Carlecia Bell, Executive Director of Phenomenal She shares the inspiring story of how Phenomenal She was born from a simple birthday club among friends and has grown into a transformative mentorship program serving young women of color ages 12–24 in the Federal Way and Des Moines areas of Washington state. Learn how Phenomenal She is, interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline through mentorship, life skills training, academic support, and mental health counseling.
Key Topics Covered:
**The Origin Story**
- How Phenomenal She started as an informal "birthday club" among women celebrating each other
- The inspiration from Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman"
- Building the organization with multiple co-founders who remain engaged on the board
**Program Structure & Offerings**
- Age range: 12–24, with programming focused on middle and high school girls
- Multiple entry points: clubs (art, dance, STEM, cosmetology, entrepreneurship) that don't require prior commitment
- Core mentee programming includes:
- "Being a Better Me" group sessions with a licensed therapist (addressing self-esteem, confidence, and generational trauma)
- STEM engagement and academic assistance with tutoring
- Life skills and development curriculum (vision boards, financial literacy, banking basics, sisterhood, health and wellness)
- Summer STEAM program: 6-week intensive with coding, aviation, dance, art, culinary arts, and farm-to-table experiences; $1,000 stipend upon completion
- Outdoor adventure club (monthly) in partnership with Game of Life Mentoring and YETI
**Recruitment & Access**
- Referrals from probation counselors (diversion programs), school resource officers, parents, and community events
- Visible community presence through tabling at school lunches and dance team performances
- Free programming with food and transportation provided for Federal Way mentees
- No barriers to entry—girls can join clubs before committing to full mentorship
**Mentor Matching & Mentee Journey**
- Intentional matching process using surveys from youth and parents/guardians
- Initial meeting with mentor, parent/guardian, and youth to establish boundaries
- Long-term relationships: mentors stay engaged with girls through high school and often into adulthood
- Alumni return as instructors, dance coaches, and leadership volunteers
**Cultural Competence & Safe Space**
- Deliberate curation of instructors who are culturally relevant and can relate to girls' lived experiences
- Parents are not permitted in programming—creating a dedicated youth-only space
- Response to the lack of representation in schools and the misunderstanding of young women of color
- Emphasis on trust-building with both youth and families
**Leadership Pipeline**
- Alumni brought back as instructors and art coaches
- Internship opportunities (paid when funding allows)
- Volunteer opportunities at six community outreach events annually
**Board & Organizational Strength**
- Diverse board makeup: licensed therapist, attorney, accountant/bookkeeper, entrepreneurs
- Every board member also runs their own business, modeling entrepreneurship for girls
- Entrepreneurship club reflects this value
**Expansion & Vision**
- Dream project: a dedicated clubhouse similar to the Boys and Girls Club or YMCA
- Desire to expand to other locations (co-founders from Louisiana, Philadelphia, and other states report demand from their home communities)
- Digital campaign: "Fuel Her Fire, Fund Her Future" focused on investing in young women with passion and potential
**Current Initiatives**
- Partnership with King County's Best Starts for Kids grant
- Expanding into Highline School District (Des Moines, Washington)
- Three times per week engagement with young women in programming
- Focus on interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline
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Notable Quotes:
*"They're brilliant. And sometimes just the lack of resources holds them back. And so we're able to be that connecting piece."* —Carlecia Bell
*"The ability to be ourselves unapologetically and then also letting our girls know to do the same in spaces that they occupy. So not being afraid to have a voice regardless of what people think."* —Carlecia Bell
*"In order to be a mentor and an effective one, one must care. You must care."* —Maya Angelou (quoted by Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff)
Resources & Links:
**Phenomenal She**
- Website: www.phenomenalshe.org
- Instagram: @phenomenal_she_
- Facebook: @PHENOMENALSHEISALWAYS
- Digital Campaign: "Fuel Her Fire, Fund Her Future"
**Small & Gutsy Podcast**
- Website: SmallandGutsy.org
- Rankings: #8 on FeedSpot's Top 30 Social Impact Podcasts; #3 and #9 by Million Podcasts for Top 30 Volunteer Podcasts and Youth Empowerment episodes
- Contact: laura@smallandgutsy.org
About the Host & Guest:
**Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff** is the founder and host of Small & Gutsy, a podcast spotlighting nonprofits and social enterprises with budgets under $10 million. She is passionate about elevating the visibility of small but mighty changemakers.
**Carlecia Bell** is a native of Monroe, Louisiana, and a financial and relationship management expert with 13+ years of leadership experience at a Fortune 500 financial services company. She is inspired by her husband, Winston Bell, who has dedicated 25 years to community service. Carlecia co-founded Phenomenal She to address the lack of mentoring programs available to young women of color in the Federal Way area.
