Newark Nonprofit Is Creating A Positive Pipeline Of Sisterhood

NEWARK, NJ — Even the coronavirus pandemic can’t stop a decorated Newark nonprofit from helping girls to “live, love and laugh” in the Brick City.

It’s been 12 years since Allison James-Frison founded Girls; Live, Love, Laugh, Inc. (GLLL), a nonprofit that mentors young women living with limited resources in the greater Newark area. The group’s mission is simple-yet-important: to knock down unfair obstacles the girls face in their daily lives.

James-Frison knows what it’s like to overcome challenges – and then some.

While growing up as a low-income resident of the Stella Wright Housing Projects of Newark, James-Frison’s father was murdered in a violent stabbing attack, forcing her mother to raise eight children on her own. But instead of letting those traumas and adversities define her, she used them as inspiration to fuel her drive for a better life.

After creating GLLL in 2009, James-Frison used the nonprofit as a platform to work with young women around Newark, giving them an outlet to let their inner talents shine and benefit from positive role models, such as former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Her approach is working. Mayor Ras Baraka recently declared Sept. 14 as “Allison James Day” in the city, writing that she was an “integral part of the work to move Newark forward.”

• See related article: Newark 'Shero' Is Changing Future For City's Young Women
• See related article: Newark Group Has Helped Girls 'Live, Love, Laugh' For 10 Years

The mission of GLLL became even more important amid the coronavirus pandemic, as the local school district valiantly struggled to keep up with the chaos, James-Frison said.

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

And meanwhile, GLLL did its best to help fill in the gaps, she added.

“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,” James-Frison told attendees at the nonprofit’s recent Founder’s Day Weekend celebration.

“Girls who have attended the same school but previously never interacted with each other, engaged in meaningful conversations, and even exchanged phone numbers,” she added. “GLLL is all about creating a positive pipeline of sisterhood in the Newark community by breaking down boundaries.”

All girls interested in joining the group can register here.

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Many of the nonprofit’s programs have had a personal connection for its founder.

In August, GLLL hosted a workshop on homeownership and financial literacy as part of a series of events dubbed the “Royal InvestHER$ Club for Girls.” Twelve teenage girls participated in an information session with a real estate agent, followed by a home walk-through and visit to a bank. Out of the twelve students who attended the workshop, only three belong to families who own their own home – a representation of most families in Newark based on the U.S. Census Bureau, which notes that the city’s owner-occupied housing unit rate is 22.3 percent.

• See related article: For Many In Newark, Struggle To Pay Rent Predates Coronavirus

To experience the process of viewing a home on the market, the girls visited a newly renovated four-bedroom residence in Newark. During the tour, realtor Lynda Lloyd of Close With Lynda, provided important tips to keep in mind when purchasing a home, including evaluating location and price, and understanding the benefits and costs of owning a home compared to renting.

“These young ladies are 13, 14 and 15 years old – a great age to start learning about the process of homeownership,” Lloyd said.

“I’m talking about creating wealth through homeownership and buying multifamily properties, and giving them examples about the cost of renting versus owning,” Lloyd stressed.

Following the two-day homeownership series, the teens visited M&T Bank in Newark on Financial Awareness Day, Aug. 14. During the event, the girls opened their first savings accounts.

“I wanted to start this program for young girls because it’s something that wasn’t offered to me when I was young,” James-Frison explained. “I purchased my first home at 50 years old. However, if there was a program like this, I could have perhaps purchased a home earlier.”

“I’m very excited that the girls had the opportunity to experience this firsthand,” she added. “It’s very important that we teach young girls – many who come from single parent households – the importance of real estate, saving money and building generational wealth.”

• See related article: Newark Nonprofit Empowers Young Women With 'Financial Literacy'

Other recent efforts of GLLL include:

• 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.
• Last weekend, the nonprofit celebrated its first annual Girls Matter PowHER Hour Luncheon, giving out backpacks and school supplies to more than 50 Newark families, as well as complimentary meals at the Bergen Street International House of Pancakes (IHOP) in Newark. The next day, GLLL hosted a “Principals and Pancake Appreciation Day” to recognize educators for their determination to teach students during the challenging times of COVID-19.

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