Dedicated to supporting girls as they design their futures for successful womanhood
ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Opening our doors in early January of 2007, we hit the ground running and have had an active, service-oriented 16 years (see programs page for more info on our services). We're serving 75 school-aged girls and their families a year thus far; 90% are below poverty or low-income. Cultural diversity includes 60% Latinas, 30% African-Americans and 10% Pacific Islanders. All reside and/or have parents working in Southern San Mateo County's independent township of East Palo Alto.
Accomplishments Include:
OUR FOUNDER
Patricia Foster, Executive Director
The founder of Girls to Women comes to us with over 35 years of experience as a resident and a community empowerment advocate in East Palo Alto. Before founding Girls to Women, Pat developed other after-school programs for underserved youth; counseled juvenile offenders; connected service agencies with volunteers, taught basic English and math skills to low-income adults from immigrant and disadvantaged backgrounds; and facilitated community development and economic empowerment strategies. Pat has won several awards for her work among East Palo Alto's youth. As a woman of color and an immigrant herself, Ms. Foster's familiarity with the vulnerabilities and strengths characterizing families among marginalized constituencies goes beyond the professional level to the personal. Patricia Foster was named the 2016 Woman of the Year, for the 24th Assembly District of California.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lorena Mendez-Quezada, President – Vice President/CRA Investment Manager, Wells Fargo Community Lending & Investment.
Meda Okelo, Secretary – Former Community Services Director, East Palo Alto
Patricia Foster – Founder-Executive Director, Girls To Women; Founder, St. Francis of Assisi Boys' Club; former Mayor and City Council member of East Palo Alto.
Rachel Mandell Basile – Associate Scientist 1, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Department of Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics.
Opening our doors in early January of 2007, we hit the ground running and have had an active, service-oriented 16 years (see programs page for more info on our services). We're serving 75 school-aged girls and their families a year thus far; 90% are below poverty or low-income. Cultural diversity includes 60% Latinas, 30% African-Americans and 10% Pacific Islanders. All reside and/or have parents working in Southern San Mateo County's independent township of East Palo Alto.
Accomplishments Include:
- Rising Voices Program providing Media and Visual Arts workshops to young women of color, from East Palo Alto and neighboring areas. We believe that supporting young rising voices through art, heals and transforms a community.
- 6-week all-day Summer Program serving both returning participants and new girls & families. We consistently reach maximum capacity and have close to 100% full attendance every year.
- Partners with other community agencies, service groups, and businesses to deliver everything from academic support to arts activities to field trips.
- Building leadership skills in girls 11-16 by: involving them in support and mentorship for younger girls; having them help administer the summer program and other projects; and by soliciting their feedback in program development.
- Established an ongoing gardening, nutrition, and environmental education program.
- Attracting an estimated $15,000 worth of in-kind contributions of everything from art supplies to volunteer time.
- Raising $70,000 in grants revenue and nearly $60,000 in individual donor contributions.
- Delivered a consistent after-school program every non-holiday weekday afternoon for ten years. Average attendance exceeded 3 times/week/girl, over an average term of more than 10 months/girl.
- Adapted virtual programming model to continue programming through the 2020-2021 COVID safety measures and meet the unique needs these changes bring.
OUR FOUNDER
Patricia Foster, Executive Director
The founder of Girls to Women comes to us with over 35 years of experience as a resident and a community empowerment advocate in East Palo Alto. Before founding Girls to Women, Pat developed other after-school programs for underserved youth; counseled juvenile offenders; connected service agencies with volunteers, taught basic English and math skills to low-income adults from immigrant and disadvantaged backgrounds; and facilitated community development and economic empowerment strategies. Pat has won several awards for her work among East Palo Alto's youth. As a woman of color and an immigrant herself, Ms. Foster's familiarity with the vulnerabilities and strengths characterizing families among marginalized constituencies goes beyond the professional level to the personal. Patricia Foster was named the 2016 Woman of the Year, for the 24th Assembly District of California.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lorena Mendez-Quezada, President – Vice President/CRA Investment Manager, Wells Fargo Community Lending & Investment.
Meda Okelo, Secretary – Former Community Services Director, East Palo Alto
Patricia Foster – Founder-Executive Director, Girls To Women; Founder, St. Francis of Assisi Boys' Club; former Mayor and City Council member of East Palo Alto.
Rachel Mandell Basile – Associate Scientist 1, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Department of Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics.
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"I am an example of what is possible when girls from the very beginning of their lives are loved and nurtured by people around them" – Michelle Obama
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