WELCOMING BACK PROGRAM LEADER — Jerica Brown will make her return to the Sycamore Youth Center this fall, leading an affirmation-based program for young girls designed to uplift them through confidence-building, creativity and self-love. Sycamore Executive Director Bobbyjon Bauman stated Brown agreed to double the time she spent at the center last year, because the demand for her program was so great. Two weekly classes will be offered, beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Sycamore Youth Center has announced the return of Jerica Brown’s empowering “She Rises” program. An expanded schedule has been created for the fall in order to meet the growing demand for this program.

Brown will offer two weekly classes, beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. This is twice the amount of time she spent at the youth center last year, officials noted.

“‘She Rises’ is an affirmation-based class designed to uplift young girls through confidence-building, creativity and self-love, while helping them to discover their identity in how God uniquely created them,” Brown explained.

Through interactive activities and discussions, the program will encourage participants to embrace the truth that “I am enough,” and to live in the belief that “Every girl deserves to shine.”

Brown, who has a passion for mentoring and empowering young women, saw great success with the program last year. Her return has been eagerly anticipated by students and staff.

“Jerica does an outstanding job, and the girls absolutely loved her class last year,” said Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of Sycamore. “We are thrilled she’s returning and expanding her reach. The message she brings — that our value is found in who God made us to be — is exactly what so many of our girls need to hear and believe.”

“She Rises” will resume at the Sycamore center this fall. The program will be part of the center’s after-school enrichment line-up, which serves more than 500 Steubenville first- through 12th-graders every week.

For information about enrolling in the “She Rises” program, or in one of the 64 after-school programs to be offered at the youth center, visit sycamorecenter.com or call Bauman at (740) 409-2986.