See Beautiful Grant Recipient: 3D Girls, Inc

The feature below is brought to you by 3D Girls, Inc. an organization that has received a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about our giving initiatives, please click here.
 
To learn more about the featured organization, please visit their website here.

My mother brought my sister and I to Atlanta, GA when I was three years old to build a better life. This city and particularly the women and girls of this city have my heart. Why? Because I see myself, my sisters, my former students and daughters in them. In 2008, I became a mother right out of high school. The stress of trying to balance a full-time job, going to college and becoming a mom was a lot! Thankfully, I was enveloped by a system of supportive mentors, teachers and leaders who would not let up until my potential had a chance to bloom. Not only did they safeguard me during one of my most vulnerable times, they also helped me accomplish my goals. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I wanted to provide that same network of support to young girls who did not have it. So I started my first mentoring group of eight girls, and from there, 3D Girls, Inc. was born.

3D Girls, Inc. is a non-profit created to educate and empower young women to be advocates for themselves and their families through mentoring, prenatal and parent education as well as social/emotional wellness. Our work is grounded in addressing the critical disparities that limit young women's access to educational tools, financial empowerment and health resources that are needed to thrive. We envision a future where the next generation of young women are self-sufficient leaders.

We do this through a number of services and programs. They include:
COVID-19 Relief - Emergency Assistance Program providing rental assistance, utility assistance and resources for new and expected families in metro-Atlanta.
Mom Circles - Through our partnership with Restore More, 3D Girls, Inc. is committed to equipping, empowering and educating mothers in the community with resources to support their social and emotional health.
Girls Link Up Mentoring Program  - The Girls Link Up Mentoring and Subscription Box connects girls to a community that nurtures their curiosity in S.T.E.A.M. and social wellbeing.

Over the past ten years, we have supported hundreds of girls and young mothers through these programs. We have been able to distribute over 200,000 diapers, wipes, blankets, and other essential baby care items to over 500 mothers through our outreach programming. In addition, we have hosted over 75 sessions bringing awareness to social and emotional wellness through creative healing. This year alone we have hosted 40 mentors that educate, empower, and advocate for 132 girls participating in our after-school programs. Not only that, we have provided over 90 families with emergency rental and utility assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic .

Despite all that we have accomplished, there was still a nagging conviction that we could do more. There were still questions we needed to answer. After the young women and girls leave our programs, how can we ensure that they are safe? What about the girls who age out of foster care and do not have a home to return to? What barriers are impacting their graduation rates and them not completing college? How can we curve the generational poverty that plagues the women in our community so deeply?
The answer to our questions and this glaring discrepancy is, The Rose House.

The Rose House is an economic and efficient living program that provides multilayered support to transitioning mothers. This program provides access to transitional housing, support groups, work-based training, recurrent pregnancy prevention, individual counseling, and structured recreational programs. Each resident will have a continuum care plan that connects parents to early childhood learning resources, healthcare options, and other social services tailored to their needs. This housing community is designed to nurture women and children over a six-month period following the delivery of a baby. Through our coaching and engagement, 3D Girls, Inc. will focus on ensuring that residential clients are mentally, socially, and emotionally well and have the resources that need to thrive in motherhood. Our goal is to build a strong community that supports families who have been faced with obstacles to develop a plan for their future successes. It will undoubtedly empower them to become advocates for themselves and their growing families. 

This is truly a full circle moment for our organization. The Rose House will be a transitional housing facility, a resource center, office and the headquarters for all of 3D Girls, Inc. programming. The support of The Rose House will help women and girls build resilience and be a springboard for their dreams, much like my network of support was for me when I became a young mother in 2008. 

Submitted by: Raioni Madison-Jones
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