GEM was founded from a vision that all young women should have the opportunity to succeed despite where they’ve come from or what barriers they’ve faced.

GEM offers a research-based mentorship program for high school girls facing systemic and socioeconomic barriers, equipping them with the necessary skills to achieve their academic and career potential and build a diverse network of ambitious women that inspire and support one another.

Adhering to, and aligning with, feminist principles helps to recognize the systems and structures – both visible and invisible – that lead to gender inequality and other intersecting forms of social injustice, and ensure that this recognition underscores all of our work. It also allows GEM to contextualize programming, and to therefore acknowledge and account for social, political, and cultural considerations. Finally, it commits GEM to addressing unequal power structures and relations by taking steps to transform them where possible.