About Girl Ambassador Program (GAP)
As the future of work evolves and investments in workforce equity are reconsidered, it is more important than ever to remain grounded in evidence, outcomes, and impact. Girls For A Change exists not because Black girls lack talent or ambition, but because systems have not consistently created clear and equitable pathways from education to employment.
The Girl Ambassador Program is Girls For A Change’s four-year workforce development pathway for Black girls in grades nine through twelve, designed to close these gaps. GAP responds to a rapidly changing economy that demands digital fluency, AI literacy, adaptability, and strong professional portfolios, and prepares girls to meet those demands with confidence and competence.
Beginning in ninth grade, participants earn certifications, build professional portfolios, and gain priority access to our Immersion Lab. Each year includes job matching, work-based learning credits, and paid experiences that allow girls to gain real skills while earning income. By senior year, participants may access residential work opportunities, pursue up to two internships, and receive individualized support for college, trade programs, careers, or gap year employment. Along the way, girls strengthen professional communication and public speaking skills, build financial literacy, and gain confidence through annual professional headshots and direct exposure to mentors and employers.
For more than five years, including the challenging COVID period, GAP has delivered consistent and successful results for participants, families, hiring partners, and the Girls For A Change community. We did not pause our commitment or wait for systems to tell us what was possible. Instead, we built new approaches and demonstrated that this work remains necessary, effective, and equally valuable for everyone involved.
GAP closes the gap between preparation and hiring, talent and access, and potential and opportunity by creating measurable pathways into college, careers, trades, and entrepreneurship. Even as budgets and narratives shift, the need for equity, mentorship, professional training, and early career access remains constant, and so does our commitment.
Whether you are a girl ready to build real skills and step confidently into your future, a parent seeking a structured and supportive pathway for your child, or a business looking to hire motivated and prepared young talent, GAP is the bridge between potential and opportunity. Join us, invest early, hire boldly, and help us keep the impact going as we build the future together.
A Pathway to Purpose, Power, and Possibility
GAP is intentionally designed as a multi-year journey that grows with each participant—meeting her where she is and preparing her for where she’s going. Each year builds on the last, combining leadership development, career exploration, real-world work experience, and global exposure.
This program ensures that girls progress, produce, and prepare for life beyond high school.
Positive Outcomes
GAP delivers measurable, life-changing outcomes for Black girls:
- Career readiness with digital fluency, AI literacy, and competitive professional portfolios
- Early access to paid internships, fellowships, and job placements
- Increased economic mobility through real income and work experience
- Strong leadership, public speaking, and self-advocacy skills
- Networks of mentors, employers, and peers that last beyond graduation
- Certifications, work-based learning credits, scholarship access, and alumni coaching
Participants graduate with clarity, confidence, and a direct pathway to college, trades, careers, or entrepreneurship. GAP transforms potential into power, creating a pipeline of Black girl leaders ready to shape the future of work.
Why Staying All Four Years Matters
Committing to all four years of the Girl Ambassador Program is an investment in yourself and your success. When you start in 9th grade and stay through senior year, you unlock the full power of the program. You develop stronger leadership skills each year, earn more certifications, and achieve bigger accomplishments—like out-of-state travel, higher-level internships, and opportunities that come with being a long-term participant. Your four-year commitment helps you stand out on college applications, showing dedication, focus, and growth in one clear pathway. You learn how to prioritize your goals, build a strong professional portfolio early, and advance your future long before graduation. You’re also eligible to apply for financial scholarships through our Education Fund! Most importantly, you grow your inner drive, confidence, and relationship-building skills—qualities that will support you in school, work, and life. Staying all four years means fully preparing yourself for the future you want.
Year One: Start Strong — Laying the Foundation
(Recommended Entry: 9th Grade)
Year One introduces girls to the GAP experience and establishes a strong foundation in leadership, skill-building, and self-awareness.
Participants will:
- Be introduced to current and emerging technology and begin preparing for certifications
- Participate in workshops focused on personal branding, time management, and goal setting
- Begin building a personal portfolio that tracks growth year over year
- Qualify for a paid internship or volunteer placement upon completion and skill development
This year is about exposure, confidence, and discovering what’s possible.
Year Three: Advancing Skills — Career Discovery & Global Exposure
Year Three shifts the focus toward long-term planning, career clarity, and cultural development.
Participants will:
- Prepare for certification opportunities and advanced skill mastery
- Participate in group mentorship focused on life after high school
- Qualify for travel and cultural learning experiences, including global exposure
- Continue gaining work experience through paid internships or volunteer service
This year encourages girls to see themselves as global citizens with real career pathways.
Year Two: Building Capacity — Increased Responsibility & Opportunity
In Year Two, girls return with greater responsibility and deeper engagement. Learning expands as expectations rise.
Participants will:
- Build upon year one skills while gaining experience with new technology and tools
- Engage in advanced workshops centered on skill development and personal growth
- Receive support with goal-setting and vision mapping through group mentorship
- Gain real-world work experience through a paid internship or volunteer service
This year strengthens accountability, leadership habits, and professional readiness.
Year Four: Launching with Confidence — Ready for College, Careers & the Next Chapter
Year Four is the culmination of the GAP journey—where preparation meets opportunity.
Participants will:
- Earn multiple certifications connected to career and business pathways
- Receive one-on-one college application and scholarship support
- Be eligible to apply for financial scholarships through our Education Fund
- Gain final professional experience through paid internships or service opportunities
It’s Never Too Late to Join. Your Future Starts Here.
Even if you join GAP after 9th grade, you will still gain meaningful, career-building opportunities that prepare you for college, careers, and life. Every year of GAP offers hands-on experiences, certifications, leadership development, and paid opportunities that strengthen skills and confidence.
Whether you enter in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, you’ll have access to real-world projects, internships, mentors, career exploration, and a supportive community invested in your success. GAP meets you where you are and helps you level up.
Why Stick-to-it-ive-ness Matters
In today’s shifting workforce—where women and Black women face rising unemployment, shrinking DEIA commitments, and limited access to networks—perseverance is power.
Employers don’t just reward talent; they reward reliability, consistency, and resilience. For Black girls who are often underestimated or overlooked, stick-to-itiveness disrupts stereotypes and signals leadership, confidence, and readiness. It teaches how to navigate real expectations, follow through, and stay the course—even when systems aren’t built for their success.
This same perseverance is a major advantage for college applications, résumé building, and professional portfolios. Colleges and employers look for students who go beyond participation and demonstrate commitment, leadership, and impact.
Participants who launch programs, lead projects, or solve real problems in their communities stand out significantly. For example, organizing or participating in a tutoring program demonstrates far greater impact than simply listing membership in multiple clubs or honor societies.
Quality matters more than quantity. Strong applications and résumés reflect:
- Long-term involvement (two or more years preferred)
- Increasing leadership and responsibility
- Measurable outcomes from student-led initiatives
- Independent projects beyond school requirements
Universities and employers value entrepreneurial thinking and initiative. Self-started projects—or meaningful improvements to existing programs—demonstrate the drive, discipline, and follow-through needed to succeed in competitive academic and professional environments.
Stick-to-itiveness is how opportunity turns into progress—and how potential becomes proof.
Attendance & Accountability
Consistent attendance is required. Each session builds toward long-term growth, and too many absences may result in removal from the program or loss of incentives. Your presence matters because you matter.
By Graduation, Participants Will Have:
- Over 250 paid work hours completed before junior year
- 2–4 industry-recognized certifications earned before senior year
- A professional portfolio and profile pages built before sophomore year
- A paid summer job before even receiving a driver’s license
- A résumé and cover letter with real work experience before graduation
- A permanent summer job placement opportunity
- Access to scholarships through the GFAC Education Fund
- A strong professional network, including references and recommendation letters
- A direct pathway into jobs, college, trades, or entrepreneurship
- A professional headshot for career and college applications
Why the Girl Ambassador Program Matters Now
Black women are facing rising unemployment, fewer advancement opportunities, and shrinking DEIA investments — conditions that will shape the future our girls inherit. GAP exists to intervene early by giving Black girls the access, skills, and support the workforce often withholds. It provides a structured pathway that helps participants build confidence, earn credentials, gain paid experience, and stay on track toward college, careers, and leadership.
In GAP, girls gain:
- A clear roadmap for high school, college, and career
- Real skills and credentials that strengthen job and college applications
- Paid work experience and industry exposure
- Mentorship and a supportive community
- A professional network that opens doors early
- Confidence and a strong voice in advocating for themselves
- A vision for the future based on opportunity, not barriers
GAP is more than a program — it is a pathway to leadership, economic mobility, and global readiness. It prepares Black girls for the future of work by giving them early access, practical training, and the relationships needed to move from overlooked to fully prepared.
Delta Institute: Why colleges value commitment over long activity lists
GAP Expectations: How to Show Up and Succeed
GAP is a workforce development program, so we practice the same habits that future jobs, internships, and college programs will expect. These skills help participants build confidence, responsibility, and a strong professional presence.
After reviewing our expectations, all participants will be required to sign a Design Alliance agreement showing that they understand and can commit to these expectations in the Girl Ambassador program.
Professional Presence & Workforce Readiness
- Show up consistently — virtually, in person, and for field trips. Be on time, prepared, and ready to learn.
- Be coachable: Stay open to feedback, ask questions, and use guidance to grow.
- Be present and engaged: Keep your camera on during virtual sessions and participate actively in all activities.
- Dress appropriately for learning and work environments. (See our What to Wear Guide — insert link)
- Limit distractions: Choose a quiet space, stay focused, and keep phones or unrelated devices put away unless needed for class.
- Use professional communication: Practice clear, respectful communication online, by email, and in person.
- Communicate early when something comes up: Let staff know about emergencies or absences so we can support you.
- Complete required documents and assignments on time: Forms, surveys, and onboarding materials are part of building real workforce readiness.
- Use and manage your time wisely: Show up to all meetings and sessions on time and prepared, plan for assignments by giving yourself adequate time to complete, review, and turn them in.
A Message From Our CEO, Angela Patton
Leadership is leadership—whether you run a nonprofit, a major company, a small business, or work on your own. Organizations succeed when they operate with intention and stay committed to the people they serve.
At Girls For A Change, we focus on Black girls who are often overlooked and excluded from opportunities. We prepare them to succeed in workplaces that value their contributions or to create the companies they want to see. We also work with employers who understand that inclusion is not separate from business success; it strengthens it.
Research consistently shows that diverse and inclusive teams perform better, innovate more, retain employees longer, and reach wider communities. Leaders who want long-term stability and strong results recognize this.
We are also living in a moment where DEIA, inclusive hiring, and equity efforts are being challenged. These attacks are based on fear and misinformation. “Reverse racism” is not real, and avoiding difficult truths does not move anyone forward.
Access and opportunity matter. When people are kept out—whether through lack of networks, exposure, or support—businesses lose new ideas, perspectives, and talent. Our community loses, too. The cost is shared.
At GFAC, we create spaces where Black girls feel respected and supported. From this foundation, they learn how to navigate the workforce, collaborate effectively, lead with clarity, and contribute without suppressing who they are. But we cannot address growth without acknowledging inequity: rising unemployment among Black women, declining DEIA commitments, and families under strain.
Preparing Black girls for the world—and preparing the world for Black girls—is ongoing work. Our Girl Ambassador Program shows what can happen when access, training, and support come together.
Our girls deserve better than the systems that limited previous generations. We all have a role in building a future that offers them more.
Sistah Angela Patton
Participants
Do you ever feel like you want more options for your future but aren’t sure where to start—or feel like other students have opportunities you don’t? GAP is for Black girls who want options, confidence, and a community that supports their goals. In GAP, you earn industry-recognized certifications before graduation, gain paid work experience through internships, and build a strong professional portfolio you can use for college, scholarships, and jobs. You explore real career paths in tech, creative fields, business, health, trades, and more—so you can discover what inspires you while you’re still in high school. GAP helps you grow as a leader through projects, presentations, and mentorship, while teaching essential life skills like financial literacy, communication, and time management. You also gain access to scholarships and hiring partners who want to invest in your future. GAP gives you early experience, real support, and a powerful network that stays with you long after high school, helping you step into college, careers, entrepreneurship, or trades with confidence and clarity.
By Graduation, Participants Gain
- Foundational life and leadership skills, including financial literacy, money management, wellness strategies, and the ability to balance commitments while honoring rest as renewal
- A supportive sister-circle community that builds confidence, belonging, and lasting friendships
- Completed community service hours and early exposure to civic responsibility
- 2–4 industry-recognized certifications aligned with career pathways
- A professional portfolio, résumé, cover letter, and career headshot
- 250+ paid work hours and earned work-based learning credits
- Paid summer job opportunities, with potential for long-term placement
- A strong professional network, including mentors, references, and recommendation letters
- Training in philanthropic leadership, learning how to give back through careers and entrepreneurship
- Access to scholarships through the GFAC Education Fund
- A clear, supported pathway to college, trades, careers, or entrepreneurship
- Mentorship from qualified professionals who support and guide you through the college application process and the next steps after high school
Did You Know?
Internship programs benefit greatly from returning participants. Employers are more willing to invest in deeper training when they know a student will stay engaged. As a result, returning interns often receive more advanced projects, higher responsibilities, and stronger portfolio pieces that set them apart in college and job applications.
How Parents and Caregivers Can
Support Their Girl Ambassador Participant
Do you ever worry that your daughter is becoming more independent, yet still needs support to stay organized, confident, and prepared for the future? Many parents feel this tension — wanting to guide their daughters without overwhelming them and wanting them to succeed while navigating a world that is changing quickly.
High school is not the time to tap out. Your daughter needs your support now more than ever — not to take over, but to cheer her on, encourage independence, and help her build confidence as she steps into young adulthood. Parenting a teen means guiding without hovering, supporting without controlling, and giving her room to grow while staying connected and informed.
Register and Grab Your Daughter’s Spot
Your first step is simple: register and pay the $75 registration fee.
Commit to GAP Time
Help your girl build a steady schedule for virtual and in-person sessions and ensure she arrives on time.
Create a Learning Space
Provide a quiet place for virtual sessions with a device, charger, headphones, notebook, and water nearby.
Encourage Direct Communication
Invite your girl to email or message staff with questions or challenges — an essential skill for independence and workplace readiness.
Stay Informed
Make sure she reads emails, accepts calendar invites, meets deadlines, and notifies us early about absences or emergencies.
Reinforce Workplace Habits at Home
Practice time management, communication, and appropriate dress together. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
Help Capture Her Growth
Approve photos and videos when comfortable, share her accomplishments, and consider joining the Parent Power Champion Committee.
Complete Parent Requirements
Pay registration fees, submit forms and permissions, attend required meetings or orientations, and keep your contact information updated.
Save All Dates on Your Calendar
Mark program meetings, field trips, events, and celebrations to ensure your girl does not miss important experiences.
Help Your Daughter Prepare for Paid Work
Make sure your daughter has her own bank account.
(We partner with Peoples Advantage Federal Credit Union to support youth banking.)
Save the Dates for Major Events
Key event dates — including showcases, celebrations, and community gatherings — will be shared during information sessions and orientation. Add them to your calendar once announced.
Attend Parent Meetings & Stay Connected
Check your email regularly, reply when needed, and participate in events that celebrate your daughter’s progress. You are also invited to join the Parent Power Champion Committee to connect with other caregivers and build a supportive network.
2026 Schedule
Enrollment Timeline
Application Period
- Saturday, December 20 — Applications open
- Friday, January 23 — Applications close
- $75 non-refundable application fee + reference letter required
Mandatory Orientation
- Saturday, January 31 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM — In-person orientation for all accepted participants
- Location TBD
Program Start & Class Schedule
- Saturday, February 7 — First day of classes
- Thursday Classes: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (1.5 hours)
- Saturday Classes: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (5 hours, bring lunch)
Program End
Saturday, May 2 — Last day of spring programming
Internship Experience
Monday, June 1 – Thursday, July 9, 2026
Schedule subject to change
Next Steps After Acceptance
-
- Complete registration (insert link)
- Pay registration fee:
- $75 standard fee
- $50 Registration Fee for 2025 returning GAP participants this promo code expires on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 11:59 PM
- Registration closes: Friday, January 23, 2026
- Attend mandatory orientation session on January 31st from 10am-2:00pm. Both participant and caregiver must attend on this day
- Sign participation agreements
- Technology Agreement
- Design Alliance
- Participant Agreement
- Pick up computers
- All caregivers must provide a copy of their drivers license on computer pickup day
- Complete assessments + pre/post surveys
- Mark your calendars and prepare to attend the Thursday evening and Saturday sessions
Black Girl Giving Circle
Young Minds Paying It Forward
Launched in 2020, the Giving Circle teaches girls the power of giving, not just receiving. Participants learn about Black philanthropy, social responsibility, and how to direct resources to organizations doing meaningful work in their communities.
Each Year, Girl Ambassadors:
- Learn about local and national nonprofits
- Study social issues and community needs
- Decide which organizations to support
- Award funds to selected organizations and understand how philanthropy can be a tool for justice
- Raise awareness and money collectively — with a goal of $75.00 by Monday, June 22.
- Participate in choosing the nonprofit recipient
At the Black Girl Wrap Up, one GAP participant will present the check to the selected nonprofit organization, demonstrating the collective power of girls investing in their own communities.
This experience builds empathy, strategic thinking, and a lifelong habit of paying it forward. Teaching girls philanthropy shows them that they have the power not only to succeed but to lift others as they rise. Community giving circles can be created, joined, or supported anywhere, and we want participants to understand why this practice is so important.
Learning how to give, share resources, and strengthen the community is one of the most valuable lessons they carry into their careers and into adulthood. It teaches them that progress happens together and that they already have the ability to shape the world they want to see.
“When we have each other, we have it all.” - Sistah Nancy Earl
Day of Service & Nonprofit Selection
Each year, BGGC hosts a Day of Service centered on a community impact focus selected by the Girls For A Change team. Peer Advisors review vetted nonprofit partners aligned with that focus and select the organization where participants will volunteer.
For 2026, the selected focus area is Food Access. Peer Advisors will choose one nonprofit partner from five vetted organizations to ensure the service experience is meaningful, impactful, and responsive to real community needs.
The Black Girl Giving Circle empowers young people to understand that service is not a one-time activity. It is a lifelong commitment to lifting others, strengthening communities, and shaping the world they want to live in.
2025 Hiring Partners
Summer 2025 Internship Matches
Congratulations to our 2025 Girl Ambassador Program (GAP) participants! We are incredibly proud of their dedication and commitment throughout an entire school year of learning and growth. From managing online coursework and self-paced assignments to participating in group sessions, weekend travel experiences, and in-person spring classes, these young women have shown exceptional drive. They completed projects, built both soft and hard skills, and advanced their knowledge in technology and professional development. Now, they are fully prepared to take on paid internships, earn work-based learning credits, secure college recommendation letters, and compete for scholarships. Their focus, ambition, and determination have brought them to this moment, and they are ready to step confidently into the workforce this summer. Meet the 2025 GAP team who completed the program and are poised to make their mark!
Previous Hiring Partners
Testimonials
A lot of people get placed in a box and are not encouraged to dream—be a nurse, accountant, teacher—but you really want to support our girls to dream beyond all things, whether it be in the arts, or something that isn’t a traditional job for women, especially black women.
– Brandie Martin, Parent
Once we get into the program, we don’t really greet each other by names; we call each other sisters in Camp Diva because we are a sisterhood. Being an alumna is kind of like being a big sister. It’s like a family.
– Yasmeen Johnson, Alumna
Like all relationships, friendships take effort, but the time and energy I put into new friendship up for camp, participating and maintaining friendships has benefited me long after your summer is over.
- Olivia Barnes, Participant
Press & Articles
If you are not yet convinced that you need the Girl Ambassador Program to uplift, connect with, and support Black young women in the workplace, or that becoming a hiring partner can transform both your workplace and the lives of young people, I encourage you to look closely at the research. The articles and data we share are not trends; they reflect the real barriers Black girls face every day and the gaps we are committed to filling. Young people are not lacking talent. They are lacking access, opportunity, and structured pathways into the workforce. This is why GFAC created the Girl Ambassador Program — to rebuild the missing rungs, to prepare Black girls for work, and to prepare workplaces to receive them.
Black women to navigate harmful stereotypes and racial bias in the workplace
Youth employment is fragile and uneven
Skills based hiring for young adults
Respect and Value Black Women’s Work
Black Women are Finding Better Jobs Than Ever. A Recession Could Reverse That.
Black Women’s Labor Force Participation Continues to Decline
Women of Color are Leaving the Workforce and Vanishing from Unemployment Statistics
Rejecting Business as Usual: Improving Employment Outcomes and Economic Security for Black Women
