Our Mission

Transforming spaces and transforming lives, SOHO empowers remarkable girls from underserved communities through one-to-one mentoring, art, STEM, and life skills development.

 

We envision 

A community where a diverse team of trained and caring mentors and staff instill positive values and life skills that empowers SOHO girls to feel safe, see possibilities, and be the best that they can be. 

SOHO creates a community of care to

  • Increase positive decision-making and healthy behaviors.
  • Engage in art and STEM projects as outlets for self-expression and creativity and explore future career opportunities. 
  • Increase self-esteem, helping SOHO girls recognize their strengths and develop their sense of self.
  • 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.
  • Make a lasting impact by fostering one-to-one mentor and peer group relationships beyond the one-year program.

Life skills create the framework for long term success

Each week, SOHO engages girls and their mentors in a life skills activity designed to help girls express themselves, communicate openly, make positive decisions, and develop healthy relationships.

  • Positive communication
  • Goal-setting
  • Decision-making
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Conflict resolution
  • Healthy boundaries
  • 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  caring adults serve as the foundation for social and emotional growth in children.

We believe that every child can benefit from having a mentor in their life, and that an understanding adult can help nurture and guide a 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 STEM to be endeavors in which all can succeed, and we hold these in high regard as tools for self-expression and personal growth. They are mediums through which mentors and girls can initiate conversations, share stories, and bond with others. Every SOHO meeting is structured around an art 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 safer 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  over 500 girls and boys since the program’s inception.

Each program year ends with a Promotion Ceremony to honor the accomplishments and creativity of each SOHO girl, and celebrate her and her mentor’s promotion to SOHO Club. Discover SOHO’s successes: