After a year’s absence, The Girlfriends Club marked its return this month with an induction ceremony for 20 new members.

Family and JHop staff gathered in the school’s cafeteria on Oct. 17 to celebrate the club’s new chapter. Each girl received a certificate and a string of pearls.

The mission of the all-girls club is to create a supportive environment, with positive role models for young ladies, to excel in academics, display positive behaviors, and maintain high self-esteem and demonstrate leadership skills.

Ms. Singletary, this year’s sponsor for Girlfriends, said her Girlfriends club journey began when she was a student at Ridge Crest Elementary. She said she felt a calling to revive the club at JHop because of her close connection to the organization.

“This girlfriends club will inspire our young ladies to show up as their best self and to learn how to carry themselves as young ladies,” she said. “I believe that it’s a really great thing when young ladies learn how to use their sassiness, their boldness…for the good of those around them as well as themselves.”

Some goals of the club are to provide opportunities for members to develop skills in self-awareness, decision making, conflict resolution and social skills.

All members will be required to do a least one hour of community service a month. Singletary said the members will attend different community service events, college tours, and self-care workshops.