TOMORROW'S GIRLS
TOMORROW'S GIRLS was invisioned by Pat McLean-RaShine, the founder of "In The Company of Poets". The groups performance at numerous educational institutions, community organizations and events allowed her to witness the direction in which many of the young girls in our community are headed. Feeling an overwhelming need and desire to "do something," TOMORROW'S GIRLS was born.
Tomorrow’s Girls is a youth based Rites-of-Passage program created to provide a positive and supportive environment for young girls by helping them develop living life skills. Using the seven principles of Kwanzaa. it is designed to assist the girl’s entry into adulthood by providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to become successful, independent and responsible members of the community. The program is geared towards females from ages 8 – 13, who are preparing to make the transformation from childhood to womanhood.
Our purpose is to assist girls in learning to relate to others with understanding and tolerance, making sound decisions and instilling morals and values into their lives. Providing them with desire, confidence and the strength needed to achieve a productive and promising future.
Participants will meet six to eight consecutive Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will also be additional days added for special events and outings.
Will be geared towards promoting cultural pride, self-esteem development, solidarity and a sense of community. Activities will celebrate African culture and art, promoting community involvement through volunteering, goal exploration and academic achievement.
Will provide information on health, hygiene and wellness,social etiquette, accessing community and educational resources, and career exploration.
There is no financial fee to attend. Requirements are that participants fully commit and participate in all program activities. In addition Parents/Guardians must actively be involved in at minimum, two group activities.
A sense of purpose and direction, positive adult role models, invaluable insights into African culture, new skills and readiness for adulthood.
A Rites-of-Passage celebration will be held in which participants are presented to their families and communities as viable African women.
TOMORROW'S GIRLS session for 2005 has ended. Check out below some of the fantastic things that we did. If you are interested in enrolling your daughter for the 2006 Rites-of-Passage program to be held at Temple University, from July 8th to September 2, 2006 fill out this form:
TOMORROW'S GIRLS APPLICATION
Application period ends on June 10, 2006.
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The 2005 Meet & Greet Registration Day
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First Day of Program, 2005. This was our "Me & My Sistahs," getting to know her session.
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Second Session of Program with some new participants and Volunteers (who's help I truly appreciate),
Erica Hubbard and Scheree McDonald.
Tomorrow's Girls connecting their past to the future as they create their family tree.
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Special off-site event. Conflict Resolution Theater. Presented by the Phila. Dept. of Recreation,2005
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Tomorrow's Girls, breathing & stretching as they get ready for a fun filled day of sharing, learning and creating.
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Tomorrow's Girls journey on the subway to "lil' drummaboy recordings, llc" at The Philadelphia Clef Club to record their hit, uplifting, positive rap single called
"WE ARE TOMORROW'S GIRLS."
Look at these stars shine as they pick out their own music, step up to the mic, and make not only Ms. Pat, but brother Samori Coles of lil drummaboy recordings, very, very proud. Stay tuned to hear their hit CD, coming soon to this site.
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Some of Philly's fabulous female sista's came in to tell the Tomorrow's Girls how they became Today's Women. Each of the ladies talked not only of their artistic lives, but their professional lives as well. Stressing that education and belief in yourself, is the key to success in both.
First up was Dee Maria, phenominal flautist, with the help of her talented granddaughter, she shared with everyone how she got her start in music. Afterwards she performed two beautiful songs.
Next Mrs. Carla Wiley, Storyteller and member of Philadelphia's Keepers of the Culture, opened the girls minds and hearts as she read excerpt from "For Colored Girls Who Consider Suicide When the Rainbow is Not Enough," then performed one of her own uplifting stories .
Then it came time for the girls to be educated and wowed at the same time. Author and Poet of Purpose, Runett Nia Ebo shared her expertise. First she talked about the importance of saving money. Then went on to show the girls various way in which to do so. She even gave the ladies a handout titled "Praise Yourself" to show them how to invest in themselves. To close she performed her nationally acclaimed poem "Lord Why Did You Make Me Black." It was a very enriching experience, both for the mind and the pocket:-)
Last but never least, Ms. Fantasia Owens, Actress and stage perfomer, talked to the ladies about life in front of the movie camera. She shared with them her experiences, telling them all the things you'll have to do, if you want to make it to Hollywood. It was very insightful for us all.
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August 20, 2005, Mrs. Yvonne McLean-Florance came in bearing gifts and knowledge. She spoke to the girls about the sanctuary of the home, and their responsibility as members of the household, to keep it clean and beautiful.
The Tomorrow's Girls were very receptive of her and all she had to offer. She taught them eight simple rules to abide by in order help to keep your abode beautiful.
Afterwards the girls began to create their beautiful African outfits for their upcoming performance at our closing ceremony.
Then the Tomorrow's Girls headed to the Liacouras Center to be entertained by The Stars of the Moscow Circus. It was a very, informative, eventful and fun filled day for all
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On August 23,2005 Tomorrow's Girls gathered their love of self, history and creativity, and headed down to the Philadelphia Doll Museum.
The Philadelphia Doll Museum, located on the 2200 block of North Broad Street along the Avenue of the Arts, has over 300 black dolls in its collection. The Museum provides a resource library of information and documentation, which highlights the story of how black people have been perceived throughout world history. The collection includes African, Europeans, American Folk Art dolls, the renowned Roberta Bell Doll Collection, American and internationally manufactured dolls and more.
Before we left the museum's Director, Ms. Barbara Whiteman, helped the girls create their very own beautiful African clothed paper dolls.
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Tomorrow's Girls final outing on August 24, 2005 took them to a VOCALISE workshop for voice and singing lessons.
Instructor and jazz vocalist phenomenon, Sherry Wilson-Butler, gave the girls breathing and singing exercises to help them develope their voices in preparation for their big debut performance at our closing ceremony.
Afterwards the ladies took to the stage to show Ms. Sherry what they had learned. Rehearsing their
"WE ARE TOMORROW'S GIRLS," song, they sang like little angels.
The ladies are all sung out from rehearsing for their big closing show.
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August 27, Tomorrow's Girls 2005 last session together was filled with love, laughter and lasting memories. We started the day by creating decorations for our upcoming closing ceremony. Afterwards, the girls put together scrap books full of pictures of our wonderful summer together.
After lunch the girls worked on their group and individual performances for the ceremony. We then put the finishing touches on our African outfits.
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What a way to end a beautiful summer together. Tomorrow's Girls waiting in their beautiful African outfits, designed by them, to present to family and friends some of the things they learned during the Rites-of-Passage program.
The yesterday girls, standing before their family and friends as today's young women.
They danced,recited poetry written by them, did gymnastics and sang uplifting songs to a very welcoming audience.
But that wasn't all of it. The Tomorrow's Girls were also entertained. Several gifted performers came to bless the event with their talents and show the girls how proud they are are of them.
First up was IN THE COMPANY OF POETS. The dynamic spoken word duo.
Next to the stage came NAGOHEAD. The singer/songwriter/spokenword duo, whose Afro-Caribbean flavor is mixed with the sounds of African American blues.
Next up was The Philadelphia Drumming Society. Perfroming was Terry Biggs, Zumbi Soweto, Bro. Priest, and Julani Ghana. These drummers made the presence of our ancestors felt.
And last but never least came two beautiful sistahs who have shared their talent with the Tomorrow's Girls before. Dee Dooley, Flautist and Carla Wiley, Storyteller. Dee's melodic melodies sent the audience soaring high above the clouds, while Carla's home grown story made them feel like the family that they are.
Friday, September 2, 2005, is a day that will be remembered by the TOMORROW'S GIRLS, (and their family and friends) as the day they became, yesterdays girls, and todays beautiful young women.
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Special Event Outing to the Mann Music Center, July, 2004
First Day Program, July, 2002
Group activity at 1st TOMORROW'S GIRLS, July, 2002
Tomorrow's Girls perform poetry written by them at Cobbs Creek Festival, July, 2002
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Off-Site Event, August, 2002
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1st Rites-of-Passage Closing Ceremony, August, 2002