PEARLS Exec. Director
Honored with 3 Awards
for Leadership

Welcome to PEARLS for Teen Girls!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to PEARLS for Teen Girls, a totally innovative leadership
development organization serving at-risk teen girls in Milwaukee ages 10 to 19. At PEARLS, we believe that every girl is precious, with unique gifts and the potential to succeed, no matter what neighborhood she’s from or what challenges she may face.

Through weekly conversation circles, positive adult and peer relationships, a groundbreaking goal setting system and so much more, PEARLS girls learn to look inside of themselves to develop the inner strength, character, and skills that it takes to be a true leader. Recognizing that education is the key to success, PEARLS is particularly committed to increasing high school graduation and college acceptance rates of girls of color in Milwaukee. PEARLS approach
is girl-centered and girl-driven and our results are real.

As Executive Director of PEARLS, I am profoundly proud of our girls. I am also proud of the PEARLS culture that nurtures their success. PEARLS is unique for many reasons, but I think there are three primary features that set our program apart:

Consistency: PEARLS girls face many challenges in their lives, from broken homes to crumbling neighborhoods to struggling schools. But every PEARLS girl knows that once each week, like clockwork, she will gather in a safe space for a positive experience with her PEARLS sisters.
Intimacy: In a PEARLS circle girls learn to honestly express and examine the realities of their daily life for better or worse. They learn to trust and respect one another, and they develop the ability to hold confidences for their friends.
Accountability: PEARLS girls learn to be accountable to their peers and to themselves for their actions, reactions, goals and results on a weekly basis. They learn that accountability is a foundational component for success in school, work and life.

Milwaukee, like so many large cities, faces daunting social challenges, including the 7th highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation, pervasive central city poverty, and simply unacceptable high school drop out rates especially among children of color. That is why a program like PEARLS, proven to be effective, is so important to our community.

For the past three years, under the guidance of PEARLS’ strong Board of Directors, PEARLS has consistently grown to serve more girls. In 2007 we served over 500 girls and in 2008 we we served 688 girls. Of course, as a nonprofit organization, the financial support of individual donors is critical to our ability to continue. As you learn more about PEARLS, I invite you to join us in growing a new generation of women leaders by considering a tax deductible contribution to support our important work.

Sincerely,
Danae D. Davis
Executive Director

PEARLS Executive Director Honored with Three Awards for Leadership!
The Board, staff and girls of PEARLS are very proud to announce that PEARLS Executive Director, Danae Davis, will be the recipient of three local awards for her leadership, achievements and contributions to the Milwaukee community:

The Black Women’s Network, Inc. (BWN) of Milwaukee has selected Danae Davis as one of 30 Phenomenal Women who have contributed significantly to the community. She will be recognized at the BWN 30 year celebration “30 Exceptional Years & 30 Phenomenal Women.” The BWN is an organization that supports the goals and activities of professional, business, community, religious and volunteer groups on issues concerning African American women and the African American community. Each year the BWN honors African American women whose personal and professional achievements are considered outstanding and who promote the ideals of leadership and community service.
Event Details: February 13, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Hors d’ Oeuvres reception at 5:30 p.m. Awards ceremony at 6:45 p.m.
For Tickets: Contact Dana World Patterson at (414) 444-9250

Danae Davis is one of the Milwaukee Times’ 24th Black Excellence Awards honorees for 2009. The Black Excellence Awards were started 24 years ago in conjunction with Black History Month as a forum to highlight and honor individuals in our community who are making a positive difference. It is also an occasion for the Milwaukee Times to provide scholarship funds for area college-bound students.
Event Details: February 27, 2009 at the Italian Community Center; 6 p.m.
For Tickets: Contact Linda Jackson at the Milwaukee Times at (414) 263-5088.

The United States Postal Service is honoring Danae Davis with a 2009 Women Putting their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee Award in the category of Diversity Champion. She will be recognized along with 14 other women leaders at the US Postal Services’ 11th Women’s History Month Award Luncheon.
Event Details: March 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at the Italian Community Center
For Tickets: Contact Kathy Landry at (414) 265-7555 or kathy@pearlsforteengirls.com