Nearly 20 years ago, a nine-year-old girl walked into a Girls Inc. program holding her mother’s hand. She didn’t know she was stepping into an experience that would shape her confidence, influence her career path, and one day guide how she would raise her own daughter.

That little girl was Simone R.

Today, Simone is not only a proud Girls Inc. alumna, she is also a Girls Inc. parent. She has experienced the organization from every angle: participant, intern, employee, alumna, and now mother. Few people can speak to the impact of Girls Inc. with the depth and credibility she carries.

When Simone first entered a Girls Inc. summer program at age nine, she was outspoken. “I didn’t always have the right words, and sometimes what I said would get me into trouble,” Simone recollects. “Over time, … I [would choose] silence instead of risking saying the wrong thing.”

When her mother enrolled her in Girls Inc., Simone was initially hesitant. “I had already decided that I wasn’t going to engage,” she says. “But Ms. Natasha wouldn’t let me disappear. She wouldn’t let me sit on the sidelines. She gently, but firmly, pulled me in. And somewhere along the way, I found my voice again … bold and confident in what I had to say.”

Research consistently shows that girls who participate in Girls Inc. programming demonstrate increased academic engagement, stronger leadership skills, and greater confidence in pursuing any career path — including those where women have historically been underrepresented. Simone is not simply inspired by those outcomes; she represents them.

Through her years in Girls Inc., Simone developed the ability to network with intention. Attending events during her time at Girls Inc. showed her that she was more than capable; she was smart enough and prepared enough to make things happen.

After her time as a participant, Simone returned to Girls Inc. as an intern and later as an employee. That decision speaks volumes. When a former participant chooses to return and serve the very organization that shaped her, it reflects more than gratitude — it reflects identity and belief.

During her time on staff, Simone expanded Girls Inc.’s program continuum. “I recognized the need for more diversity within our programs and felt led to create something specifically for teen girls,” she says. “[Natasha told me] we didn’t have many resources, but if I could secure a free location, I could make it happen.”

That response lit a fire in her. “I was determined to create that space,” she remembers. “So I launched the Ambassador Club in the game room of Temple University’s student center.

“I believed in what we were building … It was the beginning of me realizing I didn’t have to wait for perfect conditions. I just needed vision, courage, and commitment.”

“Girls Inc. has made a profound impact on my life beginning at age nine,” Simone reflects. On a personal level, Girls Inc. has shown her about the true power of connection. “Years later, I’m still connected to some of my founding Ambassadors, who are now college graduates, medical students, mothers, wives, and business owners,” she says. “That, to me, is the real impact. Girls Inc. has taught me that you may start as a program or organization, but when done right, it becomes community. It becomes family. And that kind of connection lasts forever.” Today, Simone brings that full-circle perspective into her most important role: mother.

From the moment she became a parent, she knew she wanted her daughter, Sidney, to experience Girls Inc.

Sidney is currently enrolled in the Discovery program for girls ages 5–8, designed to cultivate early leadership skills through literacy engagement, healthy lifestyle education, and hands-on exploration.

Sidney’s favorite parts? Creativity and field trips. But beneath the fun is genuine growth.

“She has a supportive space outside of school and family to learn and be curious without pressure,” Simone shares. “I’m seeing Sidney grow in confidence every day … Now she’s beginning to recognize and see the same strong, smart, and bold young girl I see in her every day.”

Simone has noticed that Sidney becoming more aware of the people around her, understanding that they may come from different walks of life, but that there’s a big world out there waiting for her to explore.

As a parent, Simone sees the difference.

What makes Simone’s story powerful is its generational continuity. She is not only an alumna of these programs. She is now raising the next generation within it, proof positive of sustained impact.

Her advice to parents is simple and heartfelt:

“DO IT! These programs truly help shape your child for the better. I’ve seen the impact from every angle, and I’m living proof of the good that can come from Girls Inc. It’s an honor to raise a Girls Inc. kid, and you’ll often find yourself amazed at what they can accomplish throughout their time in these programs.”

Some stories come full circle.

Simone’s story builds a circle that keeps expanding — from girl, to leader, to mother — and now to the next generation of girls who will rise strong, smart, and bold.