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88 maconmagazine.com | April/May 2026 GIRLS DIG DEEPER INITIATIVE Founded by Najiva Timothee, Girls Dig Deeper Initiative is a mentoring and youth development program serving middle and high school girls. Its roots began with a simple act of mentorship that steadily grew out of need. Najiva first became involved after the Bibb County School District issued a call for mentors. She volunteered and was assigned two sisters at Ballard-Hudson Middle School. Meeting with them during the school day, she began building relationships that quickly expanded, as other girls came up and expressed interest. "The girls started telling their friends about me," Najiva recalled. "I reached out to the counselor at Ballard and asked if I could meet with the girls during lunch. We turned it into a lunch-and-learn where we could talk and do mentoring sessions without interrupting instruction time." Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing schools to close and causing the program to temporarily lose momentum. When Mayor Lester M. Miller issued a call for community involvement during the formation of MVP, Najiva attended several forums and learned about the city's funding opportunities for nonprofits. She applied for support, and Girls Dig Deeper Initiative officially launched. Once schools reopened, the program expanded to multiple middle schools throughout Bibb County. Today, Girls Dig Deeper partners with schools, recreation centers, and even juvenile justice centers to mentor both students and incarcerated youth. The program hosts sessions that focus on leadership development, personal growth, conflict resolution, and mental health. A dat in the program often begins with journal prompts, grounding exercises, or simple check-ins designed to create a safe and supportive space for conversation. "Sometimes we just ask questions like, 'How was your day?' or 'How are you feeling?'" Najiva says. "The mental health piece is very important to me, which is why we bring in mental health professionals to speak with the girls." Many girls choose to remain involved even after completing the typical one-year program, a testament to the relationships formed through mentorship. One of Najiva's earliest mentees has stayed connected even after graduating high school and beginning college. She still attends events and may eventually become a mentor herself. "That's the goal," Najiva says. "To continue building relationships that last and help girls grow into leaders." PACE CENTER FOR GIRLS INC. Another organization supported by MVP is the PACE Center for Girls, a nationally recognized program focused on supporting girls ages 11 to 17. The program began in Florida more than 40 years ago after founder Vicki Burke recognized that many intervention programs were designed primarily for boys, leaving girls without support tailored to their unique needs. Over time, PACE expanded, eventually establishing a location in Macon in 2019. Today, the Macon program operates through a community- based "Reach" model, where clinicians work directly within local schools. "Our clinicians go into the schools and help girls find their great," explains Reach Program Director Rebecca Richard. The program combines group sessions and counseling, using a strengths-based, trauma- informed, and gender-responsive approach. Clinicians collaborate closely with school counselors and referral partners to identify girls who may benefit from the program. Malissa Martin, PACE clinician, explains that referrals can come from schools, the federal grant program Project AWARE, the Macon Judicial Circuit district attorney's R.I.S.E initiative, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or even from other students already in the program. Girls can also sign themselves up online. PACE clinicians currently serve nearly every school district in Bibb County, providing regular sessions designed to build confidence, emotional resilience, and healthy coping strategies. For parents like Candace Nicholas, whose daughter Kai'Leya Price participates in the program, the impact has been significant. "It's a lot of surfaces I haven't been able to penetrate," Candace says, "and I lean on her, Mrs. Stanley, and it's brought her light speed from when we started with her confidence and anxiety." Kai'Leya joined PACE after a friend noticed her struggles with anxiety and suggested the program. She credits the supportive environment and the confidentiality of the sessions with helping her feel Since its launch, MVP has distributed more than $1.6 million to local nonprofit organizations working to uplift youth and provide safe spaces for growth. Among the organizations benefiting from this support are Girls Dig Deeper Initiative and PACE Center for Girls Inc. These programs are dedicated to helping young girls build confidence, develop coping skills, and navigate challenges through mentorship and counseling.