GEMS, an acronym for Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully, is an expansion of Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy created to catch the dreams of African American at-risk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the frame work to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude. The goals for Delta GEMS are:

• To instill the need to excel academically

• To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;

• To assist girls in proper goal setting and planning for their futures high school and beyond; and

• To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities