Mentoring girls so they can define and pursue their unique vision of success

Youth economic advancement

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Girls in the US, particularly girls of color living in underserved communities, face significant barriers to equity. A girl without a high school diploma and college degree stands to lose nearly $1M in earnings over her lifetime. Girls aged 16+ without a college degree are 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed. Compared to their white peers, girls of color are less likely to complete high school; less likely to be conferred a postsecondary certificate or degree; less likely to have access to networks that provide opportunity; and less likely to have the social emotional supports and resources to meaningfully transcend these inequities. The result is a complex, pervasive systems-level challenge: an opportunity gap for women and girls in terms of education, career, and leadership. Outreach focuses on girls from communities that are underserved and facing systemic and institutional barriers to opportunity. 97% of Step Up girls identify as being from a community of color.

Step Up Mentoring Programs create safe, brave spaces for girls to connect, learn and grow from each other within a community of supportive mentors. Focusing on social emotional wellbeing skill development and mentorship lends itself directly to career exploration and provides program participants with invaluable first-hand exposure to a variety of industries and strong professional female role models. Step Up programs offer free virtual and in-person opportunities to high school girls and those who identify with girlhood, ages 14-18, who may face systemic barriers. These programs open doors to greater personal efficacy, leadership skills, and opportunities, all with the intention of helping them to become confident, connected, and career ready. Teen programs include: a 12-week career exploration and social-emotional learning after school program for high school girls; in-person career exploration field trips offered to expose teens to different industries, workplaces, and company cultures where teens connect with professional women in various fields who share their career journeys and insights through a company overview, speed networking, and a hands-on activity related to the featured industry of the host company; a Saturday series that offers in-person sessions which allows a smaller group of Step Up on Campus teens to receive mentorship focused on social capital skill-building practice in fun, supportive environments (e.g., field day, museum, STEM exploration).

Founded in 1998, Step Up’s proven social emotional skill-building and mentorship programs provide a unique opportunity for the philanthropic community to invest in a workforce development program that aligns with the social enterprise of the 21st century; while simultaneously ensuring communities of young women facing systemic or economic barriers have the resources, support, and network to graduate high school, navigate their academic post-secondary pursuits, and successfully enter the workforce. These increased skills will result in increased earning potential and a readiness to hold active leadership roles. The benefits will impact not only the girl but her family and her community. For the community, addressing these barriers creates more social and economic equity. And when one segment of our community is lifted, we all rise.

Step Up is a data driven organization with multiple staff inputting and sorting data as it is gathered. We gather data after every virtual Step Up session by polls. Our in-person programming in schools for our Step Up teens receive data in both the sign ups the teens complete, throughout the course of their program, and at the conclusion of the 12-week programming. After participating in Step Up programs during the 2022-23 school year, teens reported the following outcomes in their growth: 83% reported growth in their confidence and their ability to make choices about and take an active role in their life path; 82% reported growth in self-awareness and an understanding of their own values, interests, and strengths; and 84% reported an increase in skill growth and capability to perform roles, complete tasks, and achieve their objectives and goals.