Toya Russell-Phillips, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, learned responsibility early as the firstborn daughter to a teenage mother, facing challenges that included sexual abuse and a strained relationship with her mom. Despite these obstacles, she persevered, working through high school and struggling in college until she met a mentor who changed her life. With newfound support, she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration while working full-time. She developed a passion for non-profit work which led to a successful career in Michigan, where she managed several organizations and even won an Emmy® Award. After moving to Atlanta in 2011, she grew B’Fly Girls, Inc. from serving 20 to 400 girls across 45 schools. In 2019, she founded Girls of Excellence, Inc., creating a comprehensive mentoring system for girls of color, helping them realize their potential on their journey to excellence.
Q: With an organization so committed to the guidance and development of young women, what is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a mentor?
A: The biggest one? There’s so many things, but my answer would probably be integrity. My mentor would always say, ‘I’ve got to do the right thing, because I have to sleep at night.’ I met her in my early 20’s, and I really didn’t grasp what she meant at that time, but as we grew together, I got to get to know her more and I started maturing on my own. I learned when you are faced with important decisions you have to make, things you choose to be involved in, and even things you say, you have to put yourself in a position to really influence others. People are looking to you for a response or even just the way you carry yourself. So as it relates to integrity, any decision that I made for myself, personally and with the organization, I have to be able to sleep at night and know that I made the best choice for all involved.
Q: What would you say is the most impactful initiative or program that Girls of Excellence provides?
A: Probably our leadership camp. I get feedback throughout the year of the impactful moments that happen for the girls but our leadership camp accumulates the whole year. We’re in the thick of it now getting ready to launch for 2025 but by the first weekend of June, all the programming has ended and we get to host our leadership camp. This camp came to me literally in a dream. I initially wanted it to be a typical overnight, sleepaway camp experience, your typical camp, but Covid happened so we had to change up our plan. So, we did a weekend in June instead. It’s three intense days, 12 hours per day for 100 middle and high school girls. We set up workshops, do physical activities, set up self care activities and even host a Career Discovery Fair. One impactful thing for the girls is the exposure; taking the girls out of their neighborhoods, and putting them someplace that they’ve never been or wanted to go. We always do a community service project and have a party that allows them to let loose. They love it! This year, we took a field trip to Savannah State.
The feedback that I get from that camp gives me so much energy to keep going because in this type of business, being a non-profit, you’re always looking for fun and making new relationships. I’m selling a mission to get funding in order to further serve the girls so the camp is probably the most impactful thing that we do where we’ve been consistent and have gotten great feedback. We know it’s good when we can’t even get new girls in because all the old girls want to keep coming.
Q: What do you consider to be your superpower??
A: I would say leadership. Yes, I started the organization and I’m the Founder, but I like to just work, be in the background and just make sure things are efficient, organized and coordinated. When people make compliments on my leadership, I had to take a minute, take that in, and just accept it because nothing happens without my leadership.
Q: If you could give the younger version of yourself one message or any words of wisdom, what would that be??
A: I would say to her it’s going to be okay. All the worrying that you’re doing, just know that it is going to be okay but it is not going to be easy. Your heart will break. Your disappointment will settle in. You will feel all types of emotions that you don’t understand. You will face challenges for several reasons, but in the end or after the fact, just know that you came through and you are okay and you will be okay.
Q: What is next for Girls of Excellence?
A: Our plan is to continue growing the program but the next big thing is opening a Girls of Excellence Center For Excellence; an actual brick and mortar building where the girls have free reign. What I mean by that is they’re welcoming each other coming into the door, welcoming clients and/or donors, and hosting workshops along with peer-to-peer mentoring. I’ve love for the center to have a goal planning room and a financial literacy room and an entrepreneurship room or green space. So the Center of Excellence will be all about the girls and what their needs are, making sure that they feel empowered to be the best versions of themselves that they can be. For me, I want to leave the legacy of exactly that.
Stay connected to Toya Russell-Phillips:
- Instagram: @girls_of_excellence_inc
- Website: visit here
