PROVIDING THE SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM OVERCOMEWe work to change the lives of young women who need it most.
Learn More About Our Mission
In 2018, I was traveling out of the country with a group of women of color, from Tampa, FL, that are similar in age. It was funny to me that although we were all in good spaces in life, we all noted how much further along we thought we could have been if we had a little more guidance and a lot less stumbling time. We shared stories about how no one had walked us through financial aid until later so we had unnecessary loans. Also, the lack of goal setting we were taught cost us some time on the back end. As we continued to talk I thought about how great it would be if there was a program where women invested their time, energy, and themselves into paving a smooth path for girls. How great could it be if girls could see women that looked like them being successful in just any career path?
When I came back to Tampa and began to look into programs that offered what I was looking for I found that there were several programs for girls but very few of them were geared specifically to girls of color and the majority of them were for girls on a college track. By no means am I setting out to spread the message that college doesn’t matter, but I don’t want girls to feel that college is the only option. I would like to revise the narrative that “if you don’t go to college you can’t be successful”. We would like to share with the girls that they have options. We would also like to supply them with opportunities, such as mentorships, guidance, tools, resources, and information.
As the President and CEO of Mind the Gap for Girls, Incorporated, what I bring to the table is my most authentic self. It is my intent to share with the girls, where I come from, who I am now, and the network of AMAZING women that I am surrounded by. I have always enjoyed giving back and the “each one, teach one” mentality runs through my veins. More importantly I live by the motto “be for a child what you wished someone had been for you”.
Through this program I aim to give these girls the tools to win, the ambition to want to win, the mentality that allows for them to win, and the understanding that they can win together. My prayer is that we will leave a mark on the heart of each girl that passes through our program that in turn leaves a mark on the heart of every person they surround themselves with.
MEET OUR CEO
CHANACI R. MADDOX
Our Programs
- Assist young women understand what the world will hold for them once they graduate high school by providing them with tools and resources to be successful (i.e. planning, budgeting, branding themselves).
- Provide program participants with information about college, trade, military, and business opportunities to help them determine the best path for them and give them access to information on how to build their best selves as they travel the road ahead.
- Provide unique and relevant mentorships for participating girls that will allow them access to successful women who can show them how to shine in their fields of interest.
- Provide critical life skills to set young women up for success. (i.e. goal setting, establishing accounts, establishing credit, applying for jobs, working, and building/maintaining relationships of all kind.
