EmpowHer Institute

Join us in celebrating EmpowHer graduating senior, Marrissa Paz. If you know Marrissa, you know she brings leadership everywhere she goes. Now she’s taking that same energy to college.
We can’t wait to see the impact she makes next.

Happy World Oceans Day! A day to celebrate young women who are learning to navigate both the water and their own futures. Through our Social Justice STEAM Camp, EmpowHer Girls explore underwater worlds that most people only see in photos. They learned how to breathe through fear, trust their training, and witness the beauty that lives beneath the surface. They gain scuba and sailing certifications, build confidence, and discover that leadership can look like a girl in a wetsuit, a science lab, and a classroom.

Happy World Environment Day! A global reminder that environmental action and sustainability aren’t optional. They’re essential. At EmpowHer, we know environmental justice is social justice. Our Social Justice STEAM Camp was designed with the goal of building environmentally conscious leaders focused on addressing climate change. Communities of color--including the girls we serve--are often the most impacted by pollution, climate change, and limited access to green space. When girls understand these connections, they become leaders who advocate for cleaner neighborhoods and real climate equity.

Congratulations to graduating senior, Destiny Lee, who has actively participated in EmpowHer programs for 6 years!

Our EmpowHer Scholar is officially college-bound and headed to El Camino College to become a licensed vocational nurse.

We’re so proud of her and excited for this next chapter ahead.

Congratulations, Destiny! You did it. Warriors

Maleesha Westbrook is officially college‑bound!
Next stop: Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
We’re so proud of you, Maleesha. Keep going, keep growing, keep winning.

Congratulations to our EmpowHer Girl, Armariee Paschal! Armariee is officially college-bound and headed to Los Angeles Trade-Technical College to study child development and earn her cosmetology certification. Congratulations, Armariee! You did it.

Congratulations to EmpowHer Girl, Belinda Fabian, who is officially college‑bound!
She’ll be attending Cal State Fullerton in the fall to study Biology. She plans to become a pediatrician.
We’re so proud of you, Belinda! You did it.

Congratulations to EmpowHer Girl and Youth Advisory Board Member, Evelyn Mancilla!

Evelyn has been with EmpowHer for over 3 years, and now she is officially college-bound! She is headed to Sacramento State in the fall.

We're wishing you the very best in this next chapter.

We are thrilled to announce our 2026 EmpowHer Securing Our Futures Grantees!
Our Youth Advisory Board was incredibly impressed by all of the organizations that applied, making this our toughest deliberation ever. And we are so excited about the five organizations that were selected to receive a grant this year. Each grantee will receive a $5,000 mini-grant to support programs dedicated to preparing youth for their futures.

We would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the Frieda C. Fox Foundation for funding our work to prepare EmpowHer girls for future careers in philanthropy.