Empower Her & Empower Him Leadership And Youth Development Initiatives At Bon Air

AUGUST 17, 2026

Two signature initiatives focused on empowering youth were presented as a series of weekend retreats this spring and summer at Bon Air. Empower HER and Empower HIM encouraged residents to recognize their worth, strengthen their character, develop practical life skills, promote pro-social behaviors, and build a vision for their future.

Empower HER took place in April. This transformative leadership and personal development retreat was designed to help young women recognize their value, embrace healing, strengthen their identity, and discover their purpose. Inspired by the powerful metaphor of a butterfly, participants learned that transformation is a journey requiring courage, growth, resilience, and hope.

Throughout the weekend, female residents participated in interactive workshops, healing circles, reflective journaling, creative expression, mentorship, and team-building activities that promoted emotional wellness, healthy relationships, communication, conflict resolution, moral reasoning, leadership, accountability, and positive decision-making. Empower HER concluded with a Restoration and Commitment ceremony where butterflies were released and each participant’s growth and commitment to becoming a confident, responsible, and purpose-driven young woman was celebrated. Fourteen female residents participated.

Empower HIM retreats took place for young men at Bon Air in June and August and were designed to help male residents strengthen their identity, develop emotional resilience, embrace accountability, and cultivate leadership. Guided by the powerful metaphors of the eagle and the lion, participants were challenged to rise above adversity and make decisions that shape a positive future.

Throughout both weekend events, the young men engaged in leadership workshops, mentoring, team-building exercises, restorative discussions, self-reflection, and experiential learning designed to strengthen communication, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, moral reasoning, teamwork, and responsible decision-making. At the August retreat, participants heard from Rodney White who had spent 25 years incarcerated, but upon release successfully completed college and later became a successful entrepreneur before being recruited by the Virginia Department of Corrections to serve as the department’s workforce development manager. Participants also heard from City of Richmond Sheriff Antoinette Irving who spoke about her upbringing and how those experiences motivated her to pursue success, leadership, and a life of service to her community. The retreat concluded with the Becoming HIM ceremony, where participants publicly affirmed their commitment to becoming respectful, responsible, and purpose-driven young men prepared to lead with integrity and courage. Approximately 50 male residents participated.