We enjoy investing in our youth through continued family-school-community partnerships!

Genuine Intelligent Respectful Ladies Soaring (GIRLS), Inc. is a 501(c)(3) holistic program designed to encourage youth in grades six through twelve to pursue avenues that promote healthy habits and wise decisions. Program youth strive to become well-rounded, productive, and high achieving individuals with aspirations to further their education and economic advancement.

The mission of GIRLS is to promote the overall disposition/persona of young adults in order to enhance their capacity to become successful individuals who have the tools to accomplish what they will in life. It is our hope that each participant will possess the knowledge, skills and self-confidence to contribute to diverse communities and consider college a viable option. Youth develop the skills to actively participate in diverse cultures and contribute to global communities.

Genuine Intelligent Respectful Ladies Soaring cultivates students’ academic, career, socio-emotional, and civic leadership development. GIRLS systematically integrates the diverse components needed to support students' successful matriculation through high school and transition into adulthood. GIRLS provides the support and exposure needed to be a great candidate for scholarships and colleges. The GIRLS program focuses on literacy, academic enrichment, college preparation, self-awareness, critical thinking, leadership, time-management, goal setting, conflict resolution, budgeting, financial literacy, hygiene, team building, wellness, job skills, life skills, etiquette, networking, career development, and service to the community. Youth gain experiences that are known to build character, develop skills, and help students make informed decisions.

GIRLS activities include workshops, college tours, cultural activities, conferences, tutoring, life skills, mentoring, academic monitoring, book clubs, opportunities to serve in leadership roles, international travel, career development (interviews, career assessments, resume development, job shadowing, internships), and college preparation (scholarships, application completion, essay writing, financial aid, ACT, SAT, navigating honors courses, dual credit enrollment), and volunteering. More recent service and collaborative support includes organizations such as Salt & Light, Swann Care Center, and Canaan Safe House. GIRLS has also facilitated community service activities that help underserved programs and individuals that are disabled, low income, elderly, homeless, and may have health challenges. Participants have volunteered at facilities and collaborated to support organizations such as: Wesley Foundation Food Pantry, Salt & Light, Swann Care Center, Regional Planning Commission’s Peer Jurors Program, Salem’s Soup Kitchen, Austin’s Place Women Shelter, Canaan Safe House, Douglas Library Family Read. Thomas Paine Elementary School Afterschool Program, Crisis Nursery, Carle Hospital, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School Afterschool program, U of I Wheelchair Basketball, American Diabetes Awareness, American Cancer Society Awareness, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Humane Society, and Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club Pride Afterschool Program, and McKinley Foundation Tap In Leadership Academy.

GIRLS and GIRLS Extension Genuine Upstanding Young-men Soaring (GUYS) Alumni have attended graduate school, law school, secured professional careers, served as class presidents of their universities, graduated summa cum laude, secured internships with fortune 500 companies, advanced as entrepreneurs, and have given back to GIRLS program youth. GIRLS participants have: (a) successfully completed weighted and/or honors courses, (b) visited universities of interest, (c) and have been accepted to multiple universities. Their college acceptance includes John Hopkins University, Emory University, Northwestern University, Mizzou University, Belmont University, Xavier University, Duke University, Tennessee State University, Marquette University, University of Iowa, Loyola University, Clark University, Howard University, Jackson State University, University of Tennessee of Knoxville, Middle Tennessee State University, Iowa Wesleyan University, Murray State, Fisk University, Bradley University, Western Illinois University, Millikin University, Eastern Illinois University, Aurora University, Wittenburg University, Carleton College, Saint Mary University of Minnesota, Morgan State, Lyoming College, Western Michigan University, Olivet Nazarene University, Ohio University, McKendree University, Florida A&M University, Central State University, St. Ambrose University, New Mexico State University, Lincoln College, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Lane College, Northern Illinois University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Illinois Chicago, Saint Xavier, Jacksonville State University, University of Illinois Springfield, DePaul, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.