Who We Are

Our Vision

REDS Girls helps girls ages 6 to 18 and beyond realize what’s possible when they combine their talents and interests with higher education and continuous learning. By teaching them to sharpen their minds, strengthen their bodies, and nurture their spirits, we empower them to unlock their full potential.

Our Mission

Our education program focuses on a STEAM-based curriculum (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) that teaches young girls and teens essential academic and life skills. The program name, REDS Girls (rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and sapphires), reflects our mission to empower each girl to see her natural beauty and worth. Each jewel represents an age group and the curriculum designed to match their unique needs.

For girls who graduate the program and commit to a college path, we offer scholarships and internships.

Our Story

REDS Girls is offered through the Jion Academy, a nonprofit organization that supports young people in Oakland as they cultivate their power to create and achieve by developing their minds, strengthening their bodies, and nurturing their souls.

Since the REDS Girls began in 2016, we have had the pleasure of getting to know more than 70 girls and young women who have taken part in our STEAM curriculum. The girls and their mentors meet each Saturday for half-day workshops, and then receive additional support throughout the week and during summer months as needed.

In keeping with our philosophy that we all travel a unique road, the REDS Girls program is first tailored by age group, and then further customized based on individual needs. Outside the classroom, we work closely with the students’ families and guardians to help them fully support their rising superstars. Our teachers, mentors, and donors, who have decades of experience in STEAM-related industries, find fulfillment in passing on their knowledge and paying their fortune forward.

Our goal for REDS Girls is to help foster a love for learning as well as a new perspective on the many opportunities life has to offer. We take great pride in watching them grow not only their minds, but also their self-confidence.

As a whole, the Jion Academy believes that everyone has the power to lead humane and productive lives – to achieve personal growth, maximum health, and peaceful well-being.