OWN YOUR ASE
Our Programs
Service and sisterhood are the heartbeat of Own Your Ase (OYA). Rooted in a legacy of collective care and cultural responsibility, we are committed to nurturing a village of girls and women who lead with purpose, compassion, and power.
Through our guiding vision of rising into our highest selves, OYA cultivates a dynamic sisterhood that stands on the front lines of change—advancing education, wellness, leadership, and advocacy. Together, we are building a future where our girls and women are equipped, supported, and empowered to soar to greater heights in every aspect of their lives.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Economic Wealth
Focus: Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship
At Own Your Ase, economic empowerment is a pathway to sovereignty, sustainability, and self-determination. We equip girls and women with the tools to build wealth, make informed financial decisions, and thrive in local and global economies.
Through financial literacy, estate planning, entrepreneurship training, and hands-on business development, participants gain real-world skills and a wealth mindset rooted in community care and economic justice. From the Iya Loja Marketplace to global artisan partnerships, OYA creates opportunities for women and girls to earn, build, and circulate wealth with purpose.
The Nurture Network: Baltimore
Focus: Collective Work & Responsibility & Wealth Sharing
The Nurture Network: Baltimore addresses the systemic instability and high closure rates of women-led childcare businesses in low-income communities. We solve this by providing a dual-pillar consulting model that bridges the gap between childcare and commerce: we coach providers on operational development while simultaneously training staff in Conscious Discipline and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
This approach reduces teacher burnout, enhances parent-teacher engagement, and empowers educators to transition from survival mode to sustainable business growth. By stabilizing these centers, we secure the essential infrastructure that allows Baltimore’s workforce and families to thrive. Children are safe, empowered, and thrive in spaces where educators feel seen, heard, and supported.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health Equity
A Journey Through Wholeness at Own Your Ase
At Own Your Ase (OYA), health equity means every person has access to the knowledge, tools, and support needed to live a healthy, whole, and self-directed life. We address the social, emotional, and cultural factors that shape well-being—centering Black and Brown communities historically impacted by health disparities.
Our work is grounded in four core pillars:
Healthy Socialization & Sexual Wellness
Culturally responsive education that supports informed decision-making, healthy boundaries, consent, reproductive knowledge, and relationship wellness across the lifespan.
Heart Health & Healing
Prevention, awareness, and community care addressing stress, grief, lifestyle, and systemic factors—centering the heart health of Black women, girls, and families.
Social-Emotional Life Skills
Building emotional intelligence, self-regulation, communication, resilience, and coping strategies that support mental health, academic success, and healthy relationships.
Community Care & Access
Expanding access to wellness resources through partnerships, trainings, and community-based support systems that ensure care is consistent, culturally grounded, and accessible.
Through workshops, healing circles, trainings, and community events, OYA empowers individuals to care for their bodies, nurture healthy relationships, and build lives rooted in wellness, dignity, and purpose.
In partnership with RnD Associates and the Baltimore City Health Department, we extend our impact across West Baltimore and beyond—strengthening community-wide pathways to health equity.
💋 Stay connected: OYAOutreach@gmail.com
KNOWLEDGE & GROWTH
Educational Development
🎓 The Laney Hoxter Scholarship Fund
The Laney Hoxter Scholarship Fund honors a legacy of excellence by investing in the academic futures of young women in our community. Recipients receive financial support and mentorship to pursue their educational goals with confidence and purpose.
Adult Education Workshops
Our Adult Education Workshops strengthen Black and Brown families through practical, culturally responsive learning. Topics include re-entry life-skills development, parenting and conscious discipline, budgeting and workforce development, self-regulation, and community wellness—offered through workshops, training, and special events.
💌 Monthly Newsletter & Free Workshop Access
Sign up for our monthly Newsletter to receive updates on workshops and upcoming trainings. Use promo code ASE to receive two free workshop admissions this year.
In-School & Out-of-School Time Programs
All Own Your Ase programs can be adapted for elementary, middle, high school, and college students, including special populations. Programming is delivered through assemblies, classroom workshops, and extended learning opportunities that align with school and organizational goals.
To learn how we can support your school or organization, contact us at OYAOutreach@gmail.com
Registration opens April, June, and September on a rolling basis.
🏫 Origins School
Origins School is a transformative educational environment rooted in cultural identity, holistic development, and community empowerment. Grounded in ancestral wisdom and modern pedagogy, Origins School nurtures the whole child — mind, body, and spirit — while centering Black excellence and self-determination.
Origins School provides an alternative educational pathway for young people seeking a learning environment that honors their full humanity and prepares them for purposeful, impactful lives.
🚀 Coming Soon
Origins School is growing! A dedicated program page with full details, enrollment information, and resources is coming soon.
