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NIA LONG AND THE HERSHE GROUP GIVE 'THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL': They are the extended family and life guides for young women in foster care
"I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a since of pride to make it easier."
Those lyrics to "The Greatest Love Of All" go hand and hand, with what the HerShe Group stands for. The HerShe Group has been empowering young women in foster care since 2004, with lifestyle guidance programs and one on one mentoring.
Recently EURweb covered HerShe Group's honorary breakfast where celebrity mentor Nia Long (along with other participants) was awarded for her contributions.
"I am truly honored," said long when receiving her award. She also explained that, as a mother it feels good to be able to embrace other children.
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Kenadie Cobbin Richardson & Nia Long
Long hosts the "Girl Talk" series for HerShe Group. "Girl Talk" is when a small group of girls get together and have a chat session with a HerShe mentor. Nia admits that when she was asked to head one of the intimate sessions, she was a bit nervous. But, once she gave it to God and realized that she had something in common with the girls, she was ready.
"We sat there and chatted like we've known each other for years. Some of the girls laughed, some of them cried, and some of them wondered what I was talking about," said the "Big Momma's House" star, during her one-on-one time with EURweb.
She also added that she really liked that the group consisted of a small gathering of girls, which made her feel like she had the ability to really give them good life lessons, as opposed to just writing a check.
"I think it's important that we show them a path; for these young women it's super important, because they feel a little displaced."
Kenadie Cobbin Richardson, the Executive Director, and founder of HerShe group, was first introduced to the harsh realities of the foster care system in College.
"My roommate was a former foster youth. She had a lot to overcome; she
had been abused by her dad from 8 months to 16 years old," explains Kenadie.
She says after witnessing the injustices her roommate went through, during her college years, she became interested in creating a program that would stand in as a second family.
"Primarily we (HerShe) are there for them (foster girls) emotionally, as they move through the scars of being abandoned, or neglected by their (mothers) which is a huge wound. But beyond that, it's developing youth, (which) encompasses school, getting a job and etiquette. There's (also a) strong focus in the performing arts, exposure to extraordinary experiences, concerts, plays, etc. So it's more of a lifestyle organization where we do what (their) parents could be doing."
The HerShe Group not only provides these young girls with a family support group, but they also build up their self confidence by letting them know they can do whatever they dream to do.
And with the HerShe "Cinderella Ball," the girls learn that they can be pretty also.
"The Cinderella Ball does a couple of things. One, it commemorates (their) passage into womanhood and it's also the most positive thing that happens to them ... many of the girls sleep in their gowns," said Richardson.
- Seven out of ten foster youth will be homeless within one year of
emancipation.
- Six out of ten foster youth will be incarcerated within one year of emancipation.
- One out of 10 foster youth go to college. Of those, only 1 out of 100 will graduate."
(Statistics from HerShe Group website)
The HerShe Group believes children are our future, and they are showing them all the beauty they have inside. If you would like to learn more about the HerShe Group Foundation, go to: www.hershegroup.org.
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