We had the good fortune of connecting with Aveus Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At IAS Girls Club, one of the main ways we are able to impact our girls is through our bi-weekly group sessions. These sessions normally last two hours and always center on the self-development topic of focus. Our self-development topics align specifically with our six pillars: the idea of self, relationship skills, decision-making, social awareness, healthy living, and higher education. Our reasoning for choosing these as the pillars of our program is that with the above tools combined, you have the ability to lead a successful life. We are aware that the term success can be subjective and look different for everyone. The goal is that whatever it is our girls choose to pursue, we want them to be able to use the tools we’ve provided to help them accomplish it.

When I first started this program in 2018 it was an afterschool program with limited space and resources. However, we made it work and the impact made through that one semester was incredible. Since then, we’ve had our own space with more resources and have been able to reach more young women throughout the entire community of Charleston, SC.

The main thing that our program has struggled with is consistency, especially with residency. When covid hit we went virtual for a while but then ended up pausing our program. In 2021 we were able to pick back up but paused again due to residency issues. Unfortunately, the same thing happened last year. We were no longer able to afford our office space so we are currently at a pause again. I could have let all of these setbacks allow me to give up but I did not. I am currently in talks with a neighborhood school and will possibly be collaborating and bringing IAS Girls Club to them. This is exciting because our program will be very beneficial for this audience by filling in the gaps they were experiencing with their current social-emotional program in place. What I am most proud of is that no matter how many times we’ve had to pause or revamp our program, we never gave up on it. We’ve found many ways to push into and connect with the communities around us in order to implement our program and will continue to do so.

One thing I’ve learned to do is celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Always find joy in the process and keep working until you’ve reached your goal. Growth is ongoing and we should always embrace and make room for it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ve lived in Charleston for ten years now and there is still so much I haven’t been able to experience. It’s such a beautiful area with ongoing expansions and lots of adventure to offer. If my best friend were in town visiting, our Saturday itinerary would look a little something like this. We’d start our day watching the sunrise at Isle of Palm Beach. The view there is absolutely breathtaking! Afterward, we’d head to west ashley for some breakfast at Bear E Patch Cafe, chefs kiss every time! After breakfast, we’d rent some bikes and ride around downtown to sightsee. After bike riding, we’d freshen up and get dressed for dinner and drinks at Charleston’s newest hotspot, Montague Room. We’d end our night on the dance floor at XO Lounge or Blue Note Bistro!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been multiple people who have contributed to the growth and success of the IAS Girls Club. I’m thankful to God for giving me the vision, strength, and courage to begin this journey. I’m thankful to my parents, friends, and family for always supporting my dreams in any way that they can. I’m thankful for Anna Middleton, who was the very first person to volunteer and support me at the beginning of this journey. Diviann Gilliard has also been a huge help in supporting my vision and helping me accomplish huge milestones for our program. Lastly, I am so very thankful to anyone who has ever volunteered their time, resources, or money to support our program. Non-profits or Grassroots organizations of any kind rely heavily on the support of the community so I am forever grateful for it.

Website: iasgirlsclub.org

Instagram: instagram.com/iasgirlsclub

Other: linktr.ee/aveus.cj

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