Our Projects

YOUTH OF VALOR EMPOWERMENT – Y.O.V.E.

About Y.O.V.E.

The Youth of Valor Empowerment (Y.O.V.E.), is an after school, Leadership Development Program of the Ladies of Valor Empowerment (L.O.V.E.) geared toward mentoring, coaching, developing and equipping underprivileged, at risks teen girls, ages 14-18, attending public schools in under-resourced communities.

Y.O.V.E. Wellness Initiative

The wellness initiative supports and promotes the whole health of the girls, using a philosophy which recognizes that many factors, including physical and mental wellness, contribute to girls’ health. Y.O.V.E. provides a positive youth development approach to equipping girls with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and support for maintaining a positive sense of self and for being healthy today and throughout their lives. The Wellness initiative focus on:

Physical Activity: Every girl can find a type of physical activity that she not only enjoys, but that also accommodates her lifestyle, culture, and schedule.
Body Image: Girls of all shapes, sizes, weights, and capabilities have the right to feel good about their bodies and appreciate the bodies of others.
Nutrition: It is possible for girls to identify a strategy for healthy eating that works for each individual’s body, circumstance, budget, home life, culture, and activity level.
Stress Management: It is important for girls to understand that stress is a normal and acceptable part of life, and that handling stress in a healthy way is a key factor in having a strong and healthy body and mind

Y.O.V.E. Economic Literacy

Y.O.V.E. girls learn how to earn, save, spend, and share money are critical economic concepts essential to the future success of the girls. They gain the knowledge of economic and financial literacy. Prepares them for entering the world of work by helping them examine topics such as attitudes and values about money, career strategies, economic justice and workers’ rights, paycheck deductions, responsible use of credit and avoiding predatory lenders, renting vs. buying, and investing.

Y.O.V.E Dress for Empowerment-Image Coaching-Etiquette

The Y.O.V.E. Dress for Empowerment addresses the importance of proper dress and image as it relates to the public, interviewing and business situations. Information is shared about the difference between business attire and business casual. The Y.O.V.E. girls learn to appreciate behaviors beyond clothing choices that contribute to a positive image including body language, vocal tones, and personal habits.

Y.O.V.E. Speaks

The YOVE girls learn how to develop strong communication skills, feeling comfortable and confident when speaking in public or in a private Settings. This session covers the elements of developing a speech, overcoming anxiety of public speaking and how to communicate with poise, clarity and confidence. The girls learn how to make good first impression, greetings and introduction to help boost morale and self-confidence.

Y.O.V.E. Group Empowerment & Mentoring

Statistics show that children, including teenagers, with positive role models in their lives tend to make better choices. Important to the success of the mentors who provide guidance to the young girls. Mentors share their personal experiences and help guide the Y.O.V.E. girls to a healthy and happy future.

Y.O.V.E. Interactive and Social Learning Field trips

Every year the Y.O.V.E.’s attends a culinary session that proves to them that measurement and chemistry apply beyond the science of classroom learning. The girls gain culinary experience to help prevent obesity where they prepare healthy meal with student Chefs from beginning to end.

The social fieldtrips are always very entertaining for the Y.O.V.E. teens where they become the center of attention by performing songs they learn at the program throughout the year, recite poetry, singing the American National Anthem and dance. Learning and fun make a great combination to help boost their morale and self-esteem.

Field trips are considered fun, but the YOVE teens learn as well, whether they realize it or not. The fieldtrips serve as a powerful motivator for the girls, stirring up excitement as the trip approaches. Breaking away from the everyday routine provides them with excitement that makes them more focused back in the classroom.