Our Story

It began with a calling to build girls' self-esteem in 2008. Now, 12,000 girls later...

Imagine a world where women know their strengths, are empowered to pursue their dreams, and engage with one another supportively. At our nonprofit, A Beautiful Me, we are working toward that future-reality by reaching girls at the critical age of 9 years old with our life-giving social & emotional workshops and reinforcing that work through our programs for middle schoolers, teens, and adult women.
 

A girls’ self-esteem reaches its peak at age 9 and plummets from there. This is a critical problem for all girls regardless of socio-economic status and upbringing. Girls with supportive, loving parents suffer alongside girls who lack resources and healthy relationships. When self-esteem erodes, girls lack the confidence to innovate, persevere, and discern.
 

Since its founding in 2008 by Karen Palka, A Beautiful Me has reached over 12,000 girls in Michigan through workshops, programs, and events in schools, clubs, and community groups. Girls who participate in our 4-part be-YOU-tiful workshops series report a 100% increase in their perceived value and self-worth. Our goal is to reach every 5th-grade girl throughout Michigan and show how the principles taught in our workshops can effect lasting change in the lives of women in a specific geographic region.
 
Girls who have been through workshops continue to benefit from support and connection with A Beautiful Me, therefore The Closet by A Beautiful Me was opened in early 2019 in downtown Port Huron. The Closet is a social enterprise retail store that functions as an additional training space for teen girls who want to gain business, philanthropy, and entrepreneurial skills. This original program is called emerge360, a business certification program to equip teen girls with confidence and professional skills. This free, hands-on training develops the skills young women need to confidently enter the workforce such as soft skills, customer service, and project-based learning while helping them identify their strengths.
 
All women need support and encouragement.  A Beautiful Me’s Board of Directors, staff, supporters, and volunteers work passionately to advocate for girls and women through community outreach, service, and education. A Beautiful Me is active in the community and also provides encouragement through social media and on a weekly radio podcast called “inspireME” on WGRT 102.3 FM. Through these efforts, we will see lasting change in the way girls and women see themselves, each other, and the world around them.