09/02/2026
In our sessions, teenagers could name five problems in their neighborhoods: gun violence, racism, lack of safe spaces. But ask them what they're good at, and the room went quiet.
That gap matters. A teenager who can identify injustice but can't identify their own strength doesn't feel like they can act, they end up feeling stuck. The Becoming Initiative is designed to bridge that gap: See the problem, know you're capable, and act.
We've watched young women in our cohort have difficult, mature conversations about bias and systemic racism alongside peers who experience it differently. That's what happens when you create space for both problems and possibilities.
Read the full story on our blog here: https://milaanfoundation.org/youth-leadership-strengths-gap-teen-empowerment/
(Link also in bio!)
