Girls; Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. (GLLL), a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship to girls living with limited resources in the greater Newark area, celebrated its first annual Girls Matter PowHER Hour Luncheon this past weekend. During the event, more than 50 Newark families received backpacks and school supplies, as well as complimentary lunches served at the Bergen Street International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in Newark.

This year’s celebration took place during GLLL’s Founder’s Day Weekend, which commemorates the organization’s 12 years of service to girls and families throughout the Newark region. During the event, the youth and their parents were offered words of inspiration and positive affirmations to promote a successful and productive school year.

“We brought girls and their families in the Newark community together and provided them with helpful tools as they head back to school and resume in-person learning,” says Allison James-Frison, founder of GLLL. “Girls who have attended the same school but previously never interacted with each other, engaged in meaningful conversations, and even exchanged phone numbers. GLLL is all about creating a positive pipeline of sisterhood in the Newark community by breaking down boundaries.”

Started in 2009, GLLL’s mission is to help make a difference in the lives of girls ages 6-16 by helping to remove some of the obstacles they may face so they can grow into successful and happy young adults. GLLL provides a variety of programs geared toward specific age groups that focus on crucial life skills, improving literacy and learning and building self-esteem.

In addition to the inaugural Girls Matter powHER Hour Luncheon, GLLL hosted Principals and Pancake Appreciation Day during its Founder’s Day Weekend as well. Vice Principal Rasheedah Saleem-Muhammad of McKinley Elementary School, Principal Yakima Johnson of Cleveland Elementary School, Principal Kashon Lopes of Chancellor Avenue School and Principal Terri Mitchell of Central High School in Newark were among the guests at the luncheon and were recognized for their determination to teach students during the challenging times of COVID-19. In recognition, GLLL provided each educational staff member with school uniform vouchers, backpacks, school supplies and mentorship resources through its program.

James-Frison is acutely aware of the historic nature of the past 18 months, and wanted to make sure Girls; Live, Love, Laugh showed appreciation for all principals’ and vice principals’ tireless efforts to keep children in the city of Newark engaged in their academics during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

“During the pandemic, there was no training or manual provided to educators on how to conduct virtual learning,” says James-Frison. “However, they took on the task to lead while also ensuring that the well-being and educational goals of their own children were met.”

Next month, GLLL will launch a series of workshops including DiceITUp Healthy Cooking Classes, where complimentary ShopRite gift cards will be provided to participants. Other events include: I’m All Booked Reading Club; the Just Cruzin MediaHER: So You Want to Be a Social Media Influencer event, and Ms. Hygienic Personal Hygiene Classes, during which basic introductory hygiene kits will be provided. All girls interested in joining GLLL can register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3462gLRGb2H124hrvJrLVHGDz7S4MIVbufheQ4HLWKpD8Pg/viewform.