From DreamGirls Intl' to A Dope Femme
Our passion and dedication for empowering underrepresented groups
and women, didn't start yesterday. Take a trip down memory lane with us.
Chapter 1
The DreamGirls Club
In 2008, the high school graduation rate of Washoe County Nevada, was a mere 53%. In addition to low graduation rates, teen pregnancy was at all time high.
Deeply concerned about this devastating trend, Dr. Fabienne McPhail Naples former Associate VP of Student Success Services at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), decided to do something about it.
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In April 2009, she asked her employees to gather female students of UNR,
to participate in a one-day program with high-school students.
Karen Tshimanga "KT" (her employee at the time), helped facilitate the activity and the discussion and realized that most of the high school girls had questions about college admissions and higher education. Concerned about the lack of information given to these soon to be high school graduates, and the crucial need and significance of a higher education for their future, they decided to create a club.
The purpose: informing underrepresented (mostly low income & first generations) high school girls about higher education and how to achieve academic success.
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The DreamGirls Club (DG) was born: "College is not a Dream, it's a Plan".
Chapter 2
DreamGirls International Outreach and Mentoring Program
In September 2009, after a large successes in the Reno, Nevada community,
the Northern Nevada International Center (NNIC) invited Dr. Naples, and KT to a luncheon, with a powerful group of female African political leaders from various African countries.
They recommended that KT & her co-founder Shirley Diaz expand DG internationally.
To fulfill the vision, KT and Shirley wrote a full proposal to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative U (CGI U) with a commitment to open their first international chapter in Congo DRC.
In 2010, they attended their first CGI U conference hosted by former US President Bill Clinton.
“DreamGirls International Outreach and Mentoring Program” (DreamGirls Intl') was born.
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In May 2010, after interning for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa
with local NGO DadFund, the DreamGirls Intl' founders fell in love with the country and its culture, but most of all, its people—thus shifted their international focus from Congo DRC to South Africa.
In April 2011, former President Bill Clinton officially announced a partnership between
DreamGirls Intl' and DadFund, during the CGI U conference.
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The chapter has been operating as “DreamGirls Academy” and ran solely by the amazing
South African team since 2013.
Chapter 3
A Dope Femme
Out of college and living the dream in the big city of New - York, KT faced many challenges trying to make her mark in the corporate world. Often the only Black woman in the room,
her fight for equality and equity was a constant struggle.
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Thanks to Women of Color & Allies throughout her professional journey,
she built a strong support system who protected, coached, trained and opened doors for her.
Just like she did a decade ago in college, KT created a network and sisterhood for professional women of color, to keep flourishing our magic, while empowering generations to come.
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In result, she created and founded "A Dope Femme".
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Our mission is to empower the sisterhood of today,
to shape the sisterhood of tomorrow.
One Dope Femme at a time.