FDA VIII’s GEMs: Starting the Year with Empowerment 

By Amanda Moses

Last week, students in the Frederick Douglass Academy VIII held their first GEMS meeting, kicking off the school year with a fantastic start.

GEM is an acronym for Girls Empowerment Movement (GEM), a mentorship and empowerment program in District 19 that focuses on helping young females celebrate their individuality and gives them a safe space to experience self-discovery and self-love. Students work with mentors to find their voice and use it to advocate for themselves and other young women so that together they can create a brighter future.

There are seven core values for GEM, which include: voice, confidence, beauty, strength, respect, honestly, and individuality.

Photo courtesy of FDA VIII Instagram