Despite major progress, women and girls continue facing barriers to equal treatment and opportunities around the world. Issues like gender violence, pay gaps, lack of access to education, and underrepresentation in leadership roles persist. According to a recent global report from UN Women and UNDP, no country has achieved full gender parity, and fewer than 1 percent of women and girls live in a country with high women's empowerment and a small gender gap.
Organizations and individuals dedicated to empowerment are needed now more than ever. Rachel Denise Fox is one such inspirational woman who has made it her life's mission to lift up and encourage girls and women through her nonprofit organization; You Go Girl.
Overcoming Adversity to Help Others
Rachel shares that founding You Go Girl has been one of her proudest accomplishments. After her daughter Genesis battled a rare anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, an autoimmune disease attacking her brain, the family entered a grueling multi-year health battle from 2016 to 2019.
The illness and medication caused Genesis to be bullied at school for her appearance. Having been bullied herself as a child for being skinny, Rachel immediately empathized with her daughter's plight. She realized she needed to take broader action to address bullying and empowerment for all girls.
In 2018, drawing inspiration from her daughter's struggle and her own experiences with bullying and adversity, Rachel founded You Go Girl on the premise of promoting self-love, Self-awareness, wellness, education, and leadership. The organization is dedicated to "encourage, empower, and inspire girls and women." The name stems from what she would tell her daughter during the darkest days of her illness.
Today, You Go Girl continues to make an incredible impact. Rachel's story of perseverance, compassion, and vision offers invaluable lessons on how we can all help empower the women and girls in our lives.
Promoting Key Pillars of Empowerment
The core of You Go Girl lies in its five pillars, each carefully chosen to cultivate holistic empowerment. Self-love, often underestimated, forms the foundation for building healthy relationships and embracing individuality. As Rachel explains, "Loving yourself is the foundation to loving others."
Self-awareness equips individuals with the tools to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, paving the way for personal growth. Wellness encompasses not only physical health but also mental and financial well-being, underscoring the importance of a balanced life.
Education, a value Rachel herself holds dear, empowers women and girls to pursue knowledge and skills, breaking down barriers and unlocking opportunities. Rachel states, "I'm super passionate about education, not just formal education, but any type of education learning in general is something I'm passionate about." Leadership, the final pillar, redefines the narrative around leadership, asserting that every individual possesses the potential to lead in their unique way. "You don't need a title to be a leader. You don't need someone to come and anoint you. You are already a leader", says Rachel.
By centering programming and initiatives around these pillars, You Go Girl provides women and girls with the foundation to become empowered, well-rounded individuals.
Making an Impact on the Community
Through You Go Girl, Rachel has sowed seeds of inspiration that have blossomed into impactful moments and success stories. Annual summits bring together diverse voices, from politicians to athletes, fostering unity and celebration. Collaborations with homeless shelters and community organizations demonstrate the organization's commitment to creating positive change beyond its immediate scope.
Specifically, some of Rachel's most rewarding experiences with You Go Girl have included service projects giving manicures to women in homeless shelters. She will never forget the first annual You Go Girl Summit, which brought together women of all backgrounds and professions to uplift each other. Additionally, the organization has hosted women's marches and coding workshops to get girls interested in technology.
While starting locally, You Go Girl has since expanded its impact to help girls nationally and globally. Rachel measures success by quality over quantity, cherishing individual stories that demonstrate the organization's reach. For her, it's about the lives changed rather than sheer numbers.
Pursuing Diverse Ventures to Empower Women
In addition to You Go Girl, Rachel is aligned with her husband's flooring contracting business and owns a web development consulting firm. She explains how all these ventures align with empowering others, noting how construction is male-dominated, and she works to change perceptions.
Her consulting emerged from needing flexible work when Genesis was ill, and she helps female entrepreneurs establish their brands online. Rachel believes in using one's multifaceted talents fully, stating that "all of these things are in alignment with my purpose in life." Her diverse undertakings enable her to empower women in different arenas.
Rachel's educational background has also fueled her drive to empower women. She is the first in her family to earn a master's degree and soon a doctorate. She took a non-traditional path, starting college but not completing her bachelor's until 2009 due to having a family. Each degree attainment further empowered Rachel and showed her daughters what is possible through perseverance.
At You Go Girl, Rachel uses her background by leading coding workshops to teach girls website development. Rachel's professional experience in learning, development, and technology transfers seamlessly to empowering girls in STEM.
Advice for Overcoming Self-Doubt
For any girl or woman struggling with low self-esteem or self-doubt, Rachel stresses first appreciating yourself. She advises writing down positive qualities and focusing inward, not outward opinions. Vocalizing affirmations like "I am enough" versus negative phrases can be tremendously powerful. Seeking counseling is also recommended.
Rachel emphasizes that each person has unique talents to offer, saying, "There's at least one thing about you, that you, you and only you can do the best." Her words provide comfort and validation to all those fighting insecurity.
Rachel Denise Fox's remarkable journey with You Go Girl illustrates how one person's vision and perseverance can uplift communities. Through emphasizing self-love, Self-awareness, wellness, education, and leadership development, Rachel enables women and girls to recognize their innate worth and embrace their full potential.
She turned personal hardship into purpose and compassion. Her story inspires and guides women everywhere as they navigate challenges on the path to empowerment. Rachel proves that everyone can make a difference by sharing their gifts with the world.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
