WFA Grantee Spotlight: Powerful Voices – The Power of One Voice: Ressie's Story
Ressie is a participant in Girls RAP, a program designed to foster leadership, critical thinking and individual potential of middle school girls. Girls RAP is delivered by Powerful Voices, a Women's Funding Alliance (WFA) member agency and past grantee. Ressie's story is also a testament to the incredible impact one young woman can have. Through Girls RAP, Ressie has tapped her own leadership ability and has put that discovery to work to better her own life and the lives of others.
Ressie has endured many challenges. Most recently, she and her mother were forced to move to a motel after losing their home in a fire. Despite these hardships, Ressie has persevered and thrived academically and socially. She's developed a particular passion for combating the social injustices that affect women and girls by sharing her time and talent to make a difference in her community. Ressie has become a leader in Girls RAP, was elected President of her middle school and has received two awards from Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels in recognition of her ability to overcome obstacles while excelling academically and giving back to the community. Looking ahead, Ressie plans to attend a historically African-American university and become a teacher so she can further give back and inspire young people.
At WFA, we know that enlisting the leadership of young women just like Ressie is vital to achieving positive, lasting change for women and girls in our communities. Ressie is an inspirational young woman, role model, scholar and community member. She reminds us all of the power of one voice.
