STAR Girlz Empowerment, Inc.

It's Time to SHINE! 

Founded in 2014, STAR Girlz Empowerment, Inc. emerged in Denver, Colorado as a response to a critical gap in services for girls and young women of color, especially those who had experienced trauma, systemic barriers, or involvement with the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. The organization was created with a clear purpose: to provide culturally responsive, healing-centered programming that would mentor, empower, and transform the next generation of young women.
 
 STAR Girlz began as a vision to build a platform where girls could confront real-life challenges through psychoeducational and experiential learning. Drawing on the lived realities of many of its participants who are growing up in single-parent homes, experiencing racial inequities, and surviving emotional trauma, STAR Girlz developed programs that felt relevant, affirming, and transformational.
 
 In 2016, that vision took its first visible form in partnership with All Grown Up and The Salvation Army Intermountain Division, through the launch of B.L.I.N.G., an acronym for Beauty. Leadership. Image. New You. Goal-digging. This back-to-school empowerment event provided girls ages 11–18 with workshops, peer support, and confidence building activities to help them navigate the academic year with strength and clarity. The community's response was overwhelming, affirming the need for deeper and more consistent engagement for young women across the city.
 
 This led to the creation of STAR Girlz’ signature year-round framework: It’s Time to S.H.I.N.E., built on five foundational pillars, Self-confidence, Heal, Inspire, Navigate, and Elevate. This curriculum-based model became the anchor for a wide array of programming, including mentorship, college and career readiness, mental health support, healthy relationship education, and social justice advocacy. Each initiative is designed to not only address immediate needs but also to equip girls with the tools they need to succeed long term.
 
 By the end of 2016, STAR Girlz officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, allowing the team to structure their efforts for greater scale and sustainability. What began as a single empowerment summit grew into a comprehensive, trauma-informed, culturally grounded organization serving hundreds of girls annually across Denver and Aurora.
 
 STAR Girlz has since expanded to include specialized programming such as Counseling Services, C.E.O: Creating Entrepreneurship and Employment Opportunities, Leadership Through Horses, and events like My HBCU is My Hustle College Tour and the SiSTARhood Retreat. Each program is designed to meet girls where they are with compassion, structure, and purpose.
 
 Today, STAR Girlz Empowerment, Inc. stands as a beacon of hope and transformation for young women of color across Colorado. With an unwavering commitment to healing, leadership, and equity, the organization continues to grow its impact, ensuring that every girl who walks through its doors leaves with the confidence and courage to SHINE.