Program in Louisville developing female leaders, empowering students' voices

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A program is building self-confidence, developing leaders and opening opportunities for female students around Louisville.

Louisville Girls Leadership brings students from around Jefferson County into one place for education, advocacy and action. The leadership development program meets twice a month during the school year and recently completed the 2024 cohort.

"Meeting new young women that challenge my way of thinking, that was the most eye-opening thing for me," said Zoë Newsome, a sophomore. "There are so many types of teenagers that push the limit of what a woman is."

There are 40 students in the 2024 class, representing 24 high schools around the Louisville area. The program highlights diversity in the city, as 85% of the cohort identifies as a student of color, and 20 zip codes are represented.

For participants, it provides a chance to meet other girls from around the city for lasting connections.

"It was really meaningful," Zaria Piakston, a senior at Butler High School, said. "You could build a relationship here. You could really get close to somebody for the rest of your life or network with someone that you never thought you would. It was like a second family."

Louisville Girls Leadership began in 1997 with a mission to develop leadership and promote self-esteem in girls and young women. In the early 2000s, it started to fulfill a void in the city by offering leadership and personal development for teenage girls.

Since then, more than 625 students have participated in the Louisville Girls Leadership program. 

Carmellia Jackson-Hurley, who serves as the executive director of Louisville Girls Leadership, moved to Louisville five years ago and first joined the organization's board of directors. She now leads the program that puts leadership into action. 

"We all have our own superpowers," Jackson-Hurley said. "We get to show other people their superpowers and how to be confident with theirs. I want them to lead with love. I want them to be authentically them. I want them to inspire other people."

The leadership program focuses on empowering students' voices. The group visited the Capitol in Frankfort to stand for women's rights and speak with Kentucky legislators 

"LGL will fight for you even if it seems like people aren't," Newsome said. 

Along with leadership development and advocacy, the group also volunteers with local organizations. They're able to meet community leaders, elected officials and people who they aspire to be one day.

"Relationships are so instrumental into our development, we're all interconnected,” Jackson-Hurley said. “Getting these girls in front of people that they can build a connection with that can propel them through whatever they want to do is so important."

Aubrey White, a senior at Walden School, said the program showed her she can thrive in a bigger environment. 

"What makes me different? LGL reminded me each and every day that I'm different and unique for my own qualities," White said. "It gives them skills that you don't even know you need in order to do well, not only in high school but college. And honestly I'll take these skills into my career."

Applications for next year's cohort will open in May for soon-to-be sophomores, juniors and seniors. 

To learn more about Louisville Girls Leadership, click here.

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