For more than 20 years, the Teen Girls Program at Family Matters has facilitated life-enhancing leadership and community-building opportunities for young women in the North of Howard community of Rogers Park.

The programs provide a space for young women to think critically, explore new opportunities, and take risks within a challenging and safe environment. The programs give particular attention to supporting girls in exploring options and making healthy choices in areas that most impact them – identity, education, health, sexuality, relationships and careers.

The young women are afforded meaningful opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in ways that strengthen the community and the world around them.

“Where I spent most of my days, becoming the WOMYN I am today! Not a day goes by I don’t thank God for blessing me with the direction of coming to this building. I want to give the young ladies of Jonestown, Mississippi a place like this, a place to call their second home, their escape from the streets and their foundation. Where families and communities work together for the betterment of the youth! 

“When we were young kids going to FM we never really knew how much we’d still be using the skills we learned from [Family Matters]. Positive thinking and choices and consequences are what still motivate me to this day! I hope that one day I can give back the way Family Matters did.
#FamilyMatters, #SistersOfTheStruggle, #MySafeHaven,
#IfWeDreamItWeCanAchieveIt!!!!

– Jermeka Quarles, Family Matters Alumna, via her Facebook page