2025 Youth Programs in Gary & Newark

Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that equips girls to be confident, justice-centered leaders who disrupt the status quo. Based in Newark, NJ, and Gary, IN, our programs and research aim to transform high-poverty schools and communities into nourishing spaces that champion the leadership and well-being of girls and all young people. Founded in 2013, we serve 2,500+ youth annually across three program areas: 

1. School and Community Wellness Programs that foster community healing, social-emotional development, and school/community belonging, with over 90% of participants reporting improved mental health outcomes; 
2. Early-Career Leadership & Workforce Development Programs that guide participants toward academic and professional milestones, achieving a 95% post-secondary success rate among graduating high school seniors; and
3. Our Rooted Research Group, an academic-community partnership that advances health equity through community-based participatory research (CBPR).