Girls Inc. hosts grand opening for new Frayser center

By Kambui Bomani – Daily Memphian

October 21, 2023

A new facility in Frayser honors the woman who led an organization for more than 30 years.

Girls Inc. of Memphis held a grand opening Saturday, Oct. 21, for its Patricia C. Howard Campus. The $8 million, 20,000-square-foot facility is located on the youth farm site.

“This building is fulfilling a promise to Frayser, to Memphis and to Patricia,” said former Girls Inc. of Memphis president and CEO Lisa Moore. “That this is what girls deserve. This is where we can say ‘this is what’s best practice in youth development.’”

Howard, a North Memphis native, spent 35 years as the CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis before transitioning to a regional director role for 15 years with the national organization. She died in 2019.

The new facility was made possible through investment from the City of Memphis, Shelby County government, local foundations and corporate donors.

The building includes administrative offices and an event space for Girls Inc. students to learn skills like finance and about the farm-to-table movement. The event space will also be available to the community. A programming space where students will primarily spend their time will host activities for girls aged five to 18 such as farm programming, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and robotics.

Outside of the programming space are two learning labs, a greenhouse, three wash stations and two storage closets, all meant to complement the youth farm.

The nonprofit opened the nearly 10-acre youth farm in 2015.

“What we want to do here is to provide girls exposure and opportunity so they can blaze their own trail,” said Girls Inc. of Memphis CEO and President Sylvia Martinez.

High school girls, aged 15 to 18, spend around 12 hours a week at the farm and sell their produce at the Memphis Farmers Market and Raleigh Farmers Market. They also take a basket of produce home weekly.

“It’s exciting to see the growth in the community,” said Annette Hawkins, who serves on the Girls Inc. of Memphis board of directors. “It’s nice to see the proximity to the school, as well as the learning center across the street.”

“This is more than just for the kids,” said Edith Grayson, a Franklin native and Memphis resident. “It’s helping the entire community.”