A Letter from the Founder
Rose’s Leadership Academy is a weekly nonprofit mentoring initiative designed to help young ladies build self-esteem and self-respect, develop business acumen, and become productive and active citizens. Founded on January 3, 2024, the idea was birthed from witnessing numerous incidents of violence, crime, and a general air of diminished self-worth among African-American local youth. Children are in need of positive activities in safe environments, and many dedicated citizens are ready to step up and give that to them. The program consists of weekly two-hour sessions that provide participants with valuable tools to better contribute to society.
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I named the program after my maternal grandmother, Rosel Brasfield Jemison, because I could not think of anyone who better epitomized the vision of the program. My grandmother was a loving and faithful wife to my grandfather, Freddie until death parted them. She courageously marched and sat-in for freedom during the Civil Rights Movement. With well-balanced discipline and love she raised her children, her grandchildren, and other people’s children. She lived life to the fullest, and with STYLE! These are the values I wish to embody, and through this initiative, pass on to the next generation.
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During our first semester, several professional women volunteered their time to provide valuable lessons to our students, including a local news anchor, a licensed therapist, a finance expert, a community activist, and multiple entrepreneurs. We are currently seeking to raise $5,000 in monetary assistance from community partners like you to help us purchase program supplies for the second semester and to support our oratorical contest and end of year recognition banquet. Please click the button below and leave a memo for "Rose's Donation" to give a tax-deductible donation today!
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With love,
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Ashley R. Wheat, MBA
Founder
Rose’s Leadership Academy
*Rose's Leadership Academy is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Mission
Rose’s Leadership Academy aims to create a nurturing environment for young African-American ladies and provide them with life skills to help them thrive and become well-rounded, productive citizens. This mission will be achieved by providing participants with meaningful, hands-on activities, including creating and marketing their own products, developing community service projects, and learning healthy methods of self-care. These activities will enhance participants’ self-esteem, provide them with real-world business skills, and help them explore the myriad options for their futures.
Core Values
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We strive to promote ideals of high self-esteem and self-worth among young ladies, thus enhancing their opportunities for future success.
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We strive to give young ladies positive role models by allowing them to regularly interact with women of intelligence, high morals, and good character.
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We strive to eliminate the negative stigma associated with young ladies from disenfranchised communities and replace it with ideals of pride, achievement, and unlimited potential.
Vision
Rose’s Leadership Academy will be a catalyst for positive and productive growth for young ladies. By focusing on youth as the foundation of the community’s future, the cultural climate will improve with each generation. While the organization has a local focus, it can be replicated globally in similar communities.
Our Founders
Cabrina is a mother of two with a love for seeing children become the best versions of themselves. She is a nail technician who has operated www.SymplieNails.com at Charming Kreations Salon in Tuscaloosa, AL since April 2022. Specializing in intricate nail art, she enjoys taking her skills from the micro to macro level by teaching Rose’s students to create works of art on canvas. As a self-taught business owner, she also loves giving students real-life lessons about what it takes to become an entrepreneur.
Que is a mother of three and a community advocate. In addition to being the founder of the Girl Power Book Club, she is a member of the Junior League of Tuscaloosa, a 2021 WAYLA recipient, a 2022 Junior Cosmos Clover Award for Outstanding Community Service recipient, and she serves on The House Tuscaloosa and Schoolyard Roots Boards. She organized the COVID-Relief Essentials Drive for West Tuscaloosa. Que is dedicated to solving problems that challenge youth as well as seniors.
Ashley has been a clothing and jewelry designer since 2014. With an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BS in Business Administration from Stillman College, she has over a decade of experience in the corporate world gaining skills in management, human resources, customer service and information technology. Ashley served as 2022 Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s Nonprofit Council. She is also a 2023 graduate of Leadership Tuscaloosa and an Ambassador for the Chamber.