The Iowa Women’s Foundation grant will support this program which was developed as a result of the “achievement gaps” that continue to widen among African American youth and other racial and ethnic groups. The students who participate in kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools in Waterloo, who have been identified as having supportive, social-emotional, and educational enhancement needs. This program is scheduled weekly with a variety of sessions involving the girls in a variety of experiences to help them grow cognitively, emotional, socially, personally, and spiritually. University of Northern Iowa students, faculty and community members are involved in running the program. Pre- and post- data will be collected to measure success of program goals and girls overall performance in school, at home and in the community.
