Every year, the Los Angeles-based Step Up Women's Network provides mentoring opportunities to more than 500 high school girls from underserved communities in Chicago, L.A. and New York. When the girls enter 9th grade, each is asked to devote 100 hours each year for 4 years to after-school programs. Some of these include confidence-building exercises, college tours and one-on-one time with working women.

One of these is Modern Family actress and mentor Julie Bowen. From a family of all daughters, Bowen was introduced early on to the idea that girls can anything boys can do. She has devoted herself to spreading this message among the girls in the Step Up program. Her best advice? Stay in school! She encourages them to be confident and believe in themselves to follow the power of their dreams.

To get involved with this program, you can go to suwn.org or buy a limited edition silver Life charm from Katrina Kelly Jewelry (katrinakellyjewelry.com) from which all proceeds go to Step Up. Teaching girls that anything is possible if they believe in the power of their dreams? We think this is just SO Empowered! Way to go Julie and way to go Step Up Network!

FletcherPR is a national communications firm that specializes in reaching women through the power of media. Headquartered in Knoxville, TN with staff in Nashville & Los Angeles, we are a full-service agency providing strategic public relations, social media and marketing communications services to our clients throughout the U.S.