The future belongs to she who creates it.  

A project to help empower Black, Brown, Indigenous, AAPI girls, and genderqueer folks, Shelectricity brings together technology, culture, and community to create safe and nurturing online and in-person environments for girls and youth to learn, grow, innovate, and lead.  

Founded in May of 2020, Our Youth Leadership Council program (YLC) is in its second cycle and has already served up to 52 girls and youth. The YLC uses a curriculum developed by the National Young Women’s Advisory Council. Rooted in Black Feminism, it covers concepts such as storytelling, power, privilege, oppression, gender, and the gender spectrum as well as leadership development. The YLC has three “chapters”  which are based in Los Angeles, the San Fransisco Bay Area, and Memphis Tennessee. 

Central to our efforts is the Shelectricity digital community platform. A safe and unique space being developed and informed by Shelectricity’s Youth Leadership Council. The platform is designed to amplify Black, Brown, AAPI, Latinx, and Indigenous girl and genderqueer voices by connecting youth and offering a place for storytelling to engage in shifting the narrative.

With initial "seed" funding from NOVO Foundation Shelectricity launched the Youth Leadership Council and designed the Shelectricity community platform. We are fortunate to have been joined by additional funding partners including The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, The Roberta Flack Foundation, The Michael Stars Foundation, The Ms. Foundation for Women, Grantmakers For Girls of Color, The Emergent Fund, The Urgent Action Fund and the Women's Foundation of Greater Memphis through their Young Women's Initiative/Young Women's Advisory Council work.