Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is participating in Project Accelerate, an initiative started by the Girls Inc. national organization, aimed at advancing gender equality by 2030.

The program was made possible by a $10 million grant from the Equality Can’t Wait Challenge. Project Accelerate seeks to propel 5,400 diverse women into corporate leadership roles across 30 sites nationwide.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is among the newest cohort of affiliates selected for the impactful initiative. In its fourth year, Project Accelerate has expanded to 26 Girls Inc. affiliates, reaching some 3,700 girls across the country.

“We are incredibly grateful to launch Project Accelerate here in Carpinteria,” said Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. “The funds received through the Equality Can’t Wait Challenge supports our first year of programming; to sustain and expand this vital program, we will need to engage our community and secure matching contributions.

“Together, we can empower the next generation of female leaders and ensure they have the resources to thrive.”
 
“A generation of bold young women stands ready to lead change in the world. Yet entrenched, inequitable systems prevent them from having the opportunities and resources they need to succeed,” said Stephanie J. Hull, president/CEO of Girls Inc.

“Girls Inc. is proven to make a positive difference in the lives of girls. Support from the Equality Can’t Wait Challenge for Project Accelerate extends the proven Girls Inc. Experience through college and into early careers,” Hull said. “Project Accelerate is already preparing thousands of young women leaders not merely to succeed in workplace environments, but also to affect cultural change from within.

“The investment also supports change in the companies that employ these young leaders. In its insistence on justice and equity for women, Project Accelerate advances equality for all.”
 
Expected outcomes of Project Accelerate include increased rates of on-time graduation among young women; expanded networks of influence for girls from historically marginalized groups; and job placements in high-paying leadership positions.

By empowering women, we elevate their status and that of their families, neighborhoods, communities, and organizations. 

For updates on Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s upcoming gala and how to get involved, visit https://girlsinc-carp.org/.