Our Mission

Transforming spaces and transforming lives, SOHO empowers girls from under-resourced communities through visual arts, carpentry, life skills lessons and creative one-to-one mentoring.

 

We envision a strong sisterhood…

To reach girls in under-served communities and increase positive decision-making and healthy behaviors.

To engage all participating youth in art and carpentry projects as outlets for self-expression and creativity.

To empower youth to see the arts as an endeavor at which all can succeed.

To increase every participant’s self-esteem, help them recognize their strengths and develop their sense of self.

To cultivate life skills, including:

  • Positive communication
  • Goal-setting
  • Decision-making
  • Leadership
  • Anger management
  • Conflict resolution
  • Healthy eating
  • Etiquette
  • Community service

To provide every participant with a personalized Space of Her Own that encourages creativity, conveys a sense of value and serves as a lasting reminder of her circle of support and care.

To have a lasting impact by fostering one-to-one mentor and peer group relationships beyond the one-year program.

 

Our Philosophy

Space of Her Own embraces the concept that strong, positive, one-on-one relationships with understanding adults serve as the foundation for social and emotional growth in children. It is our belief that every child benefits from having a mentor in his or her life, and that a caring adult can help nurture and guide the child along the path to adulthood. For this reason, each mentor is matched with an individual girl in each of our programs.

Space of Her Own deems arts and science to be endeavors in which all can succeed, and we hold these in high regard as tools for self-expression. They are the mediums through which mentors and girls can initiate conversations, share stories, and bond with others. Every SOHO meeting is structured around an art, carpentry or STEM project. 

Space of Her Own trusts that access to information about drugs and alcohol, pregnancy prevention, health and nutrition helps girls make the right choices for themselves. Through honest and open conversation about important topics, girls are given the opportunity to ask questions and make better life choices.

We are confident that all of the girls in our program have the potential to grow into the next generation of leading women. We present them with opportunities to hone skills that are imperative for leadership, including positive communication, assertiveness, financial management, active listening and questioning, and goal-setting.

We will use these beliefs as our guide to continue fulfilling our mission.

 

SOHO’s Successes

SOHO has served 452 girls and boys since the program’s inception and has a 98% success rate. That means the rate of involvement in the juvenile court system is just two percent.

Each program year ends with a Community Celebration to honor the accomplishments and creativity of each child who participates in SOHO. Discover SOHO’s successes: