The Destiny Center was a hive of activity on Thursday morning as about 20 black teenagers filled the conference room in the Near East Side incubator room, listening to Columbus firefighter Felecia Jackson and Cincinnati Fire Lt. Falencia Frazier talked about their careers.
Frazier asked the girls to pick one important fact about them, and they were ready. Five of them shot their hands in the air.
“You were the first black woman to become a lieutenant in the Cincinnati Fire Department!” Said one girl.
The firefighters’ visit was part of a summer youth academy organized by the Columbus non-profit organization LEAD with Purpose. Founded in 2018 by three friends, LEAD stands for leadership, empowerment, adaptability and discipline.
The inaugural program was aimed at African American girls ages 12-16 and included lessons on professional development, entrepreneurship, and career and university research. The academy began on July 1st and ends on Sunday with a coronation ceremony.
Co-founder Tonya Thurman said the girls also learned about journaling, affirmations, and how to defend themselves.
“We have 20 wonderful girls who all come from different backgrounds, zip codes and socio-economic status,” she said. “We really know that this program was sent by God. God has sent each of these young, impressionable youths, and we really do everything with them on a ministerial basis. “
Friends Natalya Jones, 12, and Naomi Cornelius, 13, said they learned important lessons through the academy this summer.
“I learned about affirmations,” said Natalya. “I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, you’re different. You can’t change who you are. “
“And I’ve learned that you are important, even if you are taller or shorter, darker or lighter,” added Naomi.
From the idea to reality
Founded with friends LaShanda Coleman and Charity Martin-King, Thurman, who works for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said the four pillars behind the organization are what the three women believe a person is a well-rounded leader.
“We only talked about things we wanted to see,” she said. “Although there are other programs for teenagers, we still saw loopholes that needed to be closed. So we created LEAD with Purpose. “
The organization offers workshops and trainings for adults as well as event and business consulting.
Thurman said she and the other women planned to start the youth academy next year in order to have more time to plan, but Martin-King wanted to start this year. Martin-King took a month off from her job to plan the program.
“She said, ‘This is what I believe. Our time is now, ‘”said Thurman. “And so we said: ‘We are here for you.'”
The free summer academy was made possible by funding from organizations across the city. Coleman said they had support from I Know I Can, the Delta Foundation of Greater Columbus, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and the Columbus Commission on Black Girls.
With the additional funds, the three women were able to offer breakfast and lunch to the teenagers five days a week and take them on weekly excursions. The group visited the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; met Governor Mike DeWine and Senator Hearcel Craig at the statehouse; and did a tour of Ohio State University.
In addition, several guests have come to speak to the girls, such as Jackson, Frazier, and Columbus Councilor Priscilla Tyson.
Sunday’s coronation ceremony will include dinner and more.
“We’re going to give the girls some superlative awards just to talk about their experiences here and how we lived them,” said Coleman. “Then we will graduate them from the program.”
The girls also put on a talent show.
“There will be a variety of talent from singing to a band to a dance act,” Thurman said. “You are really in.”
Coleman, the founder of Unleashed Sports and Fitness, said the program helped some of the girls get out of their shells.
“We had some of them who came with hoodies the first week. They didn’t want to talk, ”she said. “And now it’s like you can’t be quiet.”
One of these girls was 12 year old Janet Knight. She eventually befriended Alaina Robinson, who had recently moved to Columbus from Colorado. The two plan to become lawyers later.
“My mom put me on this program and I wasn’t really ready for it,” said Robinson. “And once I got used to it, it was fun.
“Not only have I made a lot of friends, I am friends with the entire academy!”
Columbus Fireman Felecia Jackson and Cincinnati Fire Lt. Falencia Frazier speak to the LEAD with Purpose Summer Youth Academy.
