She Wins, Inc. Embraces Service & Sisterhood

A’Dorian Murray-Thomas A’Dorian SHE WINS EMBRACES SISTERHOOD AND SERVICE Murray-Thomas By Fern Gillespie SHE WINS EMBRACES

A’Dorian Murray-Thomas; the founder and CEO of SHE Wins, Inc.; turned her childhood grief into grit and changed the lives of hundreds of Newark’s middle and high school girls. When Murray-Thomas was seven years old, her in Newark by giving out free books and reading to Newark pre-school and elementary school students. SHE Wins scholars spoke before Newark’s City Hall to advocate for youth anti-smoking policies, the impact of violence in their community, and how youth-based service in the community could help find solutions to community issues. SISTERHOOD AND SERVICE By Fern Gillespie father was murdered by gunfire after leaving his Newark convenience store. The sudden loss of her loving father was traumatizing, and her mother Dana Murray, a social worker, was determined to make life as normal as possible for her. It became a family project to keep Murray-Thomas proactive in school and the community. By the time Murray-Thomas entered Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, she was on a mission to make an impact through social service and social justice. “I have this incredible support system from my mother, my family, and from A’Dorian Murray-Thomas; the founder and CEO of SHE Wins, Inc.; turned her childhood grief into grit and changed the lives of hundreds of Newark’s middle and high school girls. When Murray-Thomas was seven years old, her Each year, SHE Wins scholars give back 500 hours in community service. Milestones reached in 2020 include SHE Wins’ first graduating class, 100 percent of eligible students voting in the 2020 election, and graduates being accepted by George Washington University, Boston College, Kean College, St. Mary’s College, and several other institutions. The SHE Wins alumni will continue to pay it forward as peer mentors. “Young people listen to other young people. At SHE Wins, we strongly believe that young people are not the problem; they are the solution. They are the answer,” said Murin Newark by giving out free books and reading to Newark pre-school and elementary school students. SHE Wins scholars spoke before Newark’s City Hall to advocate for youth anti-smoking policies, the impact of violence in their community, and how youth-based service in the community could help find solutions to community issues. my community,” said Murray-Thomas. “The question was father was murdered by gunfire after leaving his Newark ray-Thomas. “We want young women to know their power, Each year, SHE Wins scholars give back 500 hours in comhow do I re-create this system of support? To help me see my convenience store. The sudden loss of her loving father was their brilliance, and that they have the responsibility to pay it munity service. Milestones reached in 2020 include SHE Wins’ own power and my own worth?” The school combined academics with community service and gave students the optraumatizing, and her mother Dana Murray, a social worker, forward and to make their world a little more just.” Murray-Thomas recently made history at 23 years old when first graduating class, 100 percent of eligible students voting portunity to apply for grants, fellowships, and endowments was determined to make life as normal as possible for her. It she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Board of in the 2020 election, and graduates being accepted by George related to social action. In 2014, during her sophomore year, Murray-Thomas became a family project to keep Murray-Thomas proactive in Education in New Jersey’s largest school district. She has been recognized as a President Obama White House Champion of Washington University, Boston College, Kean College, St. earned a $10,000 grant to launch her nonprofit SHE Wins. school and the community. Change, Glamour Magazine “College Woman of the Year,” one Mary’s College, and several other institutions. The SHE Wins “I wanted to create a system of supports and resources for young women and girls in the city of Newark,” she explained. By the time Murray-Thomas entered Swarthmore College of The Root’s Young Futurists, was featured in ESSENCE magazine’s “Black Girl Magic” docuseries, has been featured in alumni will continue to pay it forward as peer mentors. “I started to see girls who lost their parents and siblings to in Pennsylvania, she was on a mission to make an impact The Positive Community and won the magazine’s 2016 Commu“Young people listen to other young people. At SHE Wins, homicide like I did. Also, there were girls that were affected through social service and social justice. “I have this incred- nity Choice Award in Education. Previously, she served at the we strongly believe that young people are not the probby other forms of trauma or wanted a safe space to be a girl.” Today, SHE Wins has served more than 500 girls in the ible support system from my mother, my family, and from Newark Opportunity Youth Network where she connected over-aged and under-credited high school students to alterlem; they are the solution. They are the answer,” said Murgreater Newark area. Beginning in 7th and 8th grade and my community,” said Murray-Thomas. “The question was native educational options and helped manage Newark Pubray-Thomas. “We want young women to know their power, continuing through high school, the city’s schools, organizations, educators, social workers, guidance counselors, and how do I re-create this system of support? To help me see my lic School’s restorative justice program. A’Dorian was chosen by Mayor Ras Baraka to introduce him for his virtual 2020 their brilliance, and that they have the responsibility to pay it even the Mayor’s Office are involved. own power and my own worth?” The school combined ac- State of the City address in September, is a 2016 graduate of forward and to make their world a little more just.” For two years, SHE Wins scholars have partnered with the ademics with community service and gave students the op- Swarthmore College, and holds a B.A. in Political Science and Murray-Thomas recently made history at 23 years old when United Nations Girl Up Foundation to travel to the Annual Girl Up Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. to advocate portunity to apply for grants, fellowships, and endowments Educational Studies. “I believe in success stories, sisterhood, self- actualization, she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Board of for legislation that improves the outcomes of girls worldwide. related to social action. and service,” said Murray-Thomas. “Given the tools and reEducation in New Jersey’s largest school district. She has been As volunteers for Newark’s Celebrity Reading Program, SHE Wins scholars have helped promote early-childhood literacy In 2014, during her sophomore year, Murray-Thomas sources, young people will actually save themselves. Our motto at SHE Wins is: “She needed a hero, so she became her own.” recognized as a President Obama White House Champion of earned a $10,000 grant to launch her nonprofit SHE Wins. Change, Glamour Magazine “College Woman of the Year,” one www.thepositivecommunity.com “I wanted to create a system of supports and resources for Fall 2020 The Positive Community 53 of The Root’s Young Futurists, was featured in ESSENCE magyoung women and girls in the city of Newark,” she explained. azine’s “Black Girl Magic” docuseries, has been featured in