Young Women Learn Strong Tradition

At there is a program for Women Who Look Ahead (WWLA).

According to MRH Administrative Assistant Claudette Howell, “WWLA started when MRH had several middle schools students fighting and grades were bad, so we decided to start a young women’s group. This way we could focus on grades, getting along, sisterhood, and introducing a new horizon for young women where they are and where they need to progress, not only to graduate, but to become productive young women.”

There are currently about 50 girls that are involved and meet at least once a month. The group also has added a support group called “If You Really Knew Me,” which will also meet once a month.

These young women don’t just focus on bettering themselves, they also try and better others by giving to the community. Sometime during the 2011 season WWLA will rake leaves around the community.

This group does many group outings where the girls go out together and attend different events. For example, this year WWLA attended the play performed by the MRH HS theatre department.

WWLA tries to head multiple service projects each year. On December 13 and 14, WWLA hosted a service project separated into two different days. On December 13, the group baked cookies for the Maplewood Richmond Heights community nursing homes and city offices. Then on December 14, the young women delivered the cookies to both.

The program not only gives, it also teaches these young women how to plan for the future, meaning they are learning different techniques to be better and stronger women.

“During these meetings we try and put a lot of focus on our WWLA creed, the words to be instilled within ourselves. We try to focus on meetings that will bring on a change without ourselves with who we are, and where we want to go, as well as the value of education and where it will take us,” said Howell.

Further events that WWLA will be attending will be the Fox Theatre and a listening show of a one man act.