THE NYOTA ACADEMY
The Nyota Academy is a college preparation and mentoring program designed for high school sophomores and juniors. The Academy supports young women as they navigate the crucial transition from high school to higher education by equipping them with the academic, professional, and personal tools necessary for success.
Program Components:
The Nyota Academy curriculum is built around six key pillars:
- Public Speaking: Building confidence, voice, and presence through presentation and communication workshops.
- Essay Writing: Strengthening writing skills for college admissions, scholarship essays, and personal statements.
- Test-Taking and Study Strategies: Teaching effective learning techniques and test preparation methods that enhance academic performance.
- College Application Assistance: Providing guidance through every step of the college admissions process, from identifying fit to completing applications.
- Financial Literacy: Introducing foundational concepts in budgeting, scholarships, and financial aid to promote informed decision-making.
- Career Exploration: Exposing participants to diverse career paths through panels, site visits, and mentorship from professional women.
Impact:
The Nyota Academy empowers participants to approach their future with clarity and confidence.
By the end of the program, students will have:
- Completed personalized college and career readiness plans.
- Improved academic performance and standardized test outcomes.
- Gained greater awareness of scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
- Expanded their professional and peer networks through mentoring and alumni engagement.
- Strengthened leadership, resilience, and self-advocacy skills.
THE NYOTA INSTITUTE
The Nyota Institute is a leadership development program for high school seniors designed to inspire young women to envision lives beyond traditional societal expectations, empower them to build their capacity as global leaders, and transform them into catalysts for intellectual, entrepreneurial, and social innovation. The Nyota Institute will address the following challenges faced by Black teenage girls.
- Limited Access to Mentorship and Representation
- Navigating Stereotypes and Bias
- Disparities in Educational and Career Preparation
- Mental Health and Resilience
- Lack of Structured Leadership Development Spaces
The Nyota Institute will transform the trajectory of Black female high school seniors by equipping them with the mindset, mentorship, and mastery to lead with purpose. Through its intensive leadership development framework, the program will:
- Inspire Vision Beyond Limits
- Strengthen Academic and Professional Readiness
- Empower Leadership and Community Impact
- Cultivate Wellness and Self-Advocacy
- Build Intergenerational and Professional Networks
STRONG START SCHOLARSHIPS
The Strong Start Scholarship provides need-based financial support to help students overcome the final, yet often most critical, barriers to college enrollment. These funds cover essential expenses such as college application fees, new student orientation costs, housing deposits, uniforms, and textbook purchases—expenses that, while seemingly minor, can prevent students from starting college on time or even at all.
By removing these last-mile barriers, the Strong Start Scholarship:
- Increases college enrollment and persistence rates among high-potential students from underrepresented communities.
- Promotes equity and access by addressing the financial obstacles that disproportionately affect Black female students and students from low-income households.
- Supports student success by allowing recipients to begin their college journeys focused on academics, not financial uncertainty.
- Builds community impact, as recipients are encouraged to “pay it forward” through mentorship and service within their own schools and neighborhoods.
SHE ROSE SIGNATURE SERIES
The SHE ROSE Signature Series is a curated celebration of young Black women who are boldly stepping into leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The series recognizes and uplifts young women on the rise—those launching new businesses, social innovation projects, educational initiatives, or creative ventures that reflect brilliance, purpose, and impact.
Program Components:
Each event within the SHE ROSE Signature Series includes:
- Recognition Ceremonies: highlighting honorees’ achievements and visions.
- Launch Support Sessions: providing seed funding or professional resources for project implementation.
- Mentorship Connections: pairing honorees with women leaders across industries.
- Community Showcase: offering platforms for participants to share their work with local audiences and stakeholders.
Through this series, SHE ROSE transforms recognition into opportunity.
By celebrating innovation and excellence, the program:
- Cultivates a new generation of Black women changemakers in education, entrepreneurship, and social leadership.
- Expands visibility for young women’s contributions to community transformation.
- Strengthens intergenerational mentorship networks among women leaders.
- Demonstrates the power of investment, affirmation, and community celebration in advancing gender and racial equity.