By Dana Barfield
For more than 30 years Railroad Square Art Park has housed an eclectic mix of Tallahassee artists. Today, the park has expanded beyond a collection of art studios into a collection of varied offerings from religious institutions to non-profits to fitness studios. It’s always fun to take a Saturday stroll through the park to see what’s new. If you do, stop in the Utter B Fly boutique, open on Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. You’ll find a variety of fun outfits and accessories for girls ages 11 and up. You’ll also witness the Dare to Dream Young Girls Network in action. Utter B Fly is the result of a business plan drawn up by girls in the Youth in Government Girls program, just one of the academic and development programs offered by the not-for-profit organization that is cultivating the minds and ambitions of girls in the Tallahassee area.
Eleven years ago Kimolyn Ferrell noticed that girls were increasingly turning their focus to superficial pastimes that would do little to help them later in life. Celebrity gossip, a preoccupation with appearance and a general lack of support made up a culture that wasn’t giving girls what they needed to succeed. Ferrell wanted to do something to give girls a better, more substantial option for achieving healthy self-esteem and developing a quality life through education and community involvement.
For this purpose, Ferrell started the Dare to Dream Young Girls Network. Eleven years later, the organization has served more than 600 girls, enriching their lives through academics and personal development.
Nestled under the oaks of Park Ave., a cozy cottage is filled with girls of all ages as they arrive after school for tutoring sessions, cooking lessons and plenty of friendship.
“I found that girls were lacking the tools to succeed academically,” says Ferrell. “I created Dare to Dream to give them what they needed to meet the expectations for their grade-level and then excel beyond them.”
I was looking for an academic after-school program for my daughter, Leeah. I found so much more. I cannot describe how nice it is for me to pick Leeah up and all her homework is done. This allows me and my daughter to have more quality time together. It’s about more than just homework to Dare to Dream; it is about the kids’ future. The best part is that my daughter trusts Ms. Kim. Leeah has conWded in Ms. Kim about girl things and about normal day-to-day things. It’s nice to know when you can’t be with your child that they are with family. Dare to Dream is our family.
Tonya Barrett, mother
Students and their parents hear about Dare to Dream by word of mouth. Once they visit the website and see everything that is offered, many join up, either for the academic support or the enrichment programs such as cooking, fashion design and art. Many of the girls stay with the program for an extended period of time, often through high school graduation.
Dare to Dream works with the Leon County Schools curriculum but also offers its own with the objective of propelling students beyond their grade level. The staff consists of early education graduate students from FSU and FAMU as well as social workers and volunteers.
Results have been not only grades that exceed expectation but also improved self-esteem and a greater sense of purpose.
“Dare to Dream gives girls something to think about besides how they look or what they’re wearing or who likes them,” says Ferrell. “They are proud of their academic achievements and the talents they cultivate through the program. They also have the support of a strong network of friends who are going through the same things they are.”
Programs:
- Education with a Purpose (before / afterschool)
- It’s Girls Talk Teens
- Cooking Basics for Girls
- Fashions by Design
- Math and Reading Boot Camps
- Youth in Government Girls
- A Week Is Not Enough (Camp)
- Hints of Summer (Camp)
- Passport to the Arts
- Banking with Smart Money
- Mother and Daughter Talks
- Father and Daughter Dates
- World Travel
- The Cottage AVairs
- Foreign Languages (Spanish/French)
- Testing Strategies Boot Camps
Support Services:
- Relationships with Parents
- Health and Beauty
- Teen Academic Re-Entry
- Bullying
- Success at School
- Academic Conferencing
- Parenting
- Sibling Conflicts
- Girls with Depression, Anxiety or Stress
- Healing from Trauma
- College and Career Builder
- Navigating Through Change
- Relationships with Friends
- Family Trauma
- Divorce
