*Photo by Community Voices: Karika Phillips discusses her life and inspires girls during Blue Line to Success graduation this past spring.
The Kalamazoo Junior Girls represents the Kwanzaa principle: Nia (Purpose) – To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
KALAMAZOO (MICH.)-For more than 25 years Pamela Roland has worked to make sure girls know the risks of unhealthy lifestyles. She has worked to expose young girls to a safe, learning environment where they can thrive into the young leaders they are to become. Today, hundreds of girls have filed through the doors of the Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization toward successful college and business careers.
Roland’s Blue Line to Success Program launched last year as an opportunity to bring what she does into local middle and high schools with role models who educate the girls on everything from finance to sexually transmitted diseases.
Roland said, “we use an interactive approach to help build their self-esteem; create, prioritize and meet goals. Learn the importance of financial literacy, choose mentors; dress appropriately; make competent health and lifestyle decisions, and plan for their future. Our ultimate goal is to track the student’s educational progress and help position them for the Kalamazoo Promise and college entrance.”
The program is always seeking young women interested in being educators and leaders in the program. For more information, call Kalamazoo Junior Girls Organization at (269) 344-2330. You may also forward your resume via email to: kjgirls@att.net.
