Who we are
Mentoring works! We know this intuitively. We know this through research. And we know that it works best when members of the community come together to invest in the future of their youth.
Our History
Sistahs S.T.R.O.N.G. was conceived January 14, 2004 in Calumet City, Illinois with the absolute purpose to guide and mentor young ladies in communication and social skills, etiquette training, civic awareness, community service and leadership development.
Since its founding, the objectives have expanded to include empowering and improving the status of women, service to senior citizens, community partnerships, and implementing Restorative Justice principles and practices in schools.
Building Foundations
In 2010, the Strong Sistah Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduating mentees that were college bound and attending college with stipends for books, supplies and necessities. Our first two (2) recipients Miss Ariana Mangum and Miss Dominique Stokes both attended Howard University, majored in pre-med Biology and both graduated with honors.
Why mentor?
Young people who are mentored show improvement in their school performance, attendance, confidence, attitudes, and relationships with adults and parents. Recognizing patterns of exclusion, unloving behavior, low self-esteem, and abusive habits we are compelled to create an environment of change. We mentor young ladies not only from a societal viewpoint but from a down to earth, cultural viewpoint that allows them to make smart and wise decisions that will have a positive and sustaining impact on their lives.
Community Involvement
Our mentors, volunteers and youth are constantly involved with the welfare of the community and the family unit. We have supported the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Chicago South Suburban NAACP, Matthew House of Chicago, Habitat for Humanity, Cox Communication and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Back to School Fairs, the Veteran Stand Down Resource Fairs, and the City of Henderson’s Fire and Safety Community Expo.
In addition, we have been very active with various schools and community organizations volunteering for community and informational projects including:
- Clothing & Food Drives
- Seminars and Workshops: Communication, Etiquette & Manners, Financial Literacy
- Cultural Outings: Plays, Restaurants, Museums
- Supporters of Broadway in the Hood at the Smith Center: Mountaintop (2017), Am I Enough (2018)
- Movie outings for Black Panther (350 youth), Marshall and The Nat Turner Story
- Annual ‘Senior Prom’ for ages 50 and older (Grandparents Day) at local Senior Facility
- Thanksgiving Food Baskets
- 100 Bears for 100 Hearts (for hospitalized youth)
- Volunteer days at Food Pantries
- Christmas in July Holiday Party: School Supplies and Gifts for Homeless Youth
- Cox Communications Back to School Fairs (2015-2017)
- Bolden Area Command Center’s Back to School Fairs
- Young Women’s Leadership Conferences, UNLV Thomas & Mack Center
Our commitment
We are committed to:
- To promote and sponsor projects that improve and enrich young ladies’ lives through the arts and cultural experience;
- To prepare our young ladies for leadership roles in their communities and society by impressing upon them the benefits and impact of community service and education;
- To develop conflict resolution skills that become lifestyles that positively impact communities;
- To serve as a catalyst for young ladies to express their collective talents, abilities and energies;
- To mentor support and encourage our young ladies to pursue and achieve their goals
Increased Territory!
Our focus continues to be mentoring, providing resources, offering support and contributing our time to middle and high school students who are at risk. We are continuing our mission by establishing phenomenal community partnerships and relationships with local schools, businesses, youth organizations, the justice system and media outlets.
A very successful relationship since August 2015, has been with the CCSD’s School-Community Mentoring Project program. Our first school assigned to us was Bailey Middle School. We have since been given the opportunity to expand into the CCSD’s complete mentoring program database.
In August 2016, a community venture was established: The S.T.R.O.N.G. Project!
This component is an ‘organization of organizations’, functioning as a facilitating, networking, coalition-building, and advocating entity embracing the use of collective power on issues affecting our youth and communities. Some of our community stakeholders include Cultural Diversity Foundation (computer literacy), Wiggins Recruiting Associates (career development), Chicagoans in the Desert Rose Counseling Group (business networking), CHARMS, Inc of Las Vegas, Allied Media Marketing (advance movie screenings), PACT Coalition (substance abuse prevention), and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.
Contact: 702-721-9330
Email: sistahsstronglv@gmail.com