EMPOWHER OF THE PALM BEACHES
LEADERSHIP IS MY TOMORROW
THE ACADEMY
Message From Our Founder
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Ms. Geanine Wester
I can hardly believe that more than ten years ago, the EmpowHER Leadership Academy was just a dream—a bold idea with no blueprint, only vision. And yet, less than six months later, that vision came to life with our very first class of 20 remarkable young ladies.
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Today, I am overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. Proud of every young woman who has walked through the doors of the Academy and grown into
a confident leader. Proud of our alumnae who continue to blaze trails across industries and communities. Grateful for the mentors who have poured into our girls month after month—offering guidance, encouragement, and unwavering support. And deeply thankful for our dedicated Board, EmpowHER team, families, and community partners who have stood with us in cultivating a safe and nurturing space to educate, empower, and inspire the next generation of changemakers in Palm Beach County and beyond.
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I will never forget the emotion I felt watching our very first class graduate—many accepted into colleges and universities throughout Florida and across the nation. Their determination to succeed and their desire to make a difference affirmed everything we set out to do. These young women are not just students; they are leaders in the making, each with a story that inspires and a future filled with purpose.
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And still, this is only the beginning.
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Every new Leadership Academy class reaffirms our mission. I challenge each participant with one simple but profound expectation: give your personal best. And time and again, they rise to the occasion—transforming not only themselves, but also their families, communities, and the world around them. Because what I know for sure is this: when you educate a young woman, you empower a community. When you invest in her potential, you are investing in the future.
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These young ladies are beacons of light—proof of what is possible when purpose meets opportunity. Watching them grow, discover, and step into their greatness has been one of the greatest rewards of my life.
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Thank you to our leadership and every single supporter who has helped build and sustain this Academy. The work continues—and the best is yet to come.
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OUR PROGRAM FOCUS
EmpowHER Leadership Academy for Girls mission is to bring business and education
together to empower high school junior and senior girls to become future women leaders
through interactive relationships, innovative leadership and career shadowing and development.
Leadership Empowerment
Academic Empowerment
Educational Program
Advocacy/Community Service
EmpowHER Leadership Academy for Girls mission is to bring business and education together to empower high school junior and senior girls to become future women leaders through interactive relationships, innovative leadership and career shadowing and development.
Junior and senior high school girls will be asked to take
a Florida Virtual School Leadership class that will explore options and create a personalized educational plan that focuses on leadership development. This will enable them
to receive high credits.
Junior and senior high school girls will create career portfolios, enhance their knowledge with world-recognized skills certifications, and have access to select college scholarships through essay writing.
Junior and senior high school girls will work toward advocating for a selected cause/ issue by participating in awareness campaigns and case study promoting political leadership.
OUR FOUR CORE VALUES
Compassion
The Leadership Academy Girls are expected to demonstrate compassion for the less privileged, the vulnerable and others in need. This sense of compassion is made active through our advocacy projects and other activities that the girls undertake
to offer assistance and support to their fellow human beings. These values underpin our expectations for the girl’s conduct. Disciplined and responsible behavior, coupled with an understanding of and respect for the rights of other academy participants
are essential for the development of harmonious relationships in the Academy.
Honor is the foundation upon which the Academy Girls’ thoughts, actions and interactions are based upon. Girls undertake their actions guided by a sense
of trust, integrity and responsibility for the decisions they make.
Honor
Respect
Respect for the inherent dignity of every individual is a fundamental tenet
of the Leadership Academy development. Respect must be manifested through
an acceptance of the diversity of cultures, backgrounds, beliefs and ideas represented by members, leaders and the community in which we live.
Academy Girls are expected to develop a lifelong commitment to the service
of the community. This commitment is actively nurtured through the Academy
during our community engagement projects that aim to improve the lives and circumstances of individuals and communities.
Service
We are a non-profit organization, founded in 2015, supporting diversity and will introduce a diverse group of junior and senior girls to organizations that are led by women executives and will focus on job shadowing, interview skills, resume writing, effective communication both verbal and written, career exploration and much more.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
EmpowHER Leadership Academy for Girls will empower female students from various schools throughout the Palm Beach County District. The academy supports diversity and would introduce the junior and senior girls to organizations that are led by women executives and will focus on job shadowing, interview skills, resume writing, effective communication both verbal and written, career exploration and much more.
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The Leadership Academy is free and open to twenty (20) young ladies thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors. The Leadership Academy will meet once a month during the Palm Beach County School District calendar beginning in September of 2017, with eight (8) planned business tours in the areas of Leadership Empowerment (leadership and branding), Political Empowerment, Economic Empowerment and Education Empowerment. Training will be provided by Palm Beach County’s Women Experts. The Leadership Academy participants will also be provided with a trip to Tallahassee to tour the Florida State Capitol. The tour would offer the girls an opportunity to meet face-to-face with legislators and learn more about the political process.
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Upon completion of the program in May of 2018, participants will finish with a leadership certificate and community service hours to be awarded during our Student Achievement Awards Program.
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Criteria to participate:
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Full-time student in Palm Beach County School System
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Grade Point Average (GPA) of a 2.8 and higher
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Essay describing why you feel you are a good candidate for this program.
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Two References
2023 - 2024 ADVOCACY PROJECT
2022 - 2023 ADVOCACY PROJECT
2021 - 2022 ADVOCACY PROJECT
“It’s okay not to be okay but it’s not okay not to tell someone you
are not okay.” The academy made 2,500 hand crafted bracelets
to support mental health of student athletes in Palm Beach County Schools. The bracelets were hand delivered to students athlete
at the following schools: Boca Raton Community High School, Atlantic Community High School, Lake Worth Community High School, Palm Beach Lakes Community High School, Park Vista Community High School, Palm Beach Gardens Community High School, Suncoast Community High School, Royal Palm Beach Community High School, Pahokee High School and Glade Central Community High School.
2019 - 2020 ADVOCACY PROJECT
2017 - 2018 ADVOCACY PROJECT
Donate a shoebox of toiletries here – deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, male hygiene products, mouthwash, lotions, wash clothes and towels, hair products, soap/body wash, facial wash, razors, body spray/cologne, baby wipes, deodorant, band aides, hand sanitizer and journals to express their most inner thoughts in an effort of releasing whatever is going on in their lives.
Supporting the efforts of Palm Beach County Community Service, Human Services Division, EmpowHER Leadership Academy for Girls donated more than 250 “Welcome Kits” for the 100 Youth in 100 Homes in 100 Days Challenge – Palm Beach County Homeless Coalition & Housing Alliance
2016 - 2017 ADVOCACY PROJECT
In communities across America, the homeless live their days
on the streets. As a society, we have helped countless homeless through donations of clothing and food. Yet, one article of clothing is often missed in donation piles and separately needed by this group.
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SOCKS. Why socks?
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People very rarely donate new socks to the homeless.
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Since socks are worn almost all of the time, they can be worn and frayed from the wear and tear. Therefore, the number one needed clothing article is new socks from medical issues like bunions and hammertoes to infectious diseases like athlete’s foot and fungus, old socks only contribute to increasing damage to feet.
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EmpowHER Leadership Academy for Girls determined that there was a need in our community and jumped into action with Project Sock ‘Em. The Academy donated nearly 2,400 pairs socks to the Homeless Coalition Palm Beach County!
THANK YOU, CBS Channel 12, for featuring the story
on the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news and their website!
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
“Leadership is My Tomorrow”, this resonates throughout
our Academy with our students and leadership team. The resilience and dedication that our girls have, is remarkable. We strive to provide a nurturing educational environment
for academically and politically strong girls who have the potential to grow into dynamic women leaders. Our future women leaders, in their chosen fields, will make their mark. You can help them make that mark by making a donation today. Become a partner in educating these young women leaders.
If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family (nation).
African Proverb
The Leadership Academy is a recipient of the 2017-2018 Great Ideas Initiative Grant funded by Children’s Service Council