As a founder, I’ve developed an intense habit of looking ahead, focusing on planning, building, and pushing toward what’s next. Sometimes, in that forward momentum, I forget to pause and truly reflect on how far we’ve come.

Since our founding in 2018, Girls Inc. of Greater Miami has served more than 700 elementary, middle, and high school girls. Each year, we’ve grown steadily and intentionally, staying true to our vision of reaching more girls and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed. We track important data points including attendance, grades, and behavior, and year over year, we see meaningful improvements. Those numbers matter. They help guide our work and hold us accountable.

But numbers alone never tell the full story.

The real impact of Girls Inc. lives in the experiences of the girls we serve and in the voices of their families. It shows up in confidence gained, curiosity sparked, and resilience built, often in ways that are difficult to measure but impossible to miss.

“I love Girls Inc. because it teaches me life lessons about the future and skills I need to know when I grow up.”
Razia West, 4th Grade

“At the beginning of the school year, her math teacher would tell me how much she would slack in class by not doing her homework. Now that she is part of this program, her math teacher, Ms. Battle, has been telling me how much she excels at completing her schoolwork.”
Robert Almonte, Parent

“The most important lessons from Girls Inc.: Be yourself, and everyone has potential, you just have to unlock it.”
Crystal Bell, Middle School

“Amazing experience, with incredible staff and a great program. I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Joseph Cunningham, Parent

“My daughter Victoria has grown in so many ways that I could write an essay about it. Overall, Girls Inc. has helped her build her self-esteem and social skills, and she has improved so much with her behavior over the past three years, all because of Girls Inc.”
Torie Jefferson, Parent

Hearing reflections like these is what grounds me in this work. They are reminders that what we’re building isn’t just a program, it’s a place where girls are seen, challenged, and supported as they grow into who they are becoming.

This year also marked an important new chapter with the creation of our Community Impact Board. As our organization has grown, so has our belief in shared leadership and collective responsibility. Bringing together local changemakers to support and guide this work strengthens our community partnerships and deepens the roots that will allow us to expand our reach with intention.

Behind every milestone is a team whose passion fuels this mission day after day. I am profoundly grateful for our staff, volunteers, board members, and supporters who bring focus, heart, and belief to this work, and for a community that continues to show up for our girls and champion their potential.

As we look ahead, I do so with pride in how far we’ve come and excitement for what’s still possible. Together, we will keep opening doors, creating new opportunities, and shaping a stronger tomorrow one bold step at a time