photos by:  JODIE BRIM CREATIVE

LEAD Girls of NC (Learning Everyday Accomplishing Dreams) is a locally founded, locally serving nonprofit focused on providing middle-school-aged girls, especially those facing challenging circumstances, with the tools and resources they need to become productive citizens and active leaders in their communities. Supported by a team of trained facilitators, LEAD works with more than 355 girls across Forsyth County each year through its in-school and community programs.

“Our goal is to empower our LEAD girls with the skills they need to LEAD self, LEAD others and LEAD change,” says Joy Nelson Thomas, founder and executive director of LEAD Girls. “Participating in LEAD Girls can be a transformative experience as these young girls develop the self confidence and leadership to unlock their full potential during these formative years and build lifelong friendships along the way.”

Now in its 10th year, LEAD Girls partners with local middle schools, most often Title I schools, to offer evidence-based curriculums, leads Saturday programs at its homebase in downtown Winston-Salem and hosts popular summer camps and special events across the county. As part of its anniversary celebrations, LEAD plans to release a report to the community later this year based on its work. The organization hopes that the report will serve as a catalyst for deepening its services through increased community awareness and support.

“We want the community to know and understand the challenges facing young girls today and how an organization like LEAD can have sustainable impact in their lives,” said Thomas. “The skills they are gaining at LEAD and the self confidence they are building will make a difference in their lives today, tomorrow and beyond.” 

Here’s how two LEAD Girls describe what being part of the LEAD community has meant to them.

“Because of LEAD Girls, I’ve gotten out of my comfort zone and am more well rounded as a person.” ~ Chloe, 8th grader, photography entrepreneur

Chloe is in her second year participating in LEAD after first attending LEAD’s popular Fashion Entrepreneurship Camp which included field trips to various women-owned businesses. It was a visit with longtime LEAD supporter Jodie Brim who owns Jodie Brim Creative, a photography and branding studio, that sparked Chloe’s interest in pursuing photography and building her own entrepreneurial story.

“I love how photography helps you build bridges to new places and new people,” said Chloe. “When I’m behind the camera, I’m looking to show how people are connected to each other and the joy that they share being together.” 

During the Fashion Entrepreneurship Camp, Chloe worked on a business pitch to present her photography services to potential clients. “I presented my pitch to LEAD’s executive team, and secured work doing photography for the organization,” she said. “As a LEAD girl, I bring a unique perspective, and the girls are very comfortable around me.”

Chloe is now a full-fledged entrepreneur – she’s done headshots for community nonprofit WinstonNet, joined the media team as the youth photographer for her church, built a portfolio of architectural photos and is working on a future internship with the Crosby Scholars media team. One of her favorite architectural photos was taken in downtown Winston-Salem showing the former BB&T building reflected on the Wells Fargo building. 

“I really enjoy architectural photography and hope to expand my work to include real estate photography,” said Chloe. “LEAD has gotten me to explore different future careers and connect with new people and do new things. I also love the opportunities to be at LEAD with all the friends I’ve made. LEAD does a great job bringing people together.”

To see more of Chloe’s work, visit her on Instagram @cdjsignaturelenses. 

“Because of LEAD Girls, I am more confident and more outgoing.” ~ Jada, LEAD Girls Ambassador, college student, future attorney

Jada gives much of the credit to LEAD Girls for her transformation from an introverted, nervous middle schooler to the college student and future criminal defense attorney she intends to be. 

“LEAD Girls has made a big difference in my life,” she says. “I’ve gained so many skills that have led me to this place of graduating early from high school and now attending Howard University.”

Jada started with LEAD’s community weekend program when she was in the 6th grade. It was during COVID, so the programs were held virtually on Saturdays. She admits she didn’t really want to do the program, but once she started attending the sessions, she realized how much she enjoyed it. By her 8th grade year, the programs were back in person, and Jada knew she wanted to continue being involved as a LEAD Ambassador once she entered high school. 

The LEAD Ambassadors keep participants involved in LEAD after middle school and serve as valuable examples for the younger girls. “I was inspired by one of the LEAD Ambassadors who was helping during our weekend community programs,” says Jada. “She was so kind and encouraging, and I realized that’s what I wanted to do. As Ambassadors, we can share our own experiences of navigating middle school, working through friend issues and dealing with difficult times.” 

Through the LEAD Ambassador program, Jada was involved with the planning of the annual LEAD Girls Expo and the LEAD Soiree Fundraiser as well as helping with the community weekend programs. “I loved being part of the brainstorming and organizing process for each of those events,” she says. “And then it was so rewarding to see all of that work come alive and the girls having so much fun.”

Jada also was able to take the skills she learned through LEAD – communications, building up others and leadership – to mentor others as well. “When I was in 10th grade, I came to know a girl who was a year younger and facing some challenges. I was able to listen and encourage her to know that it would be okay if she took it one step at a time.”

As she gains new experiences at Howard University, Jada knows that LEAD played a big role in preparing her for the exciting chapters ahead. 

We want to thank Chloe and Jada for sharing their powerful testimonies of what LEAD Girls of NC has meant to them. If you’d like to learn more about LEAD Girls or how to get involved as a volunteer or donor, visit leadgirls.org.