Camp I Can ONe Day of Sisterhood

Camp I Can is a favorite annual weekend leadership and personal development retreat for the RWF Girls into Women Program. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we had to postpone our weekend away. Camp I Can One Day was born and our girls came together on the grounds of the Boys and Girls Club Collingwood Campus for a beautiful day of sisterhood, and teambuilding. Using what they learned during our spring and summer RWF Zone virtual workouts, teens filmed mini workout videos; created beautiful art; planned activities for our quarterly RWF Cares Community Outreach Initiative and engaged in a fun trust building maze led by RWF Program Manager, Arlisa Robinson.

We also had our annual backpack and school supply giveaway so our teens would be prepared for at home learning when school began. Thank you to our sponsors, Laborers' Local 1191, Laborers' Local 1076, Retired Detroit Police Officer, Ron Griffin and GrindTime Fitness.

A special thank you to our guest teen facilitator, Kendyl Barfield for leading our art workshop, and RWF volunteers Kelita McCall and Adrienne Long for facilitating our fitness and community outreach workshops. A special thank you to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Michigan for our ongoing partnership to empower Detroit youth.

 On Monday, August 24, 2020, the Metro Detroit auto industry came together at TPC-Michigan in Dearborn, Michigan for a day of golf with a purpose. The entire sold out event took place outdoors to adhere to social distancing and keep everyone safe.

Foursomes teed off to win the annual crystal trophy and to take the top foursome photo prize. This year's smaller outing welcomed a committed group of supporters who are invested in our mission to empower Detroit youth. We are especially grateful to Lear Corporation for their three years as our title sponsor!

 On Saturday, May 30, 2020, WDIV-TV 4 News Anchor, Rhonda Walker awarded $35,000 in scholarships to 7 outstanding graduating seniors completing the Rhonda Walker Foundation (RWF) Girls into Women Program with honors. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and adhering to Michigan’s Stay Home mandates this year’s 14th Annual Scholar Power Scholarship event had to be cancelled but RWF was determined to award these accomplished Detroit seniors with scholarships for college. The surprise caravan was made up of nearly 20 cars including members of their board of directors, staff, volunteers and mentors and RWF alumnae who drove to the homes of each senior in a RWF Scholar Power Parade and presented them with well-deserved scholarship checks. 

See more photos from our amazing day of celebrating the RWF Class of 2020

 Thank you to the Renaissance Chapter of the Links for inviting our teens to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Ladies Who Lead Luncheon! Our girls proudly served as hostesses for this inspiring afternoon held at the Colony Club in Downtown Detroit. A special thanks to Susan L. Taylor, CEO and Founder of National CARES Mentoring Movement and Editor and Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine and Dr. Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, National President of The Links, for spending time with our girls to talk about celebrating who they are, being empowered and being “Unbought and Unbossed”!  This special celebration of powerful women gave our teens an opportunity to network with some of Detroit's most influential leaders.

On Saturday, February 22, 2020 Detroit entrepreneur, Alyssa Space welcomed the RWF teens to her lab at 4 Her Cosmetics for an exciting workshop on using your passion to build a business.  Space, who is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in chemistry.  She helped our teens to identify their passion and create a business plan.  The highlight of the day was when our girls got to go into the lab and create their own lipstick . With careful instruction from the 4 Her Cosmetics team teens were involved int he process from measuring chemicals to selecting a personal color for their lipstick!

On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, Stephanie Burnley, Co-CEO of Devon Industrial group and her team from Walbridge and DFM Solutions welcome the RWF Juniors and Seniors for an exciting day of career development at our first Girls in Construction Career Intensive.  The purpose of the day was to introduce our teen girls to the multitude of career pathways available in the construction fields beyond the traditional work site. Representatives from accounting, marketing, legal, human resources, information technology, and safety engaged our teens in small group working sessions to provide information about their work. The day concluded with an informative panel discussion with women representing the skilled trades and diversity and inclusion within the construction industry. We are looking forward to Phase II of  Girls in Construction that will take or teens to a project site.

Over 300 of the auto industry's best and brightest gathered once again at the prestigious Oakland Hills Country Club for our annual Automotive Industry Golf Challenge on Monday, July 29, 2019. Our day included brunch, great silent auction, an exciting live auction, dinner, live entertainment and a great round of golf.

A heartfelt thank you to  our sponsors for their generous support, Lear Corporation, our Title Sponsor a, BASF, Diez Group, Denso, Linamar, Hitachi/Hitachi Metals, Joyson Safety Systems, Magna Seating, On Semi, Faurecia, Celani Family Vineyards, Flex n Gate, Cobra Metal Works, Gallagher Kaiser, Windsor Machine Group and SET Enterprises.

 We are proud of our Sweet 16 Class of 2019, our largest class ever, who were awarded $55,000 in scholarships at our annual Scholar Power Scholarship Breakfast, April 27, 2019 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield.  In a room packed with RWF Board members, parents, volunteers, mentors, and special guests, everyone was so moved by the testimonies of our graduates. The celebration also served as a time to honor and recognize the support of our amazing volunteers and mentors. Congratulations to our volunteer of the Year, Quintell Foster and our Mentor of the Year, Cynthia Amacker.  A special thank you to the Rizik Family Philanthropic Fund and the Lear Charitable Foundation for providing scholarships for our teens who excelled in community service and academics.