young woman that may be interested, contact lead.mentoring@yahoo.com.
• Middle
School Application •
High
School Application •
