Executive Summary
When Girls For A Change achieved non-profit status in 2004, many people asked, “Why girls?” “Why Black girls?” “Why not Black boys?” Ahead of our time, we knew that Black girls needed an organization that centered, celebrated, invested in, and encouraged them.
We began with offering a social justice curriculum through our flagship Girl Action Teams to middle and high schools in Richmond Public Schools. The demand for our programs grew as parents, administrators, elected officials and beyond saw the critical need to intervene in Black girls’ development to encourage their confidence, esteem, identity and agency. Since 2004, we have served over 30,000 girls in the Greater Richmond area.
This growth resulted in purchasing a modest building, which used to be a 7-Eleven. Though small, we have been able to serve over 700 girls a year in our facility. Additionally, our program offerings grew to meet the needs of girls from elementary age into their young adulthood.
Our growth has been exponential and has exceeded our early dreams – it is time for us to secure Girls For A Change in perpetuity, build a legacy, and model the importance of real estate ownership for financial stability. Thus we have embarked on a journey to build our new 16,000 square foot home.
We are claiming our space in every sense – believing it is possible, owning the land for our future build and moving forward with an inclusive group of architectural, construction, design and community partners who believe in our mission. We can identify one million reasons for you to help us build our $5.5 million dollar new space - and we hope you resonate with one.
Our Mission
To prepare Black girls for the world and the world for Black girls.
Our Why
We aim to provide a community building space that is culturally responsive and affirms Black girls. Together parents, staff, alumnae, partners, volunteers, and community members will implement practice-based models that affirm, codify, and integrate Afrocentric experiences, values, history, and change. We will create opportunity and access, increasing pathways to success by equipping Black girls with the skills and agency to be leaders and contributors in their communities and the global society.
Our Vision
The Girls For A Change Branch will intentionally and consistently center Black girls. We commit to protecting and affirming brave spaces to reflect their lived experiences and perspectives, honoring the importance of Umoja (unity) and embracing selflessness. With this community-mindedness, we will work toward healing and restoring broken communities by providing a way for people to connect in a sacred and celebratory space.
About Girls For A Change
Girls For A Change (GFAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization aimed at empowering Black girls in Central Virginia to visualize their bright futures and potential through discovery, development, innovation, and social change in their communities.
Since 2013, GFAC has focused more deeply on the empowerment and uplifting of a population whose needs are most unmet — Black girls. We, as an organization and movement, view this action as a first step to end the prejudice, poverty and lack of resources that leave Black girls and young women vulnerable at the margins of society. Girls For A Change focuses on the development of self-identifying Black girls as leaders and change-makers across the Greater Richmond Metro Area.
Our programs teach participants to understand the world they live in, advocate for their rights, and exercise agency over their lives through a continuum approach and creative platforms. Our programs are unique to the Black girl experience as they have been co-designed with Black girls. Our curriculum is culturally responsive and focused on skill building, opportunity access, community building, and cultural and emotional restoration. We also address various issues, including institutional racism, sexism, the digital divide, and the glass ceiling, which for many Black girls can be a concrete ceiling.
GFAC programs are designed to provide consistent support to girls, from their youth into their young adulthood, and beyond. Through experiential learning and consistent exposure, we focus on ensuring girls are ahead of the learning curve, breaking cycles and closing the opportunity gaps faced by too many disadvantaged, marginalized or underrepresented girls — specifically Black girls.
We expect to change the trajectory of Black girls’ lives and increase the contribution of Black girls in the 21st century. We want every girl to be seen, heard and celebrated. They should have the emotional, social and practical skills necessary to overcome obstacles to their advancement.
Learn More About Us Visit Our Website
girlsforachange.org/about-us
girlsforachange.org
Our CEO
Angela Patton Founder of Camp Diva Leadership Academy and CEO of Girls For A Change
Angela Patton is the Chief Executive Officer of Girls For A Change. Angela is an Ambassador for whom she calls “at-promise” (as opposed to “atrisk”) girls and a serial innovator committed to “Preparing Black girls for the world, and the world for Black Girls.”
In 2016, Patton led her national Board of Directors and staff to refocus and retool the program structure to reflect GFAC’s goal to work with Black girls more accurately. The organization can now disseminate its programs using GFAC’s unique, replicable approach.
Angela has been recognized in the local Richmond, Virginia, press as Top 40 Under 40 (2010), by a coalition of girl serving groups in 2015, by President Obama as a White House Champion of Change (2016), has received the Nonprofit Partner of the Year (2018 & 2023) from the Metropolitan Business League, and Richmond Times-Dispatch 2019 Person of the Year Honoree. In 2022, The International Alliance for Women recognized Angela as a World of Difference Awards winner in the Nonprofit/NGO Awardees category and in 2023 she was honored with the Grace E. Harris Leadership Award by Virginia Commonwealth University.
Angela has been an in-demand speaker at conferences and colleges/universities nationwide. She is also a published author. She co-authored the book Finding Her Voice: How black girls in white spaces can speak up & live their truth, with Faye Z. Belgrave, PhD and Ivy Belgrave. The book is available on Amazon, at Target, and many small, Black-owned bookstores across the country.
My Reason to Build "We need space and each other to center, affirm and amplify love and acceptance of ourselves."
Our Board of Directors
Maureen Jules-Perez Board President Chair Executive Committee
My Reason to Build "To own is to be part of the future!"
Charles P. Taylor
Treasurer Co-Chair,
Building & Property Committee
My Reason to Build "Because you draw breath."
Dr. Fantasy Lozada Smith
Chair, Mission & Vision Committee
My Reason to Build
"I build for Black girls because their hearts, minds, and voices carry our past, present, and future -- and such significant power can sometimes carry significant burden. So I build space for Black girls to help us lighten the load and lift each other up to the light"
Jennifer Williamson Vice President Co-Chair, Outreach & Development Committee
My Reason to Build
“Because we don’t want Girls For A Change to merely survive, but thrive, and owning this space will allow the organization, and in turn, Black Girls, to thrive in every way, now and for generations to come.”
Holly
Miller Outreach & Development Committee
My Reason to Build
“The building campaign is vitally important to the girls because it allows them to see more, be more and do more. Expanding the building will allow more girls, like me, who may not be in an environment that encourages growth and opportunities. Girls For A Change will give them all of the necessary resources needed to thrive! The building will be a place of infinite possibilities for the girls, their families and the community!”
Our Full Time Staff
Jillian Gatewood Building Committee
My Reason to Build
"My reason to build is to have a place where girls can thrive, be supported, and be in community with those around them."
Na’Kera Richardson Operations Director Dani Brown Development Director LeadHers Fellow
Message from the CEO Message from the CEO
Over the past two years, Girls For A Change has celebrated many milestones. We kicked off 2022 with my 50th Birthday celebration, launching our One Million Reasons to Build campaign by asking supporters to donate $50 for 50 years. We continued through 2022 with multiple fundraising campaigns, drawing on support from partners, family, and friends. We also brought on some full-time staff, and celebrated multiple alumna coming on board as Camp Diva Leadership Academy camp counselors.
I remain humbled and delighted to be in this role for almost two decades in the Richmond Metropolitan Area and am thrilled about our accomplishments. As we continue into 2023, the African ideal of Sankofa comes to mind. The word is derived from the words: SAN (return), KO (go), and FA (look, seek and take). The symbol is based on a mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward and its head turned backwards, showing that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. As the CEO, I am always looking towards the future but never forget where we started and what we’ve learned along the way.
The literal translation of the word and the symbol is “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.”
We now own the building we have been leasing for five years. The next step is to raise funds to raise the roof on a new building that fully meets the needs of Black girls, developing their individual and collective leadership skills and providing opportunities for girls to foster positive peer and mentor relationships. GFAC embodies Sankofa by taking up space, claiming what is ours, and bringing atpromise Black girls along so that no one is left behind.
We are here to make sure the momentum grows, to hold the industry accountable for change, to educate, mobilize, and do whatever it takes to secure a better future for everyone. That is the role we play in society, and we do it with your support.
In Power, Sistah
Angela Patton, CEO, Girls
For A Change
“As
the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, I am excited to see a space that helps develop Black girls into leaders while bringing the community together in a culturally affirming space.”
- Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan
Join Our Supporter
Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan
How We Work and What We Do
Girls For A Change has a program, event or activity for Black girls at every stage in their development, including young adulthood. We stay the course.
Our four signature programs include:
Camp Diva Leadership Academy is a summer leadership program designed to culturally enrich and reinforce the strengths of Black girls by providing a joyful environment for learning, leading, and building community.
Girl Action Teams (GAT), free community programs for girls in grades 6-12 to identify challenges in their communities and create impactful solutions as teams. Guided by women coaches, the program fosters leadership and activism, offering tools to advocate for issues such as the Crown Act, school pushout policies, and restrictive dress codes. In partnership with schools and community organizations, these teams also tackle systemic injustices, like those highlighted in the documentary Daughters, using their voices to influence policy and drive meaningful change.
Girl Ambassador Program (GAP), a four-year workforce development initiative designed to equip Black girls with hybrid skills, leadership training, and professional readiness to secure better-paying jobs and leadership roles. Through a tiered approach, participants receive personalized instruction, mentorship from thought leaders, and exposure to job readiness, networking, and financial literacy. Seniors in the program are eligible for residential internships, project management certification (PMI), and scholarships to support their continued education. Alumnae, ages 18–22, can access ongoing internship opportunities while pursuing higher education, ensuring they thrive academically and professionally, breaking barriers, and striving for long-term success.
Immersion Lab, a business incubator program for young Black women interested in entrepreneurship. Participants receive culturally relevant entrepreneurial learning experiences, mentorship by successful female entrepreneurs, seed money to develop business ideas, and platforms with local retail partners to test their products with real customers.
Peer Advisors, an opportunity for high school participants to provide guidance, support, and mentorship to their peers within Girls For A Change (GFAC) programs, events, and activities. Drawing on their own experiences, Peer Advisors help others navigate academic, personal, and professional challenges, offering encouragement and practical advice to assist peers in achieving their goals, making informed decisions, and overcoming obstacles. Peer Advisors play a vital role in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where individuals can connect, learn, and thrive together, both online and offline. To be eligible, applicants must have previously participated in a GFAC program and be actively enrolled in one during their service as a Peer Advisor. Peer Advisors in this cohort receive a monthly stipend for their contributions.
Success in Our Community
In 2021, Richmond Public Schools requested we spearhead school-based interventions for K-12 Black girls. GFAC leads the RPS Advisory Group in developing strategies to improve the culture and conditions for Black girls through culturally responsive services. GFAC sought to identify and programmatically meet our members’ and community’s needs through activities and events in an environment where it was safe for girls to be themselves, speak their mind, and connect with others. GFAC’s impact is significant. For example, over the past five years, 100% of our high school seniors have not only graduated, but also pursued higher education opportunities. In 2021 alone, 100% of our senior participants earned merit based scholarships. GFAC is designing a replicable model of social justice for Black girls in the United States.
Claiming Our Space to Advance Black Girls
GFAC began renting a facility, a former 7-Eleven building, in major disrepair, located at 100 Buford Road, North Chesterfield, Virginia. Since opening the center, GFAC has increased program offerings by 60%. We now serve 700 girls per calendar year, with up to 70 girls in the building at a time. After five years of cultivating an empowering Black space built for Black girls to be seen, heard, and celebrated, GFAC recognized it was time to OWN that space.
We began our One Million Reasons to Build Capital Campaign in December, 2021, to raise funds, and we successfully purchased the building in March, 2022. We set our sights on the next goal: to update and expand our facilities, so the GFAC’s annual programmatic growth can increase by approximately 40%, enabling us to serve up to 200 girls in the new building at a time.
While capital campaigns require a range of sustained collective support from beginning to end, they create tangible opportunities for long-term community investment and communitycontrolled assets. These stories help demonstrate how local organizations leverage community resources to take up space, shift narratives of displacement to narratives of self-determination, and model the power of collective support, creative partnerships, and the role communitycentered arts and social service organizations play in place keeping.
OUR FUTURE
A New Space Rooted in Ancestry, By Design
Girls For A Change has always celebrated Black representation and culture through its staff, curriculum, organizational culture, and curated artwork throughout its current building.
The new space will build on its existing culture and prioritize Afrocentric architectural elements like rammed earth walls, a butterfly roof line and window shadow boxes. The building concept embodies the Adinkra symbol Sankofa. Sankofa, now a movement within the African American diaspora, embraces the idea that “it is not taboo to go back and retrieve that which has been forgotten or lost,” or in other words, remembering traditions in order to move towards the future.
Adinkra symbols were designed by the Akan people from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. Many Adinkra symbols use radial or reflective symmetry and express deeply symbolic proverbs related to life, death, wisdom, and human behavior.
Sankofa expressed in the Afrocentric building vernacular assures Black girls that they unapologetically belong, wherever they are, beginning right here in Central Virginia. The dynamic front elevation with a concealed entrance provides a sense of safety and separation from the outside world. Inside is a sacred, safe place for Black girls to heal and grow. Interior finishes will feature African design elements like rich color, pattern and natural materials.
The rooms, named for Adinkra symbols, provide opportunities for everything from movement to the arts to technology. Designed intelligently, the new space is a sustainable space. The building construction will utilize multiple green building strategies. It will also sustain itself. Half of the building provides single event and subscription based rental passive income strategies to support building maintenance and operation.
The walls throughout will showcase acrylic GFAC logo flowers. Donors may purchase these legacy flowers, in a range of sizes, which will be engraved with their Reason To Build. These messages will affirm that Black girls are honored and supported by their community. The entire space celebrates the rich architectural heritage of the African continent and its diverse people, creativity, and geography. It will be a safe and brave space for Black girls in Central Virginia, their families and their communities.
Sustainably Designed
Our new space is designed with net-zero intent, using proven environmentally mindful strategies, including solar power. The building program is also intelligently designed to sustain itself with passive income strategies. Over half the usable space is designed for both subscription and single-use event spaces available for rent in our Wellness + Movement Studios, Commercial kitchen, Maker Space, Library, Meeting rooms and large event spaces.
Sustaining & Evolving
Girls For A Change is always evolving to meet the current needs of Black girls in order to sustain their success. Similarly, our building can evolve through flexible design and passive income spaces to sustain both operations and our programming. A passive income strategy is important for a nonprofit like GFAC because it provides a reliable source of income. Nonprofits often rely on donations and grants to fund their operations, but these sources of funding can be unpredictable and may not be enough to cover all of the organization's expenses. By diversifying their revenue streams with a passive income strategy, GFAC can become more self-sufficient and less reliant on external funding sources, enabling us to better weather economic downturns or other disruptions that may impact traditional funding sources, such as a global pandemic. Additionally, the passive income generated through leasing can be reinvested back into the organization to further support their programs and initiatives. The new building has passive income potential in half of its usable space.
Potential features of each space that could support both programmatic and passive income:
1. Wellness and movement studio: This space could be used for Camp Diva Leadership Academy programming, such as yoga and mindfulness sessions. It could also be leased out for yoga classes or other fitness events. Features that support both could include high-quality audio/visual equipment for instruction and an open, flexible layout that can be adapted for different uses.
2. Commercial kitchen: This space could be used for the Immersion Lab program, where participants could develop and test their food-based business ideas. It could also be leased out to food trucks or other food entrepreneurs who need a commercial kitchen space to prepare their products. Features that support both could include topof-the-line equipment and ample storage space.
3. Library: This space could be used for Girl Action Teams programming, where participants could research and plan their community projects. It could also be leased out for book clubs, author talks, or other literary events. Features that support both could include comfortable seating areas, a curated collection of books and resources, and multimedia equipment for presentations.
4. Meeting space: This space could be used for all four GFAC programs, as well as for community groups or organizations that need a place to meet. Features that support both could include a range of seating options (tables and chairs, couches, etc.), whiteboards or other visual aids, and video conferencing capabilities.
5. Maker space: This space could be used for Girl Action Teams and the Immersion Lab, as well as for individual and group projects. It could also be leased out to makers or artists who need a space to create and collaborate. Features that support both could include a variety of tools and materials (e.g. 3D printers, sewing machines, art supplies), flexible storage options, and work tables that can be reconfigured for different projects.
6. Event space/outdoor garden space: This space could be used for all four GFAC programs, as well as for weddings, parties, and other events. Features that support both could include a stage or performance area, sound and lighting equipment, and versatile seating arrangements (e.g. chairs and tables, couches and lounge areas).
First Floor Plan
Overall, the key is to design each space to be flexible and adaptable, so that it can support both GFAC programming and external leasing opportunities. By offering a range of spaces and amenities, GFAC can generate passive income while also creating a hub for Black girls and women to learn, create, and grow.
Second Floor Plan
We need to continue building up and supporting Black girls in a space that reflects the Girls For A Change spirit and values
One Million Reasons to Build Ways to Give
The Legacy Flower Installation
3D engraved acrylic Girls For A Change-branded flowers will be installed on the walls and ceiling throughout the center. Each flower will list the name of the person, celebrity, or corporation who sponsored it, along with their reason to build.
The largest flowers have a 47-inch diameter and will be available to corporate donors for $150,000 to sponsor and have naming rights of one of the thirteen rooms: wellness and movement studio, library, meeting space, maker space, commercial kitchen, classrooms (2), collab space, GFAC recording studio, event space, reception area, and the Sister Circle space.
We will offer three other sized flowers that will be placed through-out the building. The available sizes will be:
24-inch diameter available for a sponsorship of $50,000
18-inch diameter available for a sponsorship of $30,000
12-inch diameter available for a sponsorship of $20,000
Stairwell Recognition
Donations of $10,000 to $19,999 will be recognized for two years with the donor’s names painted in the stairwells, with name size depicting levels of donations supporting GFAC.
Digital Flowers
In addition to the acrylic installation, GFAC will also offer digital flowers on our website and in the center. Donations of $5,000-9,999 will display donor names both on a digital ticker in our reception area, and on our website. Donations of $500-4,999 will be recognized through digital flowers on our website.
Girls For A Change is an approved non-profit organization for the Virginia Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). For a minimum gift of $500, an individual donor may be eligible to receive a 65% tax credit against their VA state income tax. The maximum allowable individual gift is $125,000. For businesses, $616 is the minimum donation eligible for tax credits in their taxable year. There is no maximum donation limitation for businesses.
One Million Reasons to Build
Projected Schedule
Overall, the funding and construction schedule for the GFAC building project will depend on a variety of factors, including the availability of funding and financing, the efficiency of the permitting and construction processes, and the extent of unexpected delays or issues that may arise. However, the timeline outlined below provides a rough estimate of how the project is anticipated to proceed.
Design Phase (Present-6/2025)
During the design phase, GFAC will be working with architects and contractors to develop detailed plans and specifications for the building project. GFAC will continue to explore requirements and commitments for passive income spaces to efficiently include program specific needs in the design.
Permitting Phase (6/2025-8/2025)
Once the design phase is complete, GFAC will submit the plans and specifications to the local government for permitting. This process typically takes several months, and may involve multiple rounds of review and revision.
Fundraising and Loan Acquisition (Ongoing)
Throughout the design and permitting phases, GFAC will continue to seek funding and financing for the project. This may involve soliciting donations from individuals and businesses, applying for government grants and loans, and securing loans from banks or other lenders.
Groundbreaking (9/2025)
Assuming all necessary funding and permits have been secured, GFAC will break ground on the building project in September 2025
Construction Phase (9/2025-12/2026)
During the construction phase, contractors develop the GFAC building according to the plans and specifications created during the design phase. This phase will be tracked and evaluated as the process continues to validate our assumptions. Any changes to this schedule will be communicated as appropriate.
Furnishing and Equipment Phase (1/2027-3/2027)
Once the construction phase is complete, GFAC will begin outfitting the building with furnishings, equipment, and other necessary supplies. This phase typically takes several months to complete, and may involve purchasing or leasing items such as desks, chairs, computers, and other technology.
Certificate of Occupancy (4/2027)
As we enter this final phase, GFAC will receive a certificate of occupancy from the local government in April 2027, indicating that the building project is complete and the space is safe and ready for occupancy.
