How It All Started:

Girlfriends Leadership and Mentoring Program was established August 2004, with five teenagers, and two Mentor Leaders at Red Oak United Methodist Church in Stockbridge, Georgia, under the leadership and guidance of Rev. (Dr.) John Wesley Pace, Pastor. Dr. Pace listened to the proposed plan for the girls and gave his blessings to pilot the program at the Church. The mentoring program was held to five teens and their invited friends. The program was a success. After the first initial year, the name and program was re-established to encompass the Community of Clayton County.

To teach and train pre-teens and teenage girls ages 8 through 15 on how to choose and apply values with confidence and self-esteem.

The Vision:

Pre-teens and teenage girls will learn to achieve a close relationship with their Mothers, family, friends and Community.

Remaining Focus:

- Girlfriends Mentor Leaders approach is to meet and have lectures in a control open forum.

- Teach Girlfriends truth, value, and self-esteem.

• Allow Girlfriends to speak respectfully and openly what they believe to be a fact.

- Girlfriends will journal their thoughts, ideas and behaviors.

• Our process is to bring in subject matter expert individuals from the local community with years of training, education, work experience to speak and give Girlfriends a balance of knowledge.