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Exciting news! NBC Bay Area’s Velena Jones is returning as the emcee for our 2025 Strong, Smart & Bold Luncheon, Equipped for Success. Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe! Velena’s dedication to storytelling and amplifying community voices makes her the perfect host for this inspiring event. Join us as we celebrate the power and potential of girls in our community! Your support fuels life-changing programs that equip our youth with the tools, resources, and confidence to pursue their dreams. Together, we can ensure every girl is prepared to step boldly into her future. Become a sponsor or purchase tickets today ! When: Friday, April 25th, 11:30am – 1:00pm Location: Oakland Scottish Rite Center

Future Leaders is a unique opportunity that connects our youth with top women professionals in sports, business and entertainment, providing career insights, skill-building, and invaluable mentorship. For seven years in a row, this dynamic experience has been powered by a one-of-a-kind partnership with Rakuten and the Golden State Warriors ! Each Girls Inc. participant was paired with a mentor from Rakuten and a mentor from the Warriors, who guided them throughout the experience. After getting more acquainted with their mentors, the girls gathered for a powerful, all-women panel led by the incredible Zena Keita, on-air personality and podcast host. The panel featured Ay’Anna Moody, Executive Director for the Warriors Community Foundation , Lauren N. Peebles, Senior Counsel at the University of California, and Angela Tsay, CEO and Creative Director of Oaklandish . Their stories showed our girls that women who look like them thrive in leadership roles across industries. Panelists L to R: Zena Keita, on-air personality and podcast host, Lauren N. Peebles, Senior Counsel at the University of California, Ay’Anna Moody, Executive Director for the Warriors Community Foundation, and Angela Tsay, CEO and Creative Director of Oaklandish. The panel inspired thought-provoking discussions, and when it was time for Q&A, our girls embraced the challenge, stepping up to share their own perspectives and questions—a big moment of positive risk-taking and leadership in action! “I learned how to overcome obstacles as a woman in the workplace, and I learned to always follow your dreams,” commented Girls Inc. of Alameda County participant, Wanye. The afternoon featured a sunny terrace lunch, followed by a surprise shopping spree at Nordstrom. With guidance from their mentors, they explored styles that balanced confidence, professionalism, and self-expression—many stepping outside their fashion comfort zones in the best way possible! The next day, our Future Leaders crossed the Bay Bridge to the Chase Center, dressed for success in their new business attire. First stop: professional headshots—perfect for college applications and future careers—followed by some fun group photos with friends. Then, it was time to dive into career shadowing, getting a behind-the-scenes look at game day operations, from guest services to ticketing to VIP fan experiences. Just before tip-off, Girls Inc. of Alameda County was given a special shoutout, and our girls took center court to be honored as the next generation of leaders! As the grand finale, the girls took in the Warriors vs. Pistons game from the Rakuten suite, but not before a huge moment of recognition. Participant Allison summed up her experience in stating, “It’s been very inspirational and like it helps me build a foundation for me in the future and seek a future I haven’t thought about before.” This year, the excitement doesn’t stop here! For the first time, Future Leaders is expanding beyond the two-day experience to include mentorship touchpoints and career-building opportunities throughout the year. This means our girls will continue learning from and connecting with their mentors, gaining even more insight, guidance, and inspiration as they prepare for their futures. A massive thank you to Rakuten, the Golden State Warriors, and everyone who made this experience possible. For seven years, Future Leaders has been opening doors, building confidence, and shaping bright futures—and with this exciting new expansion, we can’t wait to see what’s next! Invest in her future—help provide mentorship, career opportunities, and the confidence to lead!

Mini Mentoring To prepare for summer internship placements, our 9th and 10th-graders participated in Mini Mentoring, one-on-one sessions with professional women in fields from real estate to cosmetics to law and architecture. These intimate conversations provided an inviting space where youth and their mentors could get candid about education, career trajectories, and valuable life lessons. Mock Interviews Also in preparation for upcoming internship placements, Mock Interviews gave 9th and 10th graders the chance to practice their interview skills in a supportive environment. From firm handshakes to answering tough questions with poise, students participated in multiple rounds of interviews and received constructive feedback from professionals. Hear from 9th grader, Noor, about her experience. Career Panel Our high schoolers had the unique opportunity to hear from a panel of accomplished women in STEM, law, and medicine, including: Melanie Buziak – Mechanical Engineer, ERG Aerospace Anya Ku – Neighborhood Law Corps Attorney, Oakland City Attorney’s Office Dr. Jennifer A. Miller – Pediatrician, East Bay Pediatrics Esther Chang – Trial Litigator, The Norton Law Firm Dr. Ursula Boynton – Chief Medical Executive, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center After sharing their career journeys, challenges, and triumphs, the panelists opened the floor to students for an engaging Q&A session. The incredible women across these experiences didn’t just highlight their successes—they shared the obstacles they overcame, from self-doubt to workplace bias and balancing career with personal life. These honest conversations provided students with a clearer, more authentic view of what it takes to succeed. For many, this was their first real exposure to these fields. Learning about different career paths helps demystify complex professions by providing actionable ways to achieving goals. Through mentorship, practice, and real-world insights, our students are now better equipped to take the next steps toward their futures. Huge thanks to our dedicated volunteers for making this possible and to our girls for showing up with curiosity and determination!

This Valentine’s Day, the love of reading is in the air! Thanks to the generosity of the incredible GirlSMART community, girls enrolled in the literacy program across the Bay Area are unwrapping a heartfelt gift: over 500 donated books! Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe! In a beautiful display of dedication, volunteers—including two of our past powerhouse CEOs, Linda Boessenecker (2008–2016) and Pat Loomes (1977–2007)—came together to wrap each book with care. Today, girls will receive these thoughtfully selected stories, ready to be shared with their families and friends, sparking a lifelong love of reading. The GirlSMART Literacy Program*, which dates back to 1990s, was the brainchild of the late Barclay Simpson, a wildly successful entrepreneur, equity advocate, and longtime champion of Girls Inc. of Alameda County, along with Pat Loomes, our longest-serving CEO (1977–2007). Both believed deeply that empowering young girls with literacy skills would help create a better world for everyone—a vision that continues to inspire us today. The GirlSMART program remains a key part of our larger literacy initiative, serving students in Title 1 elementary schools across Oakland. Over the 2023-24 school year, nearly 800 students participated in our literacy programs, with 100% making progress toward grade-level reading—a testament to their hard work, the dedication of our staff, and the support of families and caregivers. The impact is undeniable: By the end of the school year, 59% of K-5 students were reading at grade level—a 146% increase from just 24% at the start of the year. In grades K-3, grade-level reading proficiency jumped from 24% to 63%—a 163% increase. Among 4th and 5th graders, reading proficiency improved by 113%, rising from 23% to 49%. English Learners in our program achieved a 117% improvement in grade-level reading, reaching 52%—six times higher than their OUSD peers in grades 3-5. First-time enrollees saw a remarkable 186% improvement, with 60% reading at grade level by year’s end, up from 21% at the beginning. With every page turned, girls are building confidence, expanding their knowledge, and taking a step toward a brighter future. This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating more than just books—we’re celebrating empowerment, education, and the lasting impact of a program that has transformed young lives for over two decades. Help more girls unlock the power of literacy and invest today! *The literacy program pioneered by the late Barc Simpson and Pat Loomes in 1999 is called GirlSMART, and it focuses on girls, aged kindergarten through 3rd grade. We also have a broader Literacy Intervention Program, in addition to GirlSMART, that works with girls and boys from transitional kindergarten through 5th grade. Girls Inc. of Alameda County supplemented the donated books to ensure all students across our literacy programs had a book to unwrap.

There’s no better example than the story of mentee, Tonia, to remind us of the transformative power of mentorship this International Mentoring Day. Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe! In 2019, Tonia faced unimaginable loss when her father was tragically taken by gun violence. The grief was overwhelming, but with her family’s encouragement, she found solace and support at Girls Inc. of Alameda County. This community became her anchor during the storm, offering her strength, resilience, and a network of mentors and peers who guided her through her toughest times. In addition to the imperative emotional support Tonia received, Girls Inc. equipped her with critical professional development skills—how to write professional emails, navigate professional environments, and more—and these competencies have become essential to her academic and career pursuits. Today, Tonia is a proud student at Charles R. Drew University of Science & Medicine, with aspirations to become a pediatric anesthesiologist. She attributes her growth and ambition to the foundational support and mentorship she received through Girls Inc. of Alameda County, including the invaluable guidance from a mentor she found through the organization who is both a doctor and a graduate of Charles R. Drew University of Science & Medicine. Tonia’s story is a testament to the profound impact mentorship can have, turning pain into purpose and dreams into reality. This International Mentoring Day, we celebrate the mentors who inspire and empower the next generation of leaders, just as they did for Tonia. Join us in honoring the mentors who make a difference every day!