PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Dr. Tawanna Jones-Morrison is an educator and school psychologist by trade. Her passion for girls' wellness and empowerment led her to start We Reign Inc., rooting, empowering, inspiring a girl's nation.
“My greatest intention is to be a servant of the community, particularly, the Black girl community,” said Jones-Morrison.
The North Philadelphia-based nonprofit bridges gaps in the school curriculum, by creating a safe space and community for young Black girls to learn about themselves and grow into conscious young adults.
“Our mission is for girls to develop the skills that they need to be advocates, activists, organizers, and change agents in their own lives and communities,” said Jones-Morrison.
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In Philadelphia, where many major issues are rooted back to poverty and systemic inequities tied to race, Jones-Morrison says it’s essential that young Black girls learn the invaluable and intangible skills, like how to call their local City Council member and ask for what their community needs.
“What we teach the girls how to do is community organizing and activism,” said Jones-Morrison.
"A lot of the things that they did this year were so cool. They did COVID-19 outreach, vaccination information sessions. We even had a Black youth march for their lives that brought out community members.”
We Reign Inc. which recently celebrated a five-year anniversary, has served more than 500 girls. It has become a Philadelphia treasure which fosters girls into young leaders.
Many of the girls who have graduated from the organization and went on to endeavors like college come back as paid interns to teach and mentor the younger girls.
Jones-Morrison says the organization's special sauce is encouraging Black girls to bring their full stories and lives to the table.
“We emphasize something that is not emphasized in a lot of places, and that is the value of emotions and personal experience. And one of the things that we talk about very often is that your feelings and your experiences are valuable knowledge in the work that you're doing,” Jones-Morrison explained.
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“They really enjoy being able to talk to other Black girls, about Black girl issues, because these aren't the kind of things that they're usually talking about, necessarily in school. So it's a space where they can have those conversations safely, and not feel micro-aggressions, or this dismissal of their feelings.”
The most important ingredient that has helped the organization become successful in the lives of young Black girls?
Love.
“And I love them, you know, so I think that they feel that too,” said Jones-Morrison.
She says the organization is always looking to help more young women around the city.
To learn more about We Reign Inc. workshops, mentorship, and scholarship opportunities, click on their website or Instagram.
