Since LEAD Girls of NC was founded in Winston-Salem in 2015, the nonprofit has focused on providing the programs, tools and resources that at-risk middle-school girls need to become active leaders in their communities. Each year, more than 300 girls in Forsyth County engage with LEAD, which stands for Learning Everyday Accomplishing Dreams, through the organization’s in-school curriculum delivered in partnership with local middle schools as well as weekend and summer programming and special events.
LEAD founder and executive director Joy Nelson Thomas and her staff of trained facilitators work with school and community leaders along with parents to design programs that address emerging opportunities and current challenges. For example, earlier this fall, LEAD launched a pilot STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) program to fuel the girls’ interests in this growing field. The initial curriculum focuses on Engineering with future programs planned for other STEAM components.
“Our STEAM activities are always very popular with our LEAD participants, so it made sense to dig deeper into that interest with this new pilot program,” said Thomas. “We want the girls to not only have exposure to STEAM topics but begin to envision how they might pursue this field beyond high school.”
Participants will visit local colleges as well as employers to learn more about the many facets of STEAM happening right here in the Triad.
The annual LEAD Expo, held every October, is an opportunity for the girls to engage with female leaders in our community. A highlight of the two-day event is the Saturday lunch where community volunteers lead table discussions. Véronique George, director of marketing & communications for the City of Winston-Salem and founder & owner of The VLG Groupe, served as a first-time table leader. “I love spending time with the girls to learn about their aspirations and offer suggestions to help them accomplish them.”
Recent table leaders included Chelsie Hart-Smith, editor of Triad Voice Magazine; Kara Peters, television news reporter with WXII; Forsyth County District Court Judge Carrie Vickery; Dr. Cleo Morrison, assistant professor at Winston-Salem State University; and Tonya McDaniel,
member of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners.
“It’s important that the girls have these small group interactions with women who have propelled themselves to these positions of community leadership,” said Thomas. “We want the girls to feel seen and heard by these inspiring female leaders and have the opportunity to ask questions about their personal journeys.”
Nikita Wallace, CEO of Winston-Salem Fashion Week, is a long-time LEAD volunteer. She has served as a table leader during the Expo and also plays an integral role in LEAD’s popular Fashion Entrepreneurship Summer Program. “Every summer, I am blown away by the creativity and business savvy of the summer participants,” she said. “Not only are they designing great pieces from items sourced at Goodwill, but they are also building business plans to put their ideas into practice.”
Thomas said all of LEAD’s programs build toward helping the girls develop the confidence, social skills and leadership abilities needed to become independent, financially stable women. “At LEAD, our motto is ‘Change a girl. Change a community. Change the world.’,” she said. “As we follow up with the girls once they age out of LEAD, we see that change taking place and we know our community will be better and stronger because of their involvement with our programs.”
Zha’Nyia Bryant Jones is a former LEAD participant and current engineering major at North Carolina A&T University. She credits LEAD with fueling her interests. Jones also gives back as a LEAD fellow during the summers.
“LEAD has played a pivotal role in shaping my journey towards pursuing engineering,” said Bryand Jones. “Through the program, I discovered my passion for STEM and gained the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in this field. The support and connections I developed during my time as a LEAD participant gave me the confidence to pursue a future career in engineering. As a LEAD fellow, I was able to contribute to the program pathway, enabling me to give back and help others embark on their own transformative journeys in the world of engineering and technology.”
To learn more about supporting LEAD Girls as a volunteer or donor, visit Leadgirls.org
