G.E.M.S. Mentorship Academy
Girls Empowered and Motivated to Succeed is a mentorship academy that is focused on helping young girls ages 8-18, step into their full potential. Guided by our faith-based mentorship program, our mission is to provide lessons and resources that empower our young girls with the tools to be efficient communicators, self-aware, self-confident, effective leaders and caring citizens of their community, family and friends.
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Our vision is to build, grow and expand our resources that represent and uphold the standards our young girls will pursue through valuable connections, having enriching life-changing experiences and innovative as well as productive decision-making.
“It all starts with YOU” is our motto!
Y- Yes! A girl like me has the power, the resources and the self-will to be great and succeed in what I choose to do!
O- I will Overcome every circumstance I may face because I have a great support system who will be there for me. I’m not alone!
U- I Understand that it starts with me. My choices are a reflection of me. Life will happen but its my choice how I react.
The G.E.M.S. Pledge
I am a rare beauty inside and out! I am a confident young woman without a doubt! I may not always get it right but I will choose to be the light! I will love myself and others despite what I may feel. For I know that hate from within is the poison that silently kills. I will be a leader in my purpose and in my goals. I will be sure that success at every level is celebrated because every failure pushed me closer to the glorious path unknown. I am a GEM glowing, growing, developing and true. Constantly reminding myself of our GEMS motto, It all starts with YOU!!
Development, Growth, Choices!!
Lakedra White
G.E.M.S Founder, Mentor & Executive Director
Hello!! My name is Lakedra White. I am from Hertford County, NC. Here’s a bit of background information about myself. I am an ordained minister who is devoted to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am a gospel recording artist. I am a Licensed Cosmetologist. I am a Volleyball Coach of 13 years. I am a licensed Professional School Counselor and I am a Doctoral Student. I will be completing my Ed.D in Educational Leadership in the fall of 2024.
Now that we have that in the way. Here is my passion! My passion and my purpose is to help young people grow and become the most valuable version of themselves. No one is perfect and sometimes kids feel that they need to be in order to succeed. My path and the goals I have achieved did not come without challenge, mentally, physically and emotionally. I understand that every person has their own path to success. My purpose for creating this mentorship program for young girls is to guide them into self-love and self-respect. Often kids feel like they are not heard. We don’t have to always agree with every choice a person makes but how we make a person feel goes a long way.
I lead with assertiveness, love, truth and guidance through my mentorship academy because it is needed. Our young girls need to know they have a safe place and extra support at their fingertips. That is why I do what I do. My passion to help children reach their full potential will be used in this platform. My goal is that when they are in real-life situations, they will dig into their mental toolbox and apply what they have been taught here at G.E.M.S. Mentorship Academy. Development, Growth, Choices!!
Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity;”