“It’s not where you start but where you end.” FOH leaders helping young women find success

CAMBRIDGE, Md. – The Foundation of Hope is on a mission to turn young women into great leaders.

Organizational leaders say they’re doing that by providing cultural, spiritual, social, and educational development to Easton middle school sixth graders.

“I just want to encourage the young girls that may be seeing this, it’s not where you start but where you end,” says President and Founder, Keasha Haythe,

We’re told the program is helping to prove, it’s never too early to start making a difference.

“There’s a bunch of changes that they go through at that age from 12 years old so specifically in this program helps them through that,” says Haythe. She adds, “Statistics show after-school programs boost academic so that’s one of the reasons why you did that focusing on the sixth-grade girls.”

Haythe tells 47 ABC, her organization developed an after-school program where they meet one day a week, January through June for a 16-week curriculum teaching young women key life skills. Skills such as interviewing, presentation, how to fill out a job application, the impact of social media. Haythe tells us, during her time with economic development, she learned a lot which helped her shape the curriculum.

“Elements we heard from businesses that a lot of the adults do not have the life skills that they need to obtain jobs.”

To commemorate the young woman’s accomplishments, as well as the organization, a luncheon was held Saturday afternoon. Leaders such as local legislators, Jamie Walker-Emeogo, an outreach community and economic and development leader, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, Ph.D., president of UMBC, and even Kissmekia Corbett, Ph.D., an assistant professor at Harvard University who was also on the research team that developed the Moderna vaccine, attended the event. Showing young women an example as to the paths they can take to be successful in life.

Leilani Brooks is just one of many young women who participated in the program and is now a freshman in high school. She tells us, “It’s such a cool opportunity, I’m completely grateful that I got to do this because a lot of kids my age don’t get to experience this and I think everyone should experience this.”

Her mother Natalie Brooks tells 47 ABC, it’s a blessing her daughter gets the resources she wishes she had as a young girl.

“It’s been really incredible to see her blossom as a young lady she went from being a B, C student to an all A student.

Natalie also says, her daughter is becoming a role model for young girls and it’s admirable, especially at her age.

“It’s helped her self-confidence, her self-esteem really rise and I think girls really need that we need to be able to empower each other.” Leilani adds, “It’s really cool that people can look up to me and want their children to do this too.”

Although this program is only four years old, officials and parents tell 47 ABC, programs like this one can influence an entire generation.

“I think she’s going to do great things in the world but I don’t know if she’s sure exactly where his path is going to look like but I know it’s going to be successful, says Natalie. Leilani adds, “Even if you’re scared, I know you can do it you just have to push over your fears and it’ll be worth it in the end.”

Haythe also says, they hope to grow and cater to more schools. She tells us they’ll be able to gather what direction they should go once their first group graduates in 20 23.

For more information on the foundation, you can head to their website.