Diversity, networking and equal opportunity for all women across New York City is a rare thing to find. As the number of women in power rises, the push for all women to succeed and make their mark on the world has gotten stronger. My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) is a program dedicated to supporting and empowering young women. MSK addresses and works toward tackling the challenges faced by young women in accessing resources and support. By providing mentorship, educational programs and networking opportunities, they hope to empower young women to succeed academically and professionally. Within this program, diverse groups of women come together to help transform potential into excellence. Building on this mission of empowerment, Queens Preparatory Academy has partnered with MSK to provide these same transformative opportunities to our students.
MSK’s Mission
The New York City Department of Education introduced “My Sister’s Keeper” (MSK) in November of 2020. This groundbreaking program promotes gender equality and empowers girls and young women in grades 4-12.
MSK is dedicated to uplifting and supporting the achievements of girls and young women of color, including cisgender, transgender, gender-expansive, and any other students who identify with the terms “girl” or “woman.” By addressing the unique challenges faced by these students, the program provides them with a strong foundation for future success. With a focus on empowerment and inclusivity, MSK continues to break barriers, inspire ambition, and create a lasting impact in the lives of young women across New York City.
Empowering Young Women
My Sister’s Keeper (MSK) builds on the success of the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, launched by former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2014 to uplift boys and young men of color. MSK was introduced in 2020 to expand this vision and support young women across all backgrounds. The program aims to provide the resources and community necessary for young women to succeed academically and personally.
Since its introduction, MSK has adapted to meet the evolving needs of students, offering mentorship, networking, and leadership opportunities. It continues to empower young women by providing the support they need to excel in school and beyond, helping them prepare for a successful future.
Celebrating Sisterhood
Today, MSK has become a cornerstone of positive change under the dedicated leadership of QPA’s English teacher, Ms. Stacy Henry and Guidance Counselor, Ms. Lashanna Edwards. A key part of this program was that it created an environment where young women could go to and develop essential leadership skills, build meaningful friendships and create lasting impact in their community. According to MSK members Ranaa Hassan and Arielle Matapersad, My Sister’s Keeper is an honest leadership group that provides a safe and supportive environment for young women to grow with their peers, ladies grow and get a sense of acknowledgement.
Principal Gumbs has shared that “MSK is about teaching girls about their inner selves.” She believes that through this program, young girls gain essential life skills such as confidence, time management, perseverance, professional communication, and social skills if given the opportunity.
QPA senior Ranaa Hassan also mentioned that her involvement with MSK “personally impacted the way I socialize and communicate with people,” giving her a “sense of comfort” and granting her space to be herself “around new people.” My Sisters Keepers grant these young women great opportunities to join the community and work as a strong team . Not only does it help with confidence but it also prepares young girls for their future. Junior Arielle Matapersad thinks that utilizing the life skills attained through MSK she can get into a top college. She believes all of the things MSK can offer her will benefit her in the future, in some way.
Welcoming New Members
On December 4, 2024, MSK celebrated their induction ceremony at The School of Law Enforcement in Rochdale, New York. Since then, the group members have hosted community meetings in their school, introduced sisterhood and recited their creed for the whole school to witness. QPA guidance counselor Ms. Edwards confirmed that they will “keep doing activities that will keep motivating students to become successful young ladies.”
Ms. Henry has also made it clear that MSK is still open to all young women across QPA, stating, “If you’re women across Springfield Campus are looking for a small community of girls who want to feel empowered, who want to make a positive contribution not just to the QPA community, but the communities that you live in, if you just want to become a better person, MSK is for you.” Her words have captured the essence of MSK’s mission to empower and transform young women into community leaders.
Join MSK today and become part of a supportive sisterhood dedicated to growth, leadership, and making a difference!
