The discomfort of feeling out of place can disrupt the potential for amazing things. For some  
compared to others, it’s difficult to find a group where you can belong and be led down the right path in life, especially as a black female.  
 
Creating the Black Female Leaders of Tomorrow 
   According to an article titled, ”Black students who have one black teacher are more likely to go to college” published by Johns Hopkins University HUB, studies found, ”Positive outcomes sparked by same-race role models can last into adulthood and potentially shrink educational attainment gap.”  
 
   But where would a young black student even think to begin when contemplating a future of leadership and success? Ivy Rosettes is a mentorship group for African American girls in high school, providing opportunities and creating the next generation of black female leaders.  
 
  “We participate in community service projects, cultural, educational, self-enhancement, fundraising, social and spiritual activities from September to June under the mentoring and tutelage of The Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter,” says Jasmine Philon, a current member of Ivy Rosettes in her sophomore year of high school at Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of The Arts. 
 
A Future Paved in Stone & Gold 
   As an Ivy Rosette myself, I was originally unsure as to whether I wanted to join Ivy Rosettes. It wasn’t something I had any interest in. I was rather closed off and felt awkward being involved in something unfamiliar.  
 
   However, I have no regrets about joining. Matter of fact, my attitude and feelings toward the group are quite the opposite of what I was expecting. The group provides me with opportunities to serve the community alongside girls of the same age group and ethnicity. For example, walk-a-thon’s to raise awareness for issues such as heart disease or breast cancer, community service events to donate books or feed the less fortunate, and Martin King Jr. symposiums to learn more about black history and the African American path to freedom.  
 
   “I decided to join because a family friend of mine strongly suggested that I should. I was a little reluctant at first because I didn’t know anyone else that was an Ivy Rosette, but I ended up loving my experience,” said former Ivy Rosette Chelsea Dalgetty, who is now a student at FIU. “Being a member of Ivy Rosettes has impacted me in a number of ways. I have made connections with other young women my age that are like-minded, and we are still friends today.” 
 
   According to an article titled “Mentoring Revisited: The Black woman’s experience” by Research Gate, women of color comprise only 4 percent of corporate level positions despite representing approximately 18 per cent of the US population. A black woman unfortunately must struggle a lot to make a niche in these spaces. Ivy Rosettes strives to teach its members to be leaders rather than followers in preparation for the harsh world and tough workforce.   
 
   “Ivy Rosettes helped me realize that black women are beautiful, unique, intelligent, and hard-working. That black culture is like no other. That we can be CEOS, drive big fancy cars, that we can live in nice clean fancy homes. That we are more than our skin color and more than what people think,” said Ivy Rosette Jasmine Philon. 
 
Assisting the Community  
   Community service is a requirement for graduating high school that not every student is able to easily achieve. However, Ivy Rosettes makes community service hours easily obtainable through fun events allowing the members to meet and surpass the high school community service requirements.  
 
   “The Ivy Rosettes are known around Miami Dade and Broward counties for their active participation in community service events. As a member of the Ivy Rosettes, I have had the opportunity to attend Martin Luther King Jr. parades and symposiums, participated in a walk-a-thon to raise awareness for heart disease, and have had conversations with powerful women in the black community. I know that because of Ivy Rosettes, I have more exposure to community service,” said Chelsea Dalgetty, a former Ivy Rosette.  
 
Learning More Together  
   In Ivy Rosettes the members not only learn from their mentors and guest speakers but from each other as well.  “Black Girl Magic. These are three words that always run through my mind when we are meeting every month, when we are wearing pink PJs, making our own pizzas, and baking brownies, or when we are hitting the field for a game of golf. Ivy Rosettes has taught me to be myself, to live, to give back, to love, to know my worth,” said Jasmine Philon. “To know that I have 60 sisters who I can call or text and know that they will always be there and always have my back no matter what. Ivy Rosettes has taught me and brought challenges to the table that I would not in a thousand years believe I could achieve.”

Notable Achievements by Ivy Rosettes

Serena received 3 full ride scholarships.
Kae’driana won the Jack & Jill Oratorical Contest.
Kynnedie made dance team for her homeschool.
Ruth made prinicipal’s honor roll.
Jacquelle enrolled in a class at Broward College alongside her high school classes.