JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Our April Positively JAX winner has been making a difference in our community for 20 years. After graduating with a psychology degree from Florida A&M, Elexia Coleman-Moss knew she wanted to work with youth and families. So Coleman-Moss allowed herself to dream.
“I had been journaling and that turned into just putting ideas down and kind of maybe like a little business plan in this black and white composition book,” says Coleman-Moss.
Out of that notebook, ideas became a reality when Coleman-Moss got an unexpected phone call from a friend.
“She had written like the concept for Journey into Womanhood. She was like, ‘Hey, can you check this out, and tell me what you think?’ And I’m like, ‘This is really good. Do you mind if I start a chapter here?’” Coleman-Moss said.
That’s how one of three parts of Empowerment Resources, Inc. was born. Journey into Womanhood is a rite of passage and self-esteem program for girls. The program is open to students as young as third grade who can graduate from the program as high school seniors. The curriculum is to facilitate all that is healthy during the complicated process of growing up.
“So a lot of people have this misconception about girls programming being for the girl that’s at risk. Well, all girls are at risk for something depending on how you define it, right? So our program is open to any girl,” Coleman-Moss said.
The work doesn’t stop there because ERI also facilitates life skills workshops and parenting education classes. For 20 years Coleman-Moss has been laser-focused on lifting up the entire family.
Coleman-Moss said it’s the people who have kept her going all these years.
“A lot of prayers, some tears, some joy. But the community, right, so the community of people, donors, our volunteers,” Coleman-Moss said.
Coleman-Moss recently left her full-time job to focus solely on Empowerment Resources, Inc. She has big plans for the nonprofit and knows the potential.
“We named it Empowerment Resources because I can’t do it all. We can’t do it all. We want to connect people to resources in the community so that they can thrive,” Coleman-Moss said.
If we look closely, we can all learn something from Coleman-Moss’ dream that when we put our energy and focus on others thriving we all benefit and that is Positively JAX.
Empowerment Resources Inc. will be celebrating its 20th year during the annual year-end celebration for the Journey Into Womanhood (JIW) girls. This event will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, at the WJCT Studios.
Twenty JIW girls will be celebrated in “The Land of ERI,” where the organization, parents, caregivers, community partners, sponsors, supporters and friends honor them for completing the 25-week program.
Family, friends, and supporters of JIW are invited to come out and show their support for the program by purchasing tickets that are now on sale for $120. Tickets can be purchased online.