“In 2003, I spent 6 months visiting Detroit middle schools and talking to hundreds of teen girls about making positive life choices, believing in themselves, striving to be their best, becoming leaders and not followers in hopes of influencing teen girls to become the best they can be. Along the way, I met a teen that asked me how she can do that when everyone around her tells her she won’t accomplish anything and won’t amount to anything better than the people around her in her family and inner city neighborhood. These were family members putting her down, discouraging her and lowering her self-confidence and self-esteem. I realized at that moment one speech cannot change lives and that I needed to connect these kids with positive role models and reinforce my message over a longer period of time. I founded the Rhonda Walker Foundation “Girls into Women” program shortly after the day I spoke to that girl. I am proud to say many years later along with my committed board, staff, volunteers, mentors and countless friends and professionals in this community that we have been a positive influence on many lives. We have groomed these teens over 16 years from 8th-12th grade and they have gone from shy to outgoing, from average performing to excelling, from fearful to fearless. They are role models themselves with dreams they know they have the tools to accomplishment. They each now walk with confidence. I am honored and committed for life to supporting and serving these inner city teen girls and thankful to be able to make a positive difference in their lives.”