The Center for Young Women Development works with young women of color who were formerly incarcerated, who worked in the street economies, who may have been or may not have been in school. Their programs help these young women transform into the leaders, policy-makers, researchers, employers and activists that they were born to be. These young women moved up through our programs into leadership roles. Together, they healed from past experiences. Together, they dreamed and achieved their own visions for the future.

This is one of the scholarship recipient’s story.

Kenisha, 17
Kenisha is from Bay View Hunters Point and has been a program participant at the Center for Young Women’s Development for two years now. She is currently a senior Sisters Rising organizer. We are proud to announce that she will be graduating with the class of 2009. After working hard on college applications she has now been accepted to San Francisco State University, where she plans to attend in the fall.

“The Center has taught me how to use skills I already have to achieve my goals at work and home. CYWD has been a place I can come to get support in all areas of my life including, home, school and my personal life. I don’t think I would have been able to do all the fun stuff we have done without the Center, like going to New York City.”

Help us fully fund this program for Kenisha and 33 other young women.

Kenisha and 16 incredible young women will graduate from the Sisters Rising Program at the end of the summer. We only have $1,740 left to raise to send them off into their new lives with the skills they need to grown into their promise. Fully funding this year’s group of women will allow us to support 17 more women in 2010. That’s 34 young women. 34 young women will get the chance they so desperately need.


Thank you for considering this opportunity to support the lives and dreams of these young women.