New York City nonprofit organization
Girls equipped for what comes next
G.E.M. empowers NYC girls from kindergarten through college with the skills, mentorship, social intelligence, and confidence to lead their lives with intention.
About Us
G.E.M. empowers girls with confidence, character, and practical skills to thrive in every setting. Through etiquette, mentorship, leadership, emotional wellness, education, and career exploration, girls learn how to navigate life with intention and purpose. G.E.M. welcomes girls of all races, ethnicities, cultures, and backgrounds.
Our mission
G.E.M. equips girls with confidence, character, and life skills to make meaningful choices, build healthy relationships, pursue their goals, and lead with purpose in every area of their lives.
Our vision
We envision communities where girls are empowered to lead with confidence, treat themselves and others with respect, and see themselves as capable of achieving their goals and creating meaningful change.
G.E.M. was created from a simple belief: girls deserve a village that helps them grow with confidence, character, and purpose.
As daughters, sisters, mothers, and aunts, we have seen firsthand how deeply girls are shaped by what they observe, what they practice, and the people who walk alongside them. We created G.E.M. to provide a welcoming space where timeless values meet real-life preparation—where girls can learn, ask questions, discover their voice, and grow into who they are becoming.
Today’s girls are navigating social pressures, social media influences, changing expectations, and important decisions about identity, friendships, relationships, education, and their future. Families play an essential role, but no family should have to provide every lesson alone. G.E.M. is part of the village.
Through mentorship, meaningful conversation, reflection, and hands-on experiences, girls develop the skills to communicate with confidence, establish healthy boundaries, lead with intention, and make thoughtful decisions about their future.
At G.E.M., etiquette is not about perfection or changing who a girl is. It is about self-respect, awareness, consideration, and confidence—knowing how to enter a room, navigate a situation, and use her voice without losing herself.
G.E.M. is the village we wanted to build: a community where girls are seen, supported, challenged, and celebrated as they grow into confident young women who lead with grace, strength, and purpose.
Carrying yourself with dignity, self-awareness, confidence, and consideration for others.
Valuing yourself, other people and the spaces you share.
Using your voice, trusting yourself, making decisions, and showing up authentically.
Understanding that your words, choices, and actions have an impact—and taking ownership of them.
Remaining open to learning, reflection, challenges, and new possibilities.
Using your voice, strengths, and leadership to make a meaningful difference in your family, school, and community.
Our leadership team
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder
Director of Programs & Curriculum
Our programs
K–2
Blooming Confidence
A strong foundation for a bright future.
Grades 3–5
Building Character
Belonging begins with knowing your worth.
A joyful introduction to self-awareness, social confidence, respectful communication, and everyday decision-making.
Grades 6–8
Finding My Voice
Identity becomes a source of direction.
A developmental bridge that helps girls navigate peer pressure, communication, digital presence, conflict, and emerging independence.
Grades 9–12
Ready for What’s Next
Preparation turns ambition into agency.
College, career, financial, and civic readiness taught through mentorship, professional exposure, practical rehearsal, and reflection.
College
Thriving in the Next Chapter
From campus life to career goals — staying grounded, confident and connected.
Four facts shaping our work
of girls ages 5–13 say becoming an adult feels scary.
View the source : Girl Scouts of the USA, 2026Girl Scouts of the USA, 2026of NYC female public high school students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness.
View the source : NYC Health, 2023 Youth Risk Behavior SurveyNYC Health, 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveyof sampled NYC schools did not meet the recommended social-worker staffing ratio.
View the source : NYC Comptroller, 2026NYC Comptroller, 2026of young people nationally grow up without ever having a mentor.
View the source : MENTOR, Who Mentored You? studyMENTOR, Who Mentored You? studyThese figures describe the broader environment in which girls are growing up. This data establishes the need for supportive developmental programming; Figures are not presented as measured outcomes of G.E.M.
Built through partnership
G.E.M. complements the work already happening in New York City homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Partnership makes the learning visible, repeatable, and culturally relevant.
Reinforce confidence, communication, and responsible independence at home.
Bring age-responsive workshops and program series directly to students.
Share expertise, widen access, and invest in meaningful developmental experiences.
How girls learn with G.E.M.
Every session moves from understanding to action through a clear, repeatable learning cycle.
Introduce language, concepts, and relevant models.
Use scenarios, discussion, role-play, and guided decisions.
Connect the lesson to identity, values, and lived experience.
Leave with a concrete action, habit, or leadership challenge.
Start a conversation
Families, school leaders, community partners, mentors, and supporters are invited to connect with the G.E.M. team.
Main point of contactinfo@gemgirlsshine.org
Use our inquiry form to tell us about your interest in programs, school partnerships, mentorship, or supporting G.E.M.
Open the G.E.M. inquiry formOpens Google Forms in a new window.