Humble Beginnings...
Ladies of Favor, Inc. Mentoring Program was founded January 19, 2007 by Ms. Gabrielle Starr, a former social worker with Clayton County Department of Family and Children Services, at the tender age of 22. A vision was birthed inside of her to touch the lives of teenage girls in order to build the image of young ladies and expose them to having a closer relationship with God.
Ladies of Favor started with 5 young ladies and 6 adult mentors. Since the inception, Ladies of Favor has impacted the lives of over 2500 young ladies in the metropolitan Atlanta area. The program was incorporated in 2007 and obtained 501 c (3) Non Profit Status in 2009. Ladies of Favor began meeting at local community centers and libraries until a partnership was developed with Clayton County Adolescent Health and Youth Development Center under the direction of Ms. Brenda Tillman, in October 2007. They met there faithfully until Ladies of Favor celebrated the opening of a new facility and office space in May 2009 in Jonesboro, GA. Ladies of Favor has been able to sustain financially with the assistance of individual donors, organizations and companies in the community. Guidance, advice, encouragement and support from Apostle T. D. Collins, Upper Room Ministries has made a tremendous impact in the growth of Ladies of Favor also.
Ladies of Favor has been recognized in local newspapers such as “Clayton Neighbor and Clayton News Daily” and featured on radio shows such as “No Ordinary Gospel Show” with Sean Edwards and Dr Kam’s Radio Show WIGO 1570 AM to name a few. Ladies of Favor was featured on CNN in April 2010 as an organization tackling the bullying epidemic with teens and highlighted for assisting with the turn around from deviant behavior. Also, several youth from Ladies of Favor were interviewed by producers from Nickelodeon, Lucky Duck studios to share experiences of being bullied. One was chosen to participate in a taping of the show in New York, Fall 2010. Ladies of Favor was also featured on 11Alive News in September 2010. Ladies of Favor has established partnerships with government organizations such as Clayton County Board of Health, Clayton County Juvenile Court, Clayton County Department of Family and Children Services, Clayton County Parks and Recreation, & Clayton County Library System and local colleges and universities(Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mercer & Albany State University), churches(Upper Room Ministries, Paradise COGIC, Travelers Rest Baptist & Andrews Chapel UMC) and schools(Parks Middle School, Forest Park HS) within the metropolitan Atlanta area. Ladies of Favor is being sought after for programming suggestions by youth servicing organizations in California, Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Kansas, Arkansas and other states across the country. Ladiesd of Favor was honored to assist the Success stories include 8 alumni attending college, first 2 mentees ever participated still have active membership and graduated from high school, decrease in sexual activity, detrimental relationships with parents are restored, self image is thought about more carefully and a closer spiritual connection is sought. Ladies of Favor was honored to host as the pilot site for the TOP Club Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant with the Clayton County Board of Health and a receipient of the Kem Kembrough Foundation Grant. July 2011, Ladies of Favor opened the doors to a new facility which will be able to service more youth.
As God continues to expand Ladies of Favor, our vision is to reach teens through mentoring, television and radio broadcast, stage plays, clothing lines, magazines, books, establishing centers, homes and much more. Ladies of Favor is on a quest to impact youth internationally and take them to higher levels spiritually, mentally, and socially. THE BEST IS YET TO COME...
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