Meet Brenda G. Mewborn

Empowered Girls of North Carolina

“Growth - Value - Purpose”

How did your organization start?

Empowered Girls of North Carolina, established January 1, 2014, combined the community knowledge, reputation, and track record of a local youth services organization with 14 years of experience, research-based curriculum, and excellent resources to bring innovative, inspiring educational programs to empower girls and young women in Guilford County. In year 2000, a small group of computer industry professionals founded TechStart Inc., a computer technology center that offered family focused computer skill training. In late 2005, TechStart founders decided to expand their work with girls and young women to offer more comprehensive, year-round programming. We became an affiliate of Girls Incorporated from 2005 until 2013. In January of 2014 we launched what is now Empowered Girls of North Carolina. We are proud of our organization and our girls.

What issue are you addressing?

Empowered Girls of North Carolina exists to empower girls to become responsible, self-reliant, confident girls with respect for self and others. Our primary goal is to lead girls to become successful young women that are equipped to make changes in the world.

Our programming teaches girls how to find their true self-worth. We produce girls that are growing up healthy, planning to be educated, being intentional about becoming a parent and becoming independent.

Where did your passion for this cause come from?

My passion comes from my experience as a young girl. I always felt that I was alone, I was shy and did not feel confident in my talents or my gifts. I want girls to be able to express themselves, hone their talents and learn to be confident.

Why is your work so important for Greensboro?

Our vision for EMPOWERED GIRLS is that we will teach girls the skills that they need to have the lives they want and deserve. Our vision for our girls is they will learn to value their minds, bodies and spirits. Our vision is that our girls will value themselves, will learn that what they have to say is important and they have something to offer this community and to this world.

What are you most excited for as it relates to FF10?

I am excited that more families will involve their girls in Empowered Girls of NC.

What have you already learned from the process?

I have learned how to get our message out to more people. My coaches have given me more confidence and direction for our organization.

What do you hope to get out of FF10?

I first thought funds, but after having being chosen as a finalist, I realize that FF10 has given me a hope to grow our organization after having experienced a year of pandemic. After personally experiencing Covid, I have been physically challenged but my coaches have helped me to gain renewed strength in getting our program to advance in 2021.