In March 2021, SOS launched a program we are very proud of, The Butterfly Program.

“The Junior Butterfly Program” addresses the needs of BIPOC girls ages 10 – 14 (4th/5th Grade – 8th Grade) and their families. As the nation wakes up to the issues that plague underserved communities of color, there has been an increased focus on young minority boys. Our young BIPOC girls have been severely overlooked and Supporting Our Society has designed a program to focus on the disparity and challenges they may face..

In 2025, 36% of BIPOC children have anxiety disorders and 34% are showing signs of depression. There is direct correlation that these issues lead to negative school interactions with staff and other children.

Disparities across income, education and mental/physical health, take a toll on minority students at a much higher rate. It’s been researched that minority students face higher rates of suspension or expulsion than other ethnic groups. Our focus is to provide culturally based communication and unbiased mentoring to the targeted demographic in a safe and culturally enriched environment. In addition, we would be introducing them to culturally sensitive activities they may not have access to.

As these girls are transitioning into young ladies, it’s important for them to have teachers, counselors and role models who look like them. The disproportion between black students and black teachers has been a concern. It has been suggested that children respond better and have less classroom outbreaks when they can see themselves. Also, it has been researched, there is a direct correlation with adolescents responding positively to women who look like themselves. These students are in desperate need of mentors who are caring. A mentor who can connect and understand the student, with confidence. A mentor who has had some of the same shared experiences. When these children feel comfortable and trust the adults who understand them or look like them, they have a much higher chance of avoiding disruptive activity.

Girls have been told they can be anything they want to be, and it shows! They are now grasping at opportunities that were unobtainable to previous generations.
Our goal is to teach young ladies things they may not know, respond to questions they have with the goal of being instrumental in their growth and being part of the development of our future leaders. With healthy dialogue and encouraging them to use their voice, our program will help guide them through one of the most difficult times of their life. Supporting Our Society will provide the time and attention to these young girls to assist with helping them reach their goals.

Our program will produce strong, confident and resilient young girls through our collective professional, education and life experiences. Our program provides educational group activities that focus on culturally based health and wellness; safety, etiquette and conflict resolution. We will incorporate planned speakers, field trips and how-to-classes, all designed to plant the seeds of their future.

The programming will be fun and inviting, which will encourage them to be inquisitive and curious about who they can become. As we learn the butterflies interests and hobbies, we will include some of that into our curriculum. This space is for them! We will introduce exercise but in a way that is relatable. As the girls age, we will educate them on proper hair care from a stylist, bring in an esthetician to teach skin care for brown girls and we will set up a Q & A session with both, for the Butterflies to ask questions and get the information they need. Social Media Safety is another area that our program will focus on. Which will allow them to deal with peer pressure, positive body images and learning to deal with their surroundings, which is something children are struggling with on a daily basis.

We created The Butterfly Program to cultivate learning, encourage dreaming, and introduce the girls to new methods of self-expression. A place where they can be themselves. We created it for them!

The Butterfly Program is a safe space!