Divaneering Impact Lab is raising funds to support an initiative that advances equity, innovation, and workforce exposure for girls in Baltimore City.

This funding will support:

1) Beauty-Tech Pre-Apprenticeship Place-Based Experience (New Orleans, LA)

6 high school girls will participate in the 2026 Essence Festival as pre-apprentices and market researchers, engaging directly with innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging beauty-technology.

This experience is designed as a workforce-focused learning opportunity, not a traditional field trip, and serves as the inaugural activation of our Beauty-Tech Pre-Apprenticeship Program.

Unlike previous place-based experiences, this model introduces participants to paid workforce pathways, positioning them for continued engagement beyond the experience.

Through this experience, participants will:
• Build confidence in public speaking and professional communication
• Conduct real-time market research and consumer discovery within the beauty-tech industry
• Engage with founders, brands, and industry professionals across beauty, media, and technology
• Gain exposure to careers at the intersection of beauty, engineering, and innovation

Use of Funds

Contributions will support:
• Student travel, lodging, transportation, uniforms, and supervision
• Pre-experience training and preparation
• Documentation, storytelling, and post-experience reporting
• Participant stipends as part of their pre-apprenticeship workforce engagement

This experience serves as a proof of concept for a scalable workforce model that connects Baltimore City girls, particularly those in cosmetology and creative pathways, to STEM, innovation, and paid career pathways in the emerging beauty-tech industry.

All donations are processed through our fiscal sponsor, Joynt Production Network (JPN), and donors will receive appropriate documentation directly through the Givebutter platform.

Thank you for investing in experiences that not only inspire, but compensate, train, and prepare the next generation of girls to lead in innovation.

Divaneering Impact Fund

Powering place-based STEM & innovation experiences...Next stop: Essence Festival 2026