Like many prominent educators, Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole was rocked by the recent exposure of student abuse at Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for girls in South Africa.

"I found myself seeking comfort where I could find it and one of the places I could find it was in thinking about PowerGirls, and thinking that we collectively have imagined a world where no girl and no boy would ever be unsafe," said Dr. Cole as she began her discussion of PowerGirls at its kickoff event last week.

Dr. Cole, former president of Bennett College for Women and board chair of the Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute (JBC Institute) founded at Bennett College for Women, helped create the PowerGirls Network, an initiative of the JBC Institute to empower high-school girls across the globe. (See also: Limitless Possibilities From a National Champion)

On Nov. 8, the PowerGirls Network launched PowerGirls Magazine, a bimonthly magazine targeted to teen girls, and a web site slated to go live Nov. 19.

Click play below to watch Dr. Cole talk about the new initiative.

"If what we have truly dreamed can be executed, we are now in the process of launching a movement," said Dr. Cole. "Anything this special, this potentially revolutionary, that means making some change doesn't just happen by any given individual. I really, really, really want to just say there are some mighty sisters behind this project."

Among these "mighty sisters" are JBC Institute President Bea Perdue as PowerGirls Magazine editor-in-chief, former Essence Editor-in-Chief Marcia Ann Gillespie, who advised on the project, and acclaimed hip-hop artist Toni Blackman, whom the U.S. Department of State selected as the first American hip-hop artist to work as an American cultural specialist. Blackman is PowerGirls' music director.

The evening kicked off with a powerful performance by Blackman. Click play below to watch the "Dream Anthem."

"Over the course of my life, I have been extraordinarily privileged to be connected with projects with ideas with programs, but never, ever, ever have I fallen this deeply in love with a project," said Dr. Cole. "What we are entangled in here, this dream, these memories we've got to capture and grow from ... this isn't everyday stuff. This is special."

Why Now?

By providing critical mentoring and career-exposure opportunities for young high-potential girls who may not have ready access to support systems and opportunities critical for success, the PowerGirls Network helps them own their power.

In December 2008, the PowerGirls will assemble in South Africa for the PowerGirls summit.

"Thanks for supporting a ... movement that says to every girl of every color of every class of every sexual orientation of every age of every physical ability or disability and yes, of every nation, that she's got power, and if she's got power, imagine what could happen if a bunch, no, if a whole lot, no, if all girls owned their power," said Dr. Cole.  

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