Group aims to guide teen girls to success, prevent pregnancy

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Neoma McDowell of Sisters of Serenity with a van donated to her by Denise Debartolo

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The Sisters of Serenity nonprofit mentoring group is looking for a few good girls — or at least those striving to be better.

Neoma McDowell, founder of the program for teenage girls, plans an orientation for girls between ages 11 and 16 who want to get involved with the mentoring program. The orientation will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday inside the Newport branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County on Market Street.

There are no requirements other than prospective members not be pregnant or have a child. McDowell said keeping the girls away from teenage pregnancy is a big part of the program.

McDowell said those girls who choose to join will have the opportunity to partake in tutoring for school, computer classes, nutritional programs, volunteer work, trips and group discussions about whatever is on the minds of group members.

According to McDowell, the group seeks to establish and reinforce good qualities in teenage girls.

“Our mission is about bringing redemptive change to young girls’ lives between the ages of 11 and 16. I want to enhance their academic success, social and cultural development and economic stability,” she said.

The group began in 2004 as impromptu meetings with young girls in McDowell’s living room. She began meeting with the girls regularly on Saturday afternoons to discuss the importance of school, general character, self-esteem and anything troubling the girls.

“It was just something the Lord laid on my heart. I would just have them come here and meet, then someone suggested I become a nonprofit organization, and that is what I did,” she said. The main thing is trying to expose them to positive things. There are so many negative things in the environment, it’s good to give them some positive choices.”

Women looking to help in the mentoring process also invited to attend the orientation Saturday. McDowell said anyone can contact her at 330-782-1638.

McDowell said she wants nothing more than to know the girls who go through the program have received something positive and will be assets to the community.

“I want to prepare them for the future,” she said. “One of the girls has since come to me and expressed how coming here helped her. She used to fight and get into a lot of things, but her attitude changed and she went on to graduate and become an in-home nurse.”