Blessings, my name is Achantel Thornton, Founder and President of Essence of Diamonds and Pearls Youth Group (EDPYG). A little background about myself and our program; the birth of EDPYG, actually started when I was 15 years old as a member of a local YMCA. At that time we wanted more options, like the boys had, that was not a cheerleading program, so we took a stand. We started jumping Double Dutch as a pastime but in being underage we needed a Supervisor, so my mom joined us. Our small past-time group grew into a sisterhood of Double Dutch competitions, local and destination trips, workshops for self-improvement, peer empowerment, and so much more. 

2002 I left MA and matriculated to Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA where sadly my youth group participation journey turned into occasional youth visits. July 2016 I moved back to MA and saw there was still a need for the program so I did what anyone would do, I birthed EDPYG in March 2021. Our program not only consists of Double Dutch but we try to incorporate as many everyday opportunities as possible to help our Future Queens survive in daily life.  In being a mother of three beautiful children, with two of my children also being Future Queens, I think not only about the life skills they need to matriculate into beautiful Queens but also the community they surround themselves with. EDPYG, has become their home away from home surrounding them with like-minded youth and a village of support. Currently EDPYG has a family of 14 Future Queens and a village of volunteers to help us through the way. 

The mission of EDPYG is to uplift our future queens, by providing them with instruments for self-empowerment, agility skills, mastery level entrepreneurship tools, and building  a sisterhood with lifelong memories.

It's such an honor to be nominated for this award, as I watched the video happy tears escaped from my eyes as Maya Angela recited one of my all time favorite poems, Phenomenal Woman. One of my favorite quotes from this Phenomenal Queen is "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it". Its my lifelong dream to make sure every Future Queen that enters in my life knows the true meaning of success, empowerment, and most importantly equipping them with a sisterhood that lasts forever.