As a young Black girl growing up in Chicago, Jamila Trimuel said her parents were always her biggest cheerleaders.

It wasn’t until she saw some of her peers struggle with self-confidence as teenagers that she realized not everyone got the same encouragement at home.

So she did something about it. In her sophomore year of college, she became a mentor. In 2011, Trimuel started her own mentorship organization, Ladies of Virtue, which offers mentorship and support to girls ages 9-18.

Here, she gives “the last word” on why she says Black girls need more role models — and why you should give it a try.

Ladies of Virtue is looking for new girls to join the program for the 2023-2024 school year. Applications close on Aug. 31. Trimuel said the organization is also looking for more volunteer mentors, and she encourages anyone who is interested to contact her.