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Socio-Economic Inclusion, Diversity & Gender Equality

Stronger together.

With generosity of spirit, we create circles,business trainings,
collaborate and find support that guide our evolution towards all
forms of empowerment & access to opportunities.


Women and Youth Advancement Inc. -

WOYA

Women and Youth Advancement Inc.
(WOYA) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to eradicating the impact of
discrimination, socio-economic
exclusion and gender-based limitations
on teenage girls, women and youth of
marginalized communities.


We are non-partisan
& non-governmental

but are all about

women & youth

We believe we can mitigate the effects of gender bias and societal disparities on teens, women, and youth
within marginalized communities through the following initiatives:


~ Empowerment Forums: These forums are designed to provide empowerment and foster economic
connections through basic business training and professional solutions.


~ Building Resonant Friendships: By promoting effective communication and utilizing circle technology,
we aim to create partnerships and friendships that transcend barriers and borders.


  • ~Influencing Progressive Change: by encouraging more teenagers, women, and youth to participate in
    grassroots collaborative positive social actions, such as voting/election processes and involvement in
    business or school boards, to drive progressive change.


~ Utilize effective new paradigms for disseminating relevant gender mainstreaming strategies and
information through the
media.

Our Mission

We dismantle

old paradigms

  • together

To create collaborations
that are consistent

with multilateral
commitments in best
practices for women &
youths in marginalized
communities

We’re stronger

  • together

To develop gender

mainstreaming strategies

  • and gender responsive
    planning for
    development

we Respond

  • together
  • in pursuit of a society free of disparities.

The Problems:


  1. Discrimination: Teenage girls, women, and youth from marginalized communities face
    discrimination.
  2. Socio-economic Exclusion: These groups experience socio-economic exclusion, limiting their
    access to opportunities.
  3. Gender-Based Limitations: Gender-based limitations hinder their personal and professional
    growth.



The Solutions Our Projects Provide

  1. Effective Communication: Creating platforms for open and effective communication to address
    and overcome discrimination.
  2. Support Circles: Establishing support circles to provide emotional and practical support, mental
    health and wellness checks, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
  3. Collaborative Partnerships: Building partnerships to leverage resources and create more
    opportunities for marginalized groups.
  4. Empowerment Trainings: Offering training programs to equip individuals with the skills and
    knowledge needed to overcome socio-economic barriers and gender-based limitation. Our
    programs focus on integrating AI into small business practices to simplify processes, drive
    efficiency and innovation for members of BIPOC communities.



Strategic Alignment

  • Discrimination: Addressed through effective communication and support circles, which help
    individuals share their experiences and find individual and collective solutions.
  • Socio-economic Exclusion: Tackled by providing access to opportunities through collaborative
    partnerships and empowerment trainings, which equip participants with the necessary tools to
    succeed.
  • Gender-Based Limitations: Mitigated through empowerment trainings that focus on skill development
    and growth solutions, enabling individuals to break free from traditional gender roles.


Circles of Influence and P2E forums

are conceived to


1. Create a global community network
linking women from different parts of
the neighborhoods and world to share
knowledge, stories, experiences and to
exchange ideas or perspectives for
growth and healing.


2.To create more access to
empowerment opportunities within
marginalized communities


3.Facilitate personal contact among
women and youth of marginalized
communities, sensitizing them on best
practices, providing opportunities for
networking with women of similar
counties or communities through
participation in joint activities.


4. Promote research, training,
documentation and dissemination of
information on gender policies,
diversity, equal opportunity and
development strategies for overcoming
community disparity impact.


For women connecting, networking
and partnering to achieve

economic success.

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Teens Seminal Circles (TGB) : is a circle-
centric process that enables each
participant to be both a part of and
within the circle as listener-speaker.
Within these circles, we create a
conceptual framework of veneration and
drive with adherence to compassion,
mindfulness, mental health support,
leadership and growth projection.


The Gameday Blueprint (TGB) concept
in WOYA’s Seminal Circle format, help
cultivate within the participant a
blueprint for head-to-heart centered
planning for future goal achievements.
Like a mosaic. One’s life’s experiences
become snapshots that become a
foundation for a positive future journey.
All within the framework of a unified
network.

Influence

  • WOYA

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  • The Beautiful Wings Project (BWP) is a stand-alone specialized circles outreach focused on women that are
  • We offer business trainings, non-clinical mental health / well being check-ins within circles and friendship structures that are empathetic and non-judgmental.

Teens & Youth in Marginalized
Communities feel powerless and
yearn for “
MORE” in society.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) 2019 data showed that teenage birth rates in the US for female teens between 15-19 years from minority and marginalized communities are as follows:


  • Hispanics- 25.3%
  • Blacks-25.8%
  • Whites-11.4%
  • Native Indians-29.2%


The above data shows that teen pregnancies, amongst other issues, contribute to high school dropout rates.

Bleak Picture

WOYA’s programs are focused on driving self-
initiative aligned by group support. Encouraging
partnerships and aspirational goals are the
thematic vein of all meetings and activities.

What’s the bottom line?

Although there are efforts being made with teen
pregnancy prevention programs,
more grassroots
positive social actions are required at community
level to address the host of plagues that continue
to challenge female teens, women and young
adults.

Only 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma by 22 years of age.


On top of that, the children of teen mothers are more likely to follow the same path. They are more likely to have:


  • Mental health issues
  • Become incarcerated,
  • Give birth as teens and
  • Face unemployment as young adults.


Teen pregnancies are not the only issues that plague teenagers of marginalized communities. There are a range of factors around them that foster less than positive outcomes which are due to racial, ethnic, gender-bias, economic and/or geographic disparities

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The impact of a support system that empowers cannot
be over-emphasized.


  • Positive outcomes
  • A bedrock for goal creation and success
  • Endless possibilities for empowerment
  • Fosters grassroots connections
  • Offers myriad conciliation and conflict
    resolutions skills

A strong network of
empowerment circles
makes
“beyond ordinary”
happen.

Do you know what a CIRCLE is?

Have you ever experienced the power of a safe space—where you're truly seen, accepted,
and compassionately heard? A space free from judgment or violence, where open hearts,
support, and deep connections thrive? Join diverse women from all walks of life,
backgrounds, ages, and locations, on an evolutionary journey that is transformative.

In our empowerment circles for connecting and networking, for professional or business
growth, we emphasize that one’s personal journey doesn’t have to be solitary. It can be
about joining a cohort of women who will cheer you on, offer support, and provide
constructive feedback in a manner that celebrates and ignites your deepest potential. Isn’t
that what we all want?

Have you ever been in an empowerment circle?

WOYA: Positive Connections ~Grassroots Socio-Economic Inclusivity

WOYA’s FOCUS

WOYA is fundamentally committed to
creating empowerment circles of non-
judgemental, effective communication where
truth, compassion and support can be shared
amongst participants on their human rights,
access to development opportunities and the
endless possibilities open for positive social
action through individual and joint concerted
efforts.


  • History of SDG
  • They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand
    with strategies that improve well being, health and education, reduce inequality, and
    spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our
    oceans and forests.

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  • in pursuit of a society free of disparities.

Our vision is of a global neighborhood where there is equal opportunity, lack of gender bias and socio-
economic inclusivity. We are motivated by the belief that when teens, women and youth have
dedicated circle-style forums for empowerment, training spaces for development and networking,
platforms for collaboration or partnerships,
they begin to chart a path to their success and for the
evolution of the society they inhabit.

Your donation supports our work with teens, women and youth in the following ways:

  • To create teens support circles in different marginalized communities
  • To create non-judgmental women’s empowerment circles ( P2E, BWP, COI)
  • To carry out small business start up & professional solutions training
  • To establish women’s partnership and empowerment platforms within communities
  • Goes to pay for office operating costs
  • Goes to pay for our interns stipend

Some of these empowerment circles create outcomes that are recognized as human rights, both under
domestic and international laws. These are fundamental basic needs, ranking next to food and shelter
and are major safeguards to mental health, peace, human dignity and family life.

Thank you for your support.

We couldn’t do any of it without YOU.

Marilyn Nyborg, a successful business owner and high tech recruiter in Silicon
Valley for 25 years, co-founder of Gather the Women Global Matrix and
Indivisible Women, Founder of Gather the Women of Nevada County, Women
Waking the World, is a master networker with 45 years of connections in
women's leadership and women's circles.


She is a Speaker and Tele-Seminar Leader, and Producer of a video: The Book of
Jane: The Story of Woman. Marilyn has taken her lifetime of experiences in
Sacred Activism to develop an international network to restore feminine
wisdom, values and influence in the service of all life.


She is committed to a world that creates change in cultural values, personal
choices, and policies worldwide that shift humanity's consciousness from
separation and domination to integration and unity. Check out her book on
Sacred Activism here: A Women's Guide to Sacred Activism:: How Do We Move
Forward?


  • Marilyn Rosenbrock Nyborg (Board Member)
  • Judith Snell (President/CEO)

Judi is a proponent of the synergy of for-profit and non-profit sectors, and has taken the Landmark Forum Curriculum on
Extraordinary Achievements in Manhattan NY. Specializing in account and brand management, marketing, sales, and
customer success, she also thrives as a
business owner.


Judi is not only dedicated to her current initiatives but also looks to the future. She aims to spearhead AI integration and
efficiency initiatives for non-profits and small businesses. Dedicated to equipping startups with the tools they need to thrive
while keeping things simple, Judi offers dynamic training sessions and tailor-made business solutions that drive growth and
innovation. Simultaneously, she fosters non-judgmental circles and motivational forums, creating spaces for inspiration and
collaboration.


In her spare time, Judi is an avid reader, a budding author and loves her DIY’s. Actively involved in fundraising walks and
international conferences, Judi contributes to causes close to her heart. Some of those that stand out to her are Social
Watch’s First Poverty Eradication and Gender Equality Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, World Urban Forum(4) in
Vancouver, Canada, and as a citizen diplomat with Global Citizen Journey to build Nigeria’s Niger Delta Friendship
Library in Delta State.

  • Judi's story encapsulates a tireless commitment to effecting positive change, blending activism with professional excellence,
    personal passions, and a vision for the future.

It became clear from an early age that Joseph had an extremely inquisitive mind and was a voracious reader. He read National Geographic, the Economist and all sorts of historical works in his spare time as a teen. As a youth, he became a closet activist: choosing mostly to keep private his opinions of perceived injustices on different areas. His ability to listen patiently and analytically allows him to adeptly offer simple yet objective solutions from a big picture viewpoint.


As a real estate investor with a strong professional background in Finance, Joseph focuses on value investments and LBOs.


He dedicates his efforts to studying and making observations on the systems that underpin societal injustice and environmental pollution, with the intention of offering workable solutions that yield adequate results and better outcomes.


Joseph C. Stanley

  • (Board Member)
  • Today, Joseph believes that he can lend his voice and assistance in areas that would be beneficial to individuals from
    marginalized communities.

Folasiyun Ogunti

Siyun brings a multifaceted background to the table. Initially, she worked as a Financial Services Advisor, where she honed her expertise in financial matters. In addition to this, she actively engaged in supporting refugees, facilitating their access to crucial counseling services and community networks. Through her involvement in volunteer work within humanitarian services, Siyun cultivated a profound understanding of various cultures and a firm dedication to fostering inclusivity and diversity. This breadth of experience enables her to adeptly navigate cross-cultural nuances and forge meaningful connections with individuals

from diverse backgrounds.

With a robust educational foundation in international studies and history, Siyun demonstrates a knack for dissecting intricate geopolitical issues and devising effective solutions to intricate diplomatic challenges.


Pearl Harry

PEARL, with over a decade of dedicated experience in Human Resources, has cultivated a profound passion for social justice that permeates every aspect of her life. As the owner of a boutique firm specializing in payroll and HR services, she blends her expertise with a commitment to fairness and equity in workplace practices.


Outside of work, Pearl finds solace in nature, which recharges her and enriches her holistic approach to life and business. She is also an avid reader, exploring diverse subjects that deepen her understanding of society and social issues


Through her multifaceted interests and expertise, Pearl embodies a balance of professional acumen and personal values, actively contributing to both her community and the broader pursuit of justice and knowledge.


Joyce is a petrochemical engineer by training. She went into
education after her industrial training with Shell BP Oil.
Although, she has a deep love for all things petrochemical
engineering and a desire to understand more about oil and gas
production, she didn’t work within that sector for long. This is
because, upon closer scrutiny, she realized that it’s impact on the
environment and on the livelihood of indigenous people yielded
societal violations that were extremely disappointing.


She holds a masters in Educational Administration and Planning

and is the founder and owner of a successful Montessori private
School.


  • Joyce holds an additional B. Th in Pastoral Studies. She is a an
    Associate Pastor with Foursquare Gospel Church and a lifetime
    member of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship.

Joyce Brown-West Ikiriko

  • (Board Member)

Women and Youth Advancement Inc. (WOYA) is a 501(c)(3) public charity located in the state of New
York. It carries out its mission for the empowerment of teens, women and youths within marginalized
communities (regardless of race or creed) in America.


WOYA is fundamentally committed to creating forums for open, non-judgmental effective
communication where truth, veneration and support can be shared amongst participants on their
human rights, on access to development opportunities and on the endless possibilities open for
positive social action through individual and joint concerted efforts.



Our Team

  • in pursuit of a society free of disparities.

Bimpe Onakoya

She served as the artistic director of L’Oreal &
Maybelline Nigeria, West Africa and New York,
where she empowered aspiring artists to become
leaders and changemakers through nationwide
masterclasses. Her portfolio spans television,
editorial shoots, advertising campaigns, and
global fashion events.
As CEO of Elite, her
vision aligns with WOYA’s mission of
dismantling barriers and fostering opportunities
for women and youth globally.(click for more)

Advisory Committee

Bimpe Onakoya is an internationally acclaimed makeup artist, creative visionary, and advocate for
women's empowerment. As the first African-based makeup artist to make history at New York
Fashion Week, she has worked with top designers such as DKNY, Lacoste, and LaQuan Smith,
cementing her position as a trailblazer in the global beauty and fashion industries.

Have you ever taken a moment to look at some of the most basic stats on teenage pregnancies? No? ​Well,
that’s not surprising. You know what’s surprising? The actual numbers. I’ve outlined some of them ​
below.

Teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 to 21 years old make up about twenty percent
(20%) ​of the United States (US) population. That’s more than 82 million teens and young adults.
Half of these ​teenagers and young adults are females.


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019* data showed that teenage birth
rates in the ​US for female teens aged 15–19 from minority and marginalized communities are as
follows...Read On


Prospect Park, Brooklyn NY-BLM/George Floyd March 2020

Email: circles@ woyacentral.org

social media: @woyacentral

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connect@ woyacentral.org

Websites: woyacentral.org

Connect with Us

Have Questions? Need More information? Reach out to us about anything. We’d love to hear from you.

Just CALL or SEND us a quick email:

Women and Youth Advancement Inc.

  • New York, NY 10007

Want to Participate in Circles? Just Call and Book your slot! Trainings? Send an Email for the Next One

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WOYA: Positive Connections ~Grassroots Socio-Economic Inclusivity

  • Women and Youth Advancement Inc. (WOYA) is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
  • copyright@2023. All rights reserved
  • EIN: 93-3221522. Donations are tax-deductible

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Empowerment, and Training Initiatives. Together, Let's Drive Inclusivity and Positive Change.
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