Malcolm X famously declared that the most disrespected group in society is Black women.
However, this mistreatment starts when they are young girls. From kindergarten through 12th grade, Black girls are disciplined more frequently and receive harsher punishments than their white peers for the exact same infractions.
They are routinely subjected to “adultification”—the practice of perceiving a child as older and more mature than they actually are. This habit strips Black children of their innocence and opens them up to disproportionate mistreatment.
Compounding these classroom challenges, school-aged Black children are less likely to have health insurance and more likely to carry the heavy trauma of losing a loved one. Countless studies also show that Black children are routinely exposed to educators who hold implicit or explicit biases against them.
“Our mission is inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. I still can’t say that without smiling.”
Treopia Cannon, CEO Girls Inc. Houston
Added together, this is more weight than any child should have to bear. When you factor in the subtle and overt sexism existing at all levels of society, Black girls face mountains that other children never have to see.
What is Girls Inc.?
Enter Girls Inc., an organization founded in 1864 to serve young women experiencing upheaval after the Civil War. Its core Bill of Rights reflects a commitment to helping girls grow up healthy, educated, and independent.
Celebrating 29 years of local impact, Girls Inc. Houston is dedicated to that same goal for girls of all races and backgrounds. Led by CEO Treopia Cannon—a Houston transplant by way of Detroit and Chicago—the organization is making a powerful difference in Space City, envisioning a future of “powerful girls in an equitable society.”
“Girls Inc. of Greater Houston has actually been in the Greater Houston area for 29 years,” explained Cannon. “However, it’s part of a larger federated organization… and there are 75 affiliates in and around the U.S. and Canada. Our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. I still can’t say that without smiling.”
To achieve this, the organization focuses on six “essential elements”:
- Mentoring relationships
- Intentional, girls-only environments
- Sustained exposure to opportunities
- Interactive, hands-on activities
- Research-based curricula
- Community-focused advocacy
Holistic services and programs
The organization provides comprehensive programming for youth ages 6 to 24. It operates on three distinct organizational pillars designed to build foundational life skills:
| Pillar | Focus Areas & Objectives |
| Strong | Healthy living, physical fitness, and mental health awareness. |
| Smart | Academic enrichment, STEM initiatives, financial literacy, and reading. |
| Bold | Self-advocacy, personal safety, and community leadership skills. |
These programs operate directly within school curricula and through summer camps and Saturday programming. Best of all, there are no financial roadblocks for participating families.
“We partner with our corporate partners, not only for our girls, but for their families. And everything we do is at no cost to our girls,” Cannon noted. “We don’t want cost to be a barrier to their success.”
Beyond standard programming, the organization actively reduces middle school dropout risk through Project Insight, a unique model. Board Chair Jeannie Gardner noted that a subset of participants receives intensive support from a network of trained mentors and access to in-house licensed social workers to assist with mental health, learning loss, and personal development.
Confronting barriers
For Cannon, the socio-political challenges facing young women of color hit close to home.
“Absolutely, because I am one of those women of color. So, what Girls Inc. does—this is why Girls Inc. is needed so much, especially now—we’re teaching the girls how to use their voices, how to be advocates for themselves… and how to stand up for what they believe,” Cannon said.
Transforming rocks into diamonds
The true heartbeat of Girls Inc. Houston is the deeply personal mentorship provided by its staff. Cannon leads this effort by example, drawing on her own deep connections to the mission.
“I am a Girls Inc. girl. I say that because while Girls Inc. was not available to me as a little girl, I’ve grown so much being in this role, learning from my girls. Because when you see where they started and how much they’ve grown, I feel personally gratified,” said Cannon, who provides hands-on mentorship, resume help, and mock interviews for all participants.
This hands-on approach is exemplified by a student who graduated from high school and went to college, but had to drop out due to personal hardships. Recognizing that the organization couldn’t simply abandon girls after they turned 18, Cannon expanded services to include alumni support through age 24.
“We ended up hiring her as a paid intern,” Cannon recalled. “Fast-forward, this summer, we got her placed with one of our corporate partners. So, now she’s an intern there, and she’s making about $20 an hour… Those are the things that we try to do with our girls as we push them towards self-sustainability.”
It is this transformation that drives Cannon’s lifelong dedication.
“They think they’re a rock, but I look at them, and I see them as a diamond. So, as we continue to polish them up and shine them up, that’s so fulfilling,” she added. “I love what I’m doing so much, I would do it without pay.”
Community praise
The tangible results of this dedication are felt deeply across Houston schools. Just ask Justine Ritsema, the principal of Deanda Elementary School in Southeast Houston, where 92% of the 570 students are economically disadvantaged.
“Girls Inc. has been working with our students since the fall of 2021, and I’ve seen the impact that it’s had on our scholars,” Ritsema shared. “They’re more confident in class, more likely to participate, and more interested in math and science.”
“Girls Inc. encourages girls to take risks and overcome physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges,” said Rebecca Cox, the organization’s chief program officer. “This will support them in the classroom and all aspects of their lives.”
Currently, the organization serves over 3,000 girls in the Greater Houston area, working out of schools, community centers, and local partnerships like The Luke. But they have no plans of slowing down.
“Follow us on all the social media platforms,” stated Cannon. “If we’re not in your community, reach out, and maybe we’ll come to your community. Where we are invited, we do our best to show up.”For more information, visit Girls Inc. Houston.
