SMART Girls Program Fuels Growth, Opportunities for 17-Year-Old
As a young girl, D’Aura T. remembers being asked to write the negative things people had said about her on glass tiles. Then, she was asked to throw the tiles to the ground and shatter them — a metaphor for getting rid of negative thoughts that can hinder young people, especially young girls.
D’Aura accepts her prize for placing third at the BGCSTL Youth of the Year event.
This is just one of many memories D’Aura has of her time in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis’ (BGCSTL) SMART Girls program, which promotes health, fitness, education, self-esteem and good decision-making for girls ages 6-18. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. Members participate in a variety of education and training sessions, participatory activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities with adult women — all designed to develop fit, healthy and positive young women.
“The SMART Girls program has been such a blessing,” D’Aura says. “I’ve been given so many opportunities to grow and learn. I’m so grateful that this program exists.”
She credits the program with creating enough confidence for her to do things like facilitating BGCSTL events for other girls, entering the BGCSTL’s Youth of the Year competition (in which she placed third) and trying out — and becoming the captain of — the step dance team at her high school, where she will graduate from in 2026.
D’Aura’s mom, Mallene Tatum, credits the program with helping her daughter develop the skills and attitude needed to flourish into a young adult.
“SMART Girls helped D’Aura learn to communicate her feelings, gave her access to terminology about being a girl and helped her find her purpose,” Mallene says. “It takes hindsight to reflect and truly realize what the program did for her. I am beyond grateful for the impact it has had on her life and her future.”
Enterprise is proud to partner with BGCSTL in a variety of ways, including sponsoring the annual Table for Four luncheon and the Great Futures Gala, and volunteering.
“Enterprise is actively involved in helping us deliver on our mission, and we are grateful for our relationship,” says Deneen Busby, VP, Marketing & Communications at BGCSTL. “The financial support is certainly appreciated, and the impact of the team’s volunteer efforts has made a direct impact on our members.”
D’Aura credits her confidence and self-esteem with helping her identify her career path more than a year before she graduates high school. She plans to become a labor and delivery nurse, following in the footsteps of many other family members who are nurses.
“It hit me while my mom was in labor — I could do that,” she says. “I like feeling confident that I can achieve the goals I have for my life.”
