About Us

Who We Are

ESTABLISHED: S4S is a community based 501( c)(3) tax - exempt corporation founded in the state of New Jersey April 17, 1994.

GOAL: To develop and enhance the self-esteem of young women in urban areas between ages of 11-21 years old.

MISSION: To empower youth to take control of their destiny and rise above negativity.

MOTTO: Love Your Systa Like A Sister. S4S is a family operation started by a close knit group of friends. Participants are encouraged to deal with each other as family. Accordingly, program participants are referred to as lil systas, and they call the mentors big systas.

PHILOSPHY: Supporting Young Sisters Toward Achieving Success. S4S has remained true to its philosophy and acronym for over 14 years. We believe that providing a strong support system that promotes educational and social skills will significantly increase the chances of a successful transition into adulthood.

How Do I Profit by Giving?

We need your social and financial resources to provide much needed services for our participants and community. If you are concerned and would like to invest in the success of our youth...Let us create a future together!

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Awards & Recognition

2006 Best Practices Award Community Development Block Grant – City of East Orange
2005 Community Leadership Award Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc. (H.A.N.D.S.)
2004 Innovative Approach Award Community Development Block Grant – City of East Orange
1998 Exemplary Volunteerism Award Essex County Juvenile Detention Center

About the Systas

Individually speaking, each Board member and/or volunteer brings her own unique qualities to S4S. Together they comprise the perfect blend of formal collegiate training and real life experiences, which translate into a formidable force against the ills in their community.

Brigitte Johnson, Co-Founder and Board President
Adrienne McCall, Co-Founder, Board Secretary and SitC Program Director
Taraja A. Barnett, Board Treasurer, Grant Writer and Data Analyst
Zelda Everson, Co-Founder and Executive Director
M. Sakinah Reed, SfdH Program Director
Hawaiian Epps, SitS Program Director and Public Relations Director

About The Systas

S4S Collaborators

Grantee for the Newark Drop Out and Truancy Prevention Initiative funded by Nicholson Foundation.
Newark Extended School Day Program
The Leaguers (Youth Partnership).
Partnership for Children of Essex .
Urban Youth Development Corp
Glenwood Academy Alternative School
Orange Alternative High School
NJ Nets and Newark Housing Authority.
Essex County Youth Detention Center
The East Orange Board of Education schools:
- East Orange HS
- Patrick F. Healy
- EO Campus 9
- Sojourner Truth

Historical Highlights

Grantee for the Drop Out and Truancy Prevention Initiative funded by Nicholson Foundation. Provide life skills workshops, recreational activity and mentors for students that have dropped out of the Newark school system.
Conduct Survival Course life skills workshops for young female and males enrolled in The Leaguers’ Youth in Partnership program.
Launched MySpace web page, www.myspace.com/systas4systas
Implemented gender specific after school programs in the City of East Orange at the following schools:
Patrick F. Healy, Sojourner Truth, East Orange High School
Worked hand-in-hand with the West Ward Collaborative to mentor and provide life skills workshops for Newark female teenagers residing in Georgia King Village.
Conduct Self Awareness/Conflict Resolution Workshops serving young girls enrolled in the Newark Board of Education/Office of Extended School Day Program.
Mentored and facilitated weekly life skill workshops for young Newark and East Orange girls participating in the Girl Scouts’ Behind Bars Program. Girl Scouts Council of Rolling Hill sponsored program from October 2005 to April 2006.
Mentored at-risk females referred by Partnership for Children of Essex from March 2005 to April 2006.
Conducted the Survival Course for female students enrolled in the Kids Who Graduate Program sponsored by Urban Youth Development Corp from Jan. 2004 - June 2004.
Conducted the Survival Course at Glenwood Academy in 2003 for at-risk females with special focus on social skills, self-development and problem solving skills.
Introduced the Survival Course as part of Orange Alternative High School (Phoenix Academy) female support curriculum from 1999-2004.
Conducted conflict resolution workshops for male and female teens in conjunction with the Anti-Violence Campaign in 1997 sponsored by Manage Healthcare Systems, NJ Nets and Newark Housing Authority.
Collaborated with Newark Fighting Back to facilitate forty workshops, provide mentoring and counseling to female detainees at the Essex County Youth Detention Center in 1996.