My Reason to Build
"We need space and each other to center, affirm and amplify love and acceptance of ourselves.”
Photographer, Stewart Allen
Angela Patton
Founder of Camp Diva Leadership Academy
CEO of Girls For A Change
As the leader of Girls For A Change (GFAC), Angela graduated from Meadowbrook Highschool (in North Chesterfield, Virginia) in 1990. She has been recognized in the local Richmond, VA press as Top 40 Under 40 (2010), by a coalition of girl serving groups in 2015, by President Obama as a White House Champion of Change (2016), has received the Nonprofit Partner of the Year (2018 & 2022) from the Metropolitan Business League, and Richmond Times-Dispatch 2019 Person of the Year Honoree. In 2022 Angela was recognized by The International Alliance for Women as a World of Difference Awards winners in the Non-Profit/NGO Awardees category. In 2023, she was honored with the Grace E. Harris Leadership Award from the Virginia Commonwealth University L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs.
Angela is an Ambassador for who she calls “at-promise” (as opposed to “at-risk”) girls and a serial innovator committed to “Preparing Black girls for the world, and the world for Black Girls.”
In 2016, Patton led her national Board of Directors and staff to refocus and retool the program structure to more accurately reflect GFAC’s goal to work with Black girls. The organization is now able to disseminate its programs using GFAC’s unique, replicable approach.
Angela’s TEDWomen talk describing a father-daughter dance for incarcerated dads and their daughters has been viewed over 1,000,000 times to date. This talk and work has inspired a documentary, DAUGHTERS, where Angela has taken the role of Co-Director, Producer, and Executive Producer. The documentary follows the lives of four young girls who prepare for a dance with their incarcerated fathers as part of the rehabilitation program Date With Dad Weekend. It premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, winning two Awards: Festival Favorite and Audience Choice: U.S. Documentary, and landing a deal with Netflix. Look for it on the streaming platform later this year.
Angela has been an in-demand speaker at conferences and colleges/universities throughout the country. She is also a published author. She coauthored the book Finding Her Voice: How black girls in white spaces can speak up & live their truth, with Faye Z. Belgrave, PhD and Ivy Belgrave. The book is available on Amazon, at Target, and at many small, Black-owned bookstores across the country.
Angela is a member of SisterFund and still finds time to serve on the board of Orchard House Middle School for Girls, volunteer for various organizations, and serve as a technical assistance consultant with MENTOR Virginia.
When she isn’t inspiring change, advocating for gender equality, and empowering girls, she is hanging with her family, enjoying festivals and concerts with her husband and motivator, Adofo Ka-Re and their loving children, Imhotep and Asani. Her interests include spending a day at the spa, visiting the Caribbean islands, cardio kickboxing, watching documentaries, and attending dinner parties with close friends.
A Message from the CEO
“Black women are often portrayed as too much. We do too much, we are too much, and we take up too much space. Because of these societal beliefs, when Black girls and women decide to speak up for themselves, it’s construed as loud, sassy, and negative. This feeling of always having to be aware of one’s own behavior to make others comfortable can create feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and unhealthy choices.
Navigating the world with a mindset that you cannot take up space robs you of the ability to be yourself, love yourself, or do for yourself. As a leader, organizer, and activator for Black girls, I want to offer a space for girls to be bold, to be loud, and most importantly to be seen. Girls For A Change encourages girls to be honest and respected, and love themselves and others.
It's about time we had a sacred and brave space where we can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalization that permeate every other societal space we occupy. Within our four walls, we work on and address cultural issues that others would not understand or feel comfortable discussing. We have to have the space to work through issues like colorism, racism, sexism - all the isms - because a lot of times Black girls don’t get that chance. Not in their schools, communities, and for some not even at home. It is important to find communities for Black women and girls while we are on our personal development journey because the ultimate purpose of personal growth is to ripple through the collective and raise consciousness.”
At Girls For A Change, we are preparing Black girls for the world, and the world for Black girls.
– Angela Patton, Chief Executive Officer
Girls For A Change Staff Members
Headshots by Jay Paul Photography
Na'Kera Richardson
Director of Operations
My Reason to Build
“Every girl deserves a space that is beautiful, safe, and feels like home.”
Coach Nickey McMullen
Girl Action Team National Trainer
My Reason to Build
“sing the song of her possibilities
sing a righteous gospel
let her be born
& handled warmly."
Danielle Brown
Elevating LeadHers Development Fellow
My Reason to Build
“When we own space specifically designated to celebrate and build up Black girl excellence, that excellence pours out into and contributes to our entire community.”
Support Staff
Freida Ann Mcneil
Field Instructor and Grant Writer
My Reason to Build
"When a Black Girl is loved, watered and nourished, the world benefits greatly."
Ashley Ray
Communications Director
My Reason to Build
"Because we understand it is imperative to teach Black Girls that they have the right to take up space, be heard, and respected in all spaces."
Jen Fell
Building & Property Strategist
My Reason to Build
"Because Black girls belong in beautiful spaces."
Rachel Stanton
12th Grade
Peer Advisor
My Reason to Build
"My reason to build is to ensure that Black girls, like myself, have a physical space to not only be themselves, but explore their identities and test the limits of their creativity."
Nadia Fraser
8th Grade
Peer Advisor
My Reason to Build
"The new space is important because it will provide a place for young black girls to learn and grow, while being constantly reminded that there is a place for them. It will teach them about themselves, their history, and the impact they can have on the community."
Asani Ka-Re
9th Grade
Peer Advisor
My Reason to Build
"Black females can blossom and always gain new information at Girls For A Change. Donating to our building is important so that Black girls and other girls of color can expand their networks and have access to greater opportunities."
Kileya Johnson
10th Grade
Peer Advisor
My Reason to Build
"Having a new space is beneficial to our community as it gives more space for more girls and more activities within our programs. There are many programs that we have and with a new space we can have more material specific them and do multiple of them at a time."
Threvia Slayton
10th Grade
Peer Advisor
My Reason to Build
"Having a space beneficial to our community and Black girls can be empowering and motivational. It gives us Black girls a space to be ourselves and to be comfortable in the skin we're in."
Photo by S. Helena Photography
Jolinda Anderson
Website Designer
My Reason to Build
"Black girls are amazing and deserve the opportunity to own their own space where they can learn, grow, thrive and build identity-affirming community."
Our 2023 Peer Advisors
If you are interested in working with Girls For A Change,
visit our Careers Opportunities page to check for open positions.