b'22THEFORUMPITTSBURGH FOUNDATIONFrom schools to the juvenilebelieve in holding systemsand ourselvesaccountable to the people we serve, says Michael Yonas, the Foundations justice system, Black girlsdirector of research and special initiatives. In that, Gwens Girls is more than a grantee. Theyre a partner.aredisproportionatelyIndeed, Gwens Girls and the Foundation have made singled out and punished.measurable strides in countering the biases and stereotypes that hold girls back. As a result of their advocacy, implicit- These systems arebias training and trauma-informed care are increasingly the norm in school districts and child welfare offices. A new supposed to supportdata dashboard developed by the Allegheny County Office of girls. but in reality, theyJuvenile Probation allows for transparent, real-time monitor-ing of referrals and inequities. And a new Foundation-funded can be discriminatorydiversion program for young female offenders trades punitive measureswhich often dont help anyonefor a more andevenharmful. restorative approach.KATHI ELLIOTT In Allegheny County, magistrates can now refer young women to Gwens Girls instead of to the juvenile justice system. There, a caring mentor can help them navigate legal systems, human-services agencies and the everyday diffi-culties of growing up. The hope, says Elliott, is that we can prevent girls trajectory into the school-to-prison pipeline.So far, it seems to be working. As bad as the numbers commander. While on the beat, says Kathi Elliott, Shed getcan be, theyre actually an improvement on years past. a lot of calls from mothers, especially mothers of [tweens andAnd though much remains to be done, Elliott cites several teenagers], Elliott recalls. They go through turbulent times.reasons for optimism, including a $60,000 grant from But when my mom tried to find programs focused specificallythe Foundation that will allow Gwens Girls to expand its on the needs of girls, there werent any. So she decided to startmentorship program and implement a model proven to her own. boost girls resilience.The result was Gwens Girls, a nonprofit that supportsThen theres the Black Girls Equity Alliancea network 120 girls daily throughout Allegheny County with programof organizations and advocates that Elliott calls the most sites located in the North Side, Penn Hills, Wilkinsburgrewarding, productive project Ive ever been a part of. The and Clairton communities. The organization reaches girlsalliances working groupsfocused on child welfare, through gender-specific after-school programs, mentorshipjuvenile justice, education and healthmeet monthly to pairings and workforce training. develop programs and policy recommendations designed Now, after nearly two decades of helping girls cope withto move the needle.povertys stressors and traumas toxic effects, the organization isBest of all, a growing number of girls regularly join the confronting a fundamental question: why is Pittsburgh failingmeetings to share their stories, guide the alliances work and so many girls in the first place? Those inside the organizationlift each other up. At a recent equity summit, for example, and in other youth-serving agencies say its because traditionalGirls from different schools came together and shared their youth-development systems are gender-neutral and not able tothoughts about Black beauty, said Rashonda, one of the customize programs to girls, who now face increasingly negativeparticipants. Its empowering.forces that diminish life prospects.Nearby, a group of girls discussed their ideas for boost-To grow more powerful counter-forces, Gwens Girls ising self-esteem among young Black women. Real queens, partnering with The Pittsburgh Foundation and engagingthey chanted in unison, fix each others crowns.with its 100 Percent Pittsburgh organizing principle thatElliott credits the Foundation not only for funding such addresses root causes of poverty and inequity. work, but also for getting involved as an advocate. The The two organizations, along with more than a dozenFoundation knows what it means to be a partner, she says. additional agencies and advocates, spent months listening toThey come to our meetings. They get to know our girls. They young men and women and learning their stories of trauma,take those extra steps toward understanding nonprofits resilience and strength. The resulting report, A Qualitativeneeds and how to best support themnot just financially, Study of Youth and the Juvenile Justice System, outlinedbut also with their expertise, their connections and their interventions and policy recommendations informed by theability to improve the data or research. Working with them youth themselves.has been phenomenal. Theyre an asset to the girls we serve.It also launched a joint effort to change the systems that can harm young women. Both of our organizationsbyRyan Rydzewski | freelance writer based inPittsburgh'