OUR Story
At the Jion Academy, we believe that everyone has the power to lead humane and productive lives–to achieve personal growth, maximum health, and well-being. By meeting our true potential, we thrive as individuals, support strong families, and build healthy communities. Toward this end, the Jion Academy supports young people in Oakland as they cultivate their personal power to create and achieve by developing their minds, strengthening their bodies, and nurturing their souls.
Leveraging our decades of experience and connections in the nonprofit and technology sectors, we drew upon a network of mentors and donors to create the Jion Academy’s first program, one dedicated to serving girls and young women aged 6-18. We call the program REDS Girls. It is an acronym for the names we give to the age cohorts we serve: Rubies (age 6-8), Emeralds (9-11), Diamonds (12-14), and Sapphires (15-18). The gemstones are a constant reminder for participants of their worth and value–and that they are treasured. Since 2016, we have supported 72 girls and young women through the REDS Girls program, meeting weekly for half-day sessions on Saturday. We also stay in touch and provide support as needed with participants and their families throughout the week and during the summer months. We take a highly personalized approach to programming for each participant, in keeping with our philosophy that we all have a unique road to travel. We work closely with participants’ family and guardians to ensure they receive the support and guidance necessary to reach their full potential. The REDS Girls program engages the girls and young women we serve with topics that provide a broader view of life’s possibilities and foster a love of learning. As a result, participants have an increase in self-confidence, personal growth, and improved self-esteem. |