Is Female Empowerment "Earned"?

At the beginning of the year, we became very aware of the movement “Me Too”. Many speculated the various needs we have as a society to put a stop to this epidemic we still struggle with. Do we need better examples and standards for men? How can we better empower women? What strategies can we enact to reach equal pay?

I believe it starts with accessible quality education to girls of all backgrounds. When they see what they can become and are given a community present for their success, they can truly flourish. Jospehinum Academy exemplifies this. I first met this organization through a Charity Social at the beginning of the year. There, I met their Junior Board President, Emily Mohr, and I was completely captivated by her zeal and excitement about what the school was doing for the community of Chicago. A week ago she reached out and asked me to attend their Annual Winter Breakfast, an opportunity for their financial supporters and prospective volunteers to learn how they can engage in the upcoming year.

Affectionately called, “The Jo”, I was touched by the room full of people who sponsored students’ tuitions and were passionate about empowering the women of the next generation. One of their key note speakers, Chicago Tribune’s Rick Kogan, testified, “They exude this curiosity, (The Jo) teaches what other schools can only aspire to..” And the morning had proven his statement true. I met Kathy Quinn, as well as Richard McMenanim, both exuberant board members who have supported The Jo for many years. They took the time to introduce themselves to the new face in the crowd (yes, me.) This spoke volumes about the community behind The Jo. So often, you see nonprofit board members stay in their circle and rarely network with new faces.

I walked away feeling confident in how The Jo lived out their motto:

“Active. Curious. Connected to Community.”

The best part of the morning was when a senior at The Jo spoke in front of the professionals and families funding the large portion of tuitions at Josephinum. Nana Harris spoke with such eloquence as she shared her journey from Ghana to now being accepted into the Nursing Program at NIU. The crowd hushed and listened intently as she told her story, vulnerably inspiring others. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as she thanked her parents for empowering her and enabling her to be a part of such an intentional and supportive learning environment.

“At first I was not as enthusiastic about this new school that my mother seemed to love so much. I decided to visit, and within an hour of my Saturday, I knew exactly what made Josephinum special. It was a school that not only supported my dreams and expectations, but gave me countless opportunities. Opportunities that I could not have imagined before my life here. I was challenged and pushed, and learned in life, I truly had no limits. At Josephinum, the feeling of family does not just extend to the students, but the faculty and the staff themselves. They (the teachers) taught me there is always more that you can learn. Thank you for your endless dedication to our success and our future.”

Josephinum Academy is the longest running all girls’ school in Chicago, operating for the last 127 years. They host girls from 43 different zipcodes in the city and have 200 students enrolled. You’re probably thinking, “How far must a young woman go for an affordable, world-class education?” At The Jo, 53% of their students travel over a half-hour for this quality of education. Its high caliber comes at a cost, tuition is roughly $13,000. Thanks to generous donors, the average student only pays $2,750 for a quality education, access to their IB Diploma Program, and The Future Leaders Scholarship Program. The FLSP ensures all girls have the right to a world-class, transformative, college-preparatory education. These programs provide the opportunity to stand apart from other graduating seniors and instruct how to think, not what to think, resulting in the development of core competencies and skills. I could further explain, but The Jo puts it best, “We have structured our curriculum to produce graduates who are courageous self-advocates, resilient and resourceful researchers, and confident and effective communicators. We emphasize the importance of community involvement and encourage our students to be responsible citizens who are committed to making a positive change to society. This comprehensive program ensures that our graduates are not only ready for college, but have the tools they need to succeed outside of the classroom and in their future careers. Josephinum encourages girls to dream about their future and helps them establish personal goals that allow them to make those dreams become a reality.”

I hope you are moved to action by a school living out their motto and the community behind them, empowering the young women of the next generation. The job is far from finished. Even though their partnership with the Cubs provided them a new athletic campus, they still need mentors, tutors, and people willing to aid in service projects. Many have funded the mission but The Jo still needs people on the ground! Let’s join them as fellow Chicagoans and show the students and faculty our belief in their mission. I would love for you to see how truly special this school is! On February 28th, from 8:30-10:30am, The Jo is hosting an “experience” where the community is invited to see how the students learn, why they are approaching it in the way they do, and how the students engage in the amazing community they provide.

They are openly receiving volunteers and should you like to get involved immediately, you can email lindsay.bartlett @ josephinum.org or daeshawna.cook @ josephinum.org .

The Josephinum is located in a central location of Wicker Park, at the address

1501 North Oakley Boulevard

Chicago, IL

CHEERS from C H I C A G O,