# Power Hour — Four-Year Curriculum Scope (Skill-Spine Edition)
### Girls Inc. of Greater Miami
**Program Theme:** Women in Leadership / Career Readiness
**Framework:** 18 Skills × 6 Clusters × 4-Year Vertical Alignment Matrix
**Internal Layer:** 5 E's (Employability, Exposure, Exploration, Experience, Evolution)
**Designed by:** Marlena Candelario Romero & Sarah Maldonado
**Date:** May 2026 (Planning Document — Skill-Spine Redesign)

---

## The Structural Model

### Design Principles

1. **Skills are the public spine.** The program's organizing question is *"what skill am I building?"* — not *"what E-level am I?"* 18 named skills, grouped into 6 clusters (one per session-month, Nov–Apr), revisited every year at deepening levels.

2. **Vertical alignment is the rubric.** Same 18 skills every year. What changes is depth: **Aware → Practicing → Applying → Leading**. A girl in Year 1 and a girl in Year 4 work the same skill in the same month — at different rungs of the same ladder.

3. **All sectors, every year.** Healthcare, Tech, Professional Services, and Creative/Social Impact all appear every year. Sectors are the **practice context** for skill clusters; depth is determined by year level. Content freshness comes from new speakers, activities, and workshops — not from swapping sectors.

4. **6-month arc, three phases.** `1 + 4 + 1`: Foundation (Nov, Cluster 1) → Development (Dec–Mar, Clusters 2–5) → Launch (Apr, Cluster 6). SEL/character development is in EVERY session — constant, not siloed.

5. **Portfolio is the spine of evidence.** Every session produces a deliverable mapped to a specific skill at the girl's current depth level. The portfolio compounds across years, from a Y1 self-intro reel to a Y4 job-ready multi-version package.

6. **5 E's are the internal curriculum layer.** E1 Employability (operationalized as the 18 skills) and E5 Evolution (concentrated in Cluster 6, threaded through Clusters 1 and 5) remain through-lines. E2/E3/E4 set the year posture / depth dial.

7. **Late entrants accelerate through depth, not skip skills.** A senior who joins in Y4 still works the full 18-skill spine — at her developmentally appropriate depth, faster than a freshman would.

---

## The 18 Skills × 6 Clusters

### Provenance

- **13 skills** from FL Chamber Foundation 2019 *Employability Skills Framework* (verbatim or lightly renamed)
- **2 skills** promoted from FL sub-skills to standalone: **Leadership**, **Advocacy & Negotiation** *(mission-critical for women-in-leadership / wage-gap focus; "Advocacy" reframe driven by Bowles social-cost research)*
- **1 skill** split from FL "Interpersonal Skills" umbrella: **Networking & Relationship Building** (more concrete, more teachable)
- **2 net-new** Power Hour additions (from the existing E5 framework): **AI & Tech Fluency** (merges FL Tech Use), **Financial Literacy**
- **Adaptive Thinking** (FL) merged with **Adaptability** (E5) — single name

**Four cells were renamed in May 2026** to match what the youth-research literature actually validates: Reliability & Self-Discipline → **Grit** (Duckworth); Learning Agility → **Growth Mindset** (Dweck); Negotiation → **Advocacy & Negotiation** (Bowles social-cost reframe); Financial Resilience → **Financial Literacy** (Fernandes-aware narrow behavioral subset). The 18-cell matrix is unchanged in shape; per-skill literature reviews backing each rename live in `/api/research/_files/` and are accessible via `/design#research`.

Cite as: *"FL Chamber Foundation 2019 Employability Skills Framework + 3 Power Hour additions."*

### Cluster Map

| # | Cluster | Month | Skills (· tier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | **Foundation of Self** | Nov | Grit (T1) · Growth Mindset (T1) · Adaptability (T2) |
| 2 | **Communication & Connection** | Dec | Communication (T1) · Networking & Relationship Building (T2) · Virtual Collaboration (T3) |
| 3 | **Thinking Tools** | Jan | Critical Thinking (T1) · Problem Solving (T2) · Systems Design Thinking (T3) |
| 4 | **Doing & Delivering** | Feb | Teamwork (T1) · Project Execution (T2) · Resource Management (T3) |
| 5 | **Influence & Advocacy** | Mar | Leadership (T1) · Advocacy & Negotiation (T1) · Financial Literacy (T2) |
| 6 | **Innovation & Future Fluency** | Apr | Entrepreneurial Mindset (T1) · Design Thinking Mindset (T2) · AI & Tech Fluency (T3) |

### Tier System

The 18 skills are tiered for outcome-claim discipline. Not every skill carries the same evidence base, and funder-facing claims should match what we can credibly measure:

- **Tier 1 · Anchor (8)** — validated youth instruments + portfolio rubrics + measurable outcome claims. Each gets ~2 primary session-instances over 4 years.
- **Tier 2 · Development (7)** — portfolio + reflection growth claims only, no psychometric outcome claims. Each gets ~1 primary session-instance.
- **Tier 3 · Exposure (3)** — count of experiences completed, not growth. Embedded practice in other clusters; no primary session-instances.

Dosage math: 24 primary slots over 4 years = (8 anchors × 2) + (7 development × 1) + (3 exposure × 0) + 1 spare. Assessment instruments per skill are catalogued in the per-skill literature reviews (auth-gated, `/design#research`).

### Within-Year Arc

Same calendar order every year, all 4 years:

> *Know yourself → Connect → Think hard → Do the work → Influence & advocate → Look ahead*

---

## Year Posture / Depth Dial

| Year | E-Level | Posture | Depth Setting | Headline Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Y1** | E2 Exposure | Curious Observer | **Aware** | Knows the skill exists; can name it; has done it once |
| **Y2** | E3 Exploration | Active Investigator | **Practicing** | Uses the skill with intention in low-stakes settings |
| **Y3** | E4 Experience | Practitioner | **Applying** | Uses the skill in real (industry-reviewed) capstone work |
| **Y4** | E4 Peak | Launcher | **Leading** | Models the skill for others; uses it in real-world (intern, college, job) settings |

### Late-Entrant Pacing

| Entry Grade | Depth Trajectory |
|---|---|
| Freshman (Gr 9) | Aware → Practicing → Applying → Leading *(standard 4-year arc)* |
| Sophomore (Gr 10) | Aware → Practicing → Applying → Leading *(3-year arc, slightly compressed)* |
| Junior (Gr 11) | Aware (compressed Nov–Dec) → Practicing → Applying *(2-year arc, accelerated)* |
| Senior (Gr 12) | Aware (Nov) → Practicing (Dec–Jan) → Applying (Feb–Apr) *(1 year, intensified, focus on launchable deliverables)* |

Every entrant works the full 18-skill spine. Pace and starting depth adjust to developmental readiness.

---

## Vertical Alignment Matrix (18 × 4)

The mastery rubric. Each cell = behavior + portfolio deliverable.

### Cluster 1 — Foundation of Self (November)

> **⚠ Curriculum review needed:** the Y1–Y4 content for **Grit** and **Growth Mindset** below was written for the OLD constructs (Reliability & Self-Discipline / Learning Agility) and doesn't fully match what the renamed constructs validate. Grit needs perseverance / Hard Thing Rule / deliberate-practice framing (not reliability behaviors); Growth Mindset needs belief-layer content (neuroplasticity, response to setbacks) rather than "try new things" learning behaviors. Curriculum design call for Sarah / Marlena / Kasidy — see per-skill literature reviews at `/design#research` for evidence-backed scaffold options.

| Skill | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Grit** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Show up on time, with materials, every session. *Deliverable: First-month consistency log.* | Manage commitments across school + Power Hour + life with a system. *Deliverable: Weekly time-block calendar shared with mentor.* | Reliable in capstone — meet deadlines, communicate proactively when at risk. *Deliverable: Internship-style status update template (used live).* | Be the dependable one others rely on. *Deliverable: Mentor a Y1 girl on accountability + reflection.* |
| **Growth Mindset** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Try one new thing per session; reflect on being a beginner. *Deliverable: Learner's Log — 6 entries.* | Teach yourself something using AI + research; document the process. *Deliverable: "I taught myself X" portfolio entry with method log.* | Pick up a sector-specific tool during capstone (Figma, SQL, Canva pro, etc.). *Deliverable: Tool-acquisition reflection + artifact.* | Coach another girl through learning a new skill from scratch. *Deliverable: "Learn-to-Learn" workshop she designs and runs.* |
| **Adaptability** *(T2 · Development)* | Notice when a plan changes and name how it feels. *Deliverable: "Pivot moments" reflection log.* | Re-plan when something falls through; recover within a session. *Deliverable: Documented adaptation in sector exploration.* | Handle real workplace changes (scope shift, deadline, feedback). *Deliverable: Capstone "what I changed and why" memo.* | Help others adapt; lead a team through change. *Deliverable: Change-management write-up from job/college transition.* |

### Cluster 2 — Communication & Connection (December)

| Skill | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Communication** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Express ideas clearly to peers; deliver a 60-sec self-intro. *Deliverable: Self-intro reel.* | Professional written/oral with adults; cold outreach + follow-up. *Deliverable: Networking email + LinkedIn profile + recorded outreach voicemail.* | Cross-functional presenting; pitch capstone to industry panel. *Deliverable: 10-min capstone pitch (filmed + slide deck).* | Influence in rooms; lead Q&A; mentor a Y1 on communication. *Deliverable: Showcase keynote or board-style presentation.* |
| **Networking & Relationship Building** *(T2 · Development)* | Conduct 1–2 informational interviews; learn to ask for someone's time. *Deliverable: 2 informational interview write-ups.* | Build a 5-person professional network; maintain LinkedIn. *Deliverable: Network map + LinkedIn with 50+ connections.* | Cultivate 2–3 mentor-track relationships in chosen sector. *Deliverable: Mentor relationship log + recommendation letter request.* | Activate network for job leads; warm intros for younger cohort. *Deliverable: Job-search activation log + intros made.* |
| **Virtual Collaboration** *(T3 · Exposure)* | Show up to Zoom prepared, camera-on, mic discipline. *Deliverable: Norms checklist + facilitator feedback.* | Co-author async (Google Docs, Slack norms). *Deliverable: Async-built group artifact + comm-norms reflection.* | Lead a virtual meeting; own an agenda + follow-ups. *Deliverable: Run a virtual capstone team meeting; share recording.* | Coordinate hybrid team across geographies. *Deliverable: Remote-internship work-product + async comms archive.* |

### Cluster 3 — Thinking Tools (January)

| Skill | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Critical Thinking** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Spot a claim vs. an opinion (incl. AI outputs); ask "what did it miss?" *Deliverable: AI critique log — 6 outputs evaluated.* | Compare 2+ sources on a sector question; identify bias. *Deliverable: Sector research brief with source comparison.* | Evaluate tradeoffs in capstone design decisions. *Deliverable: Capstone decision log with tradeoff analysis.* | Reason under ambiguity; defend a recommendation to adults. *Deliverable: Capstone Q&A defense (filmed) + post-mortem.* |
| **Problem Solving** *(T2 · Development)* | Break a problem into parts; use a simple framework. *Deliverable: Problem-decomposition worksheet.* | Apply 5-whys, fishbone, or other framework to a sector problem. *Deliverable: Framework-applied sector analysis.* | Solve a real industry problem in capstone. *Deliverable: Capstone solution with documented method.* | Frame the right problem before solving. *Deliverable: Problem-statement workshop she facilitates for Y2 cohort.* |
| **Systems Design Thinking** *(T3 · Exposure)* | Map who's affected by a decision (stakeholder map). *Deliverable: Stakeholder map for one decision.* | Diagram a workflow; identify bottlenecks. *Deliverable: Process diagram + improvement memo.* | Redesign a process in capstone. *Deliverable: Before/after process design + rationale.* | Anticipate 2nd-order effects in a system she's part of. *Deliverable: Systems impact analysis (e.g., ESG-style report on a chosen company).* |

### Cluster 4 — Doing & Delivering (February)

| Skill | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Teamwork** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Recognize own role and others' in a small group; give credit. *Deliverable: Team contribution rubric — self + peer rated.* | Hold a peer accountable; give structured feedback. *Deliverable: Peer feedback log + retrospective notes.* | Cross-functional team in capstone (peer + mentor + employer). *Deliverable: Team charter + capstone retrospective.* | Build/anchor a team; resolve conflict. *Deliverable: Team-leadership reflection from internship/college org.* |
| **Resource Management** *(T3 · Exposure)* | Manage own materials, time on tasks. *Deliverable: Time-and-materials log for one project.* | Manage a small budget (event budget, simulated). *Deliverable: Budget tracker + post-event reconciliation.* | Manage a capstone project's resources (people, time, budget). *Deliverable: Capstone project plan with resource allocation.* | Coordinate resources across a team; advocate for what's needed. *Deliverable: Internship-scale project plan + post-project write-up.* |
| **Project Execution** *(T2 · Development)* | Use reading/writing/math in a career context (calculate savings rate, write a memo, read a workplace doc). *Deliverable: Workplace-context worksheet.* | Apply academic skills to a sector-relevant artifact (market sizing, business memo, data summary). *Deliverable: Sector business memo with quantitative analysis.* | Execute a capstone end-to-end with embedded data/written analysis. *Deliverable: Capstone with embedded data/written analysis.* | Communicate quantitative or technical work to non-experts. *Deliverable: Translation of capstone for general audience (one-pager + video).* |

### Cluster 5 — Influence & Advocacy (March)

> **⚠ Curriculum review needed:** the Y1–Y4 content for **Financial Literacy** below was written for the old **Financial Resilience** construct (lifetime earnings → post-grad budget → total comp → first 90 days). The renamed-and-narrowed construct, per the per-skill literature review, recommends a different scaffold: Y1 budgeting + cash flow tracking → Y2 saving habits + emergency fund (pay-yourself-first) → Y3 compound interest both directions + debt math → Y4 paystub reading + offer evaluation + predatory product recognition. This is driven by the Fernandes/Lynch/Netemeyer (2014) finding that knowledge-only fin lit explains only 0.1% of behavior variance. **Advocacy & Negotiation** content below is mostly compatible with the reframe — Y2 just needs the I-We framing baked in.

| Skill | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Leadership** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Lead self before leading others; identify 1 leadership behavior to develop. *Deliverable: Self-leadership pledge + reflection.* | Lead a small group activity in session; get peer feedback. *Deliverable: Lead-a-meeting artifact (agenda + recap + feedback).* | Lead a capstone team or community-impact project. *Deliverable: Project leadership reflection + 360 feedback.* | Lead in real context (intern team, college org, founding role). *Deliverable: Leadership story + recommendation letter from a leader.* |
| **Advocacy & Negotiation** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Practice asking — for help, time, a turn. Understand the wage gap statistically. *Deliverable: "First Asks" reflection + wage-gap data literacy quiz.* | Negotiate a small thing in peer/mentor context (deadline, role, scope). *Deliverable: Negotiation script + outcome reflection.* | Salary negotiation simulation with industry mentor; benefits comparison. *Deliverable: Mock offer-letter negotiation transcript + analysis.* | Negotiate live (job offer, scholarship, internship terms). *Deliverable: Real negotiation outcome + post-negotiation memo.* |
| **Financial Literacy** *(T2 · Development)* | Lifetime earnings calculator; compound interest visualization. *Deliverable: Lifetime earnings projection (own scenarios).* | Build a realistic post-grad budget for Miami-Dade. *Deliverable: Post-grad budget + cost-of-living analysis.* | Total comp analysis; investment basics; "wealth-building first 5 years" plan. *Deliverable: Total comp analysis + 5-year wealth plan.* | "First 90 days" financial plan (paycheck budgeting, retirement, taxes). *Deliverable: First-90-days financial onboarding plan.* |

### Cluster 6 — Innovation & Future Fluency (April)

| Skill | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Entrepreneurial Mindset** *(T1 · Anchor)* | Identify a problem worth solving in your community. *Deliverable: Problem-identification log (3 problems).* | Generate solutions; pitch one to peers. *Deliverable: 2-min solution pitch (filmed).* | Capstone with "value created" framing. *Deliverable: Capstone value statement + impact case.* | Take a venture-style approach to your career or a side initiative. *Deliverable: "First venture" plan (real side hustle, club founded, content created, etc.).* |
| **Design Thinking Mindset** *(T2 · Development)* | Empathize — interview 3 people about a problem you care about. *Deliverable: 3 user interview write-ups.* | Define + Ideate — synthesize interviews; brainstorm 10 solutions. *Deliverable: HMW (How Might We) statement + sketch of 5 solutions.* | Prototype + Test — build something low-fidelity in capstone, get feedback. *Deliverable: Capstone prototype + user testing notes.* | Iterate based on feedback; ship a v2. *Deliverable: V1 → V2 reflection + final product.* |
| **AI & Tech Fluency** *(T3 · Exposure)* | AI-assisted email drafting; "what did the AI get wrong?" *Deliverable: AI-assisted artifact with critique annotations.* | AI for career research + cover letter editing; learn 1 sector tool. *Deliverable: AI-supported career-research brief + sector tool exploration.* | AI as critical editor in capstone; prompt engineering basics; data tool fluency. *Deliverable: Capstone with AI-process documentation (prompts used, outputs critiqued, decisions made).* | AI as career co-pilot — ATS optimization, company research, interview prep. *Deliverable: Job application portfolio with AI co-pilot process documented.* |

---

## The 5 E's (Internal Curriculum Layer)

The 5 E's are no longer the public spine — but they continue to inform curriculum design. E1 + E5 are operationalized through the cluster structure; E2/E3/E4 set the year posture / depth dial.

| E | Name | Role in Skill-Spine Era |
|---|------|------|
| **E1** | **Employability** | Operationalized as the 18 Skills. The "what employers require today" layer is now explicit, grouped, and depth-laddered. |
| **E2** | **Exposure** | Year 1 depth setting "Aware" / Curious Observer. Sector breadth and possibility-broadening still happen — within every cluster. |
| **E3** | **Exploration** | Year 2 depth setting "Practicing" / Active Investigator. Sector narrowing happens through deeper sector-specific deliverables in every cluster. |
| **E4** | **Experience** | Year 3 depth setting "Applying" / Practitioner. Capstone work concentrates in Year 3; real-world application in Year 4 (Leading). |
| **E5** | **Evolution** | Distributed across Clusters 1 (Growth Mindset, Adaptability), 5 (Financial Literacy), and 6 (Entrepreneurial Mindset, AI & Tech Fluency). The future-ready layer is now woven into the spine itself. |

---

## Sector Model — All Sectors, Every Year

All four high-growth South Florida sectors appear every year. **Sectors are the practice context for skill clusters** — they don't replace the cluster structure, they color it. Each cluster needs sector-flavored variants (24 total: 6 clusters × 4 sectors) so all 4 sectors appear every month at every cluster.

| Sector | Key Data | Why It Matters |
|--------|----------|---------------|
| **Healthcare & Life Sciences** | +26,118 jobs by 2034 | Many girls have family in healthcare support. We show higher-wage pathways: clinical research, health informatics, biotech. |
| **Technology & Innovation** | $121K–$141K senior roles | Miami #2 for tech growth. 70–89% male. Deliberate counter-programming. Software, cybersecurity, data science, UX, fintech. |
| **Professional & Business Services** | +33,910 jobs by 2034 (largest) | Finance, consulting, marketing, legal, architecture, engineering. Broadens beyond STEM-only framing. |
| **Creative, Social Impact & Entrepreneurship** | $4.6B VC invested (2024) | Design, media, nonprofit, public policy. Honors girls whose interests cross boundaries. |

### How Year Level Determines Sector Depth

| Year | Sector Engagement | T2 Workshop | Mentor Matching |
|------|-------------------|-------------|-----------------|
| **Year 1** | Samples ALL 4 sectors broadly through every cluster. No commitment. | Attends all sector workshops as sampler. Comparison chart. | General mentor (not sector-specific). Focus on relationship. |
| **Year 2** | Chooses 1–2 sectors for deeper investigation. Cluster activities lean into chosen sectors. | Informational interviews and projects in chosen area. | Matched by interest area. Relationship deepens. |
| **Year 3** | Concentrated in chosen sector. Capstone is sector-specific. | Works directly with T2 partner on capstone. Employer feedback. | Professional relationship — industry contact, reference, internship connector. |
| **Year 4** | Applying skills in real-world contexts. Cross-sector encouraged. | Live employer interactions: interviews, applications, placement. | Long-term professional relationship. Part of portable network. |

---

## 4-Tier Partner Model

| Tier | Type | Role | Commitment |
|------|------|------|------------|
| **T1** | Collegiate Role Models | FIU + Barry students on panels. Bridge HS to career. Near-peer connection. | 1–2 sessions/year |
| **T2** | Industry Partners | Workshop leaders. Capstone reviewers. Portfolio feedback. Employer-quality guidance. | 2–4 sessions/year + capstone review |
| **T3** | Mentors | Matched by industry interest. Monthly meetings. Grows from guidance to professional reference. | Monthly across 6-month cycle |
| **T4** | Internship Providers | Paid placement hosts. 15 hrs/wk (10 on-site + 5 with Girls Inc.). 10 placements/year target. | Summer placement (5–6 weeks). MOU required. |

---

## Work-Based Learning by Year in Program

| Year | Type | Structure | Who Manages |
|------|------|-----------|-------------|
| **Year 1** | Career exposure only | Panels, site visits, speakers via T1 + T2. No internship. Sector-flavored cluster activities. | Kasidy + Virginia/Dyani |
| **Year 2** | Micro-internships | 10–20 hr projects with T2/T4 partners. Single deliverable. Can be virtual. | Kasidy + T3 mentor |
| **Year 3** | Paid internship | 15 hrs/wk (10 on-site + 5 with Girls Inc.). 5–6 weeks summer. 10 placements. Funded by Girls Inc. and/or industry partners. | Virginia/Dyani + Kasidy + Sarah |
| **Year 4 (Senior)** | Light touch + tracking | Continued placement or job search support. Post-graduation outcome tracking. | Virginia/Dyani + T3 mentor + Sarah |

### Internship Pathway — Two Options

**Option A: SYIP Feeder ($0 for wages)**
Partner with M-DCPS + The Children's Trust. SYIP places 3,187 students at 974 worksites annually. Grant-funded. Power Hour girls arrive pre-trained. Requires formal partnership with M-DCPS. Applications due May 1 annually.

**Option B: Girls Inc. Direct Pipeline ($1,500/intern)**
Girls Inc. builds own T4 employer pipeline. $15/hr × 15 hrs/wk × ~5 weeks = ~$1,125–$1,500/intern. For 10 interns = $11,250–$15,000/year. Funded by grants, corporate sponsors, or industry partners. MOU with each employer required.

**Target:** First 10 paid placements by summer 2027.

### Liability Considerations
- Liability insurance: confirm coverage for students at employer sites
- Written MOUs with every employer (supervision, prohibited tasks, emergency protocols, harassment reporting)
- Parental consent forms for off-site placements
- Background checks for employer supervisors working with minors
- FL child labor: max 30 hrs/wk school year, 8 hrs/day, ages 16–17

---

## Session Model — 6-Month Arc

### Every Session Format

SEL Warm-Up → Cluster Content → Differentiated Activity (by depth level) → Portfolio Work → Wrap-Up

SEL/character development is present in every session — not a single month's focus. It is the foundation.

### Three Phases (1 + 4 + 1)

| Phase | Session(s) | Month(s) | Cluster | Function |
|-------|-----------|----------|---------|----------|
| **Foundation** | 1 | November | C1 *Foundation of Self* | Belonging, identity work, safe-space norms, mentor matching, baseline. HI Pre-Survey. |
| **Development** | 2–5 | Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar | C2, C3, C4, C5 | Four skill-cluster sessions. SEL deepens + career content intensifies. Sector workshops, professional skills, mock interviews, portfolio building. HI Check-In at session 3. |
| **Launch** | 6 | April | C6 *Innovation & Future Fluency* | Portfolio completion, peer coaching, public showcase. Growth narrative finalized. HI Post-Survey. Alumni induction. |

### Pre-Program Orientation Event

A separate pre-program event (not counted in the 6) absorbs the legacy 7-session model's second Foundation runway. Format and timing are an open decision — likely late October, family-attended.

---

## Portfolio Progression

Portfolio is the spine of evidence. Every deliverable maps to a specific skill at the girl's current depth level (see Vertical Alignment Matrix above).

### Cross-Cutting Portfolio Components

These compound across all 6 clusters and all 4 years:

| Component | Y1 Aware | Y2 Practicing | Y3 Applying | Y4 Leading |
|-----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|
| **Resume** | Skills-based, 1 version | Sector-targeted, 2 versions | Industry-specific, 3+ versions | Job-ready, tailored per opportunity |
| **Cover Letter** | Basic template | Customized for 1 role | Multiple polished versions | Submitted with real applications |
| **Personal Statement** | Draft exploring identity + goals | Refined with sector focus | Publication-ready | Used in college/scholarship apps |
| **Mock Interviews** | 1 round (peer feedback) | 2 rounds (peer + mentor) | 3 rounds (peer + mentor + employer) | Live interviews completed |
| **Capstone/Project** | — | Sector research project | Industry-reviewed capstone | Cross-sector capstone or venture |
| **Rec Letters** | — | 1 requested | 2–3 secured | Complete reference portfolio |
| **Certifications** | — | — | CareerSource registered. Future Ready info. | Certifications earned. Enrolled or employed. |
| **Growth Narrative** | "Who am I today?" | "What's changed?" | "What do I stand for?" | Full arc: "Who I was → who I am → what changed." |
| **Network Map** | Initial: peer, mentor, 1–2 contacts | Growing: 5+ professional contacts | Active: 10+ contacts, employer partners | Portable: 15+ contacts. References who know her work. |
| **Skill Evidence** | 1 recorded activity. Peer feedback. | 2+ recordings. Mentor feedback. | 3+ recordings incl. employer-scored. Teaching evidence. | Complete evidence portfolio: recordings, evaluations, 360 feedback. |

### Per-Skill Deliverables

See **Vertical Alignment Matrix (18 × 4)** above. Each of the 18 skills has its own depth ladder with a deliverable per year.

---

## Evaluation

| Tool | When | What It Measures |
|------|------|-----------------|
| HelloInsight Pre-Survey | Session 1 (Nov, every year) | Baseline: Applied SEL, Adaptive Mindset, Career Knowledge |
| HelloInsight Check-In | Session 3 (Jan) | Program quality: are youth experiencing what we intend? |
| HelloInsight Post-Survey | Session 6 (Apr) | Growth: capacity change in SEL, mindset, career knowledge |
| Empowerment Evaluation — Taking Stock | Session 3 | Staff + youth self-rate 1–10. Dialogue. |
| Empowerment Evaluation — Reflection | Session 6 | Interpret findings. Plan next cycle. |
| Google Forms | End of every session | Engagement: what worked, what didn't, rating |
| Skill Rubric | Sessions 3 + 6 | Mastery against vertical alignment matrix at depth level |
| Portfolio rubric | Sessions 3 + 6 | Portfolio quality by year-level expectations |
| Mentor relationship survey | Session 6 | Relationship quality, trust, industry relevance |
| Alumnae tracking survey | Annually post-graduation | Post-secondary enrollment, career entry, earnings |

---

## Key Program Numbers

| Metric | Target |
|--------|--------|
| Enrollment | 100 girls enrolled, 75 consistent (75% retention) |
| Girls Inc. quota contribution | 25–33% of 300-girl org target |
| Sessions per year | **6** (monthly, Nov–Apr) |
| Skill-touches per girl across program | **24** (6 clusters × 4 years) |
| Skills mastered (named) | **18** (6 clusters × 3 skills each) |
| Program span | 4 years (Grades 9–12) |
| Internship placements | 10 per summer (starting summer 2027) |
| Internship hours | 15 hrs/wk (10 on-site + 5 with Girls Inc.) |
| Cost per student | Under $1,500 |
| Pricing | Title 1 = free; sliding scale for others |
| Attendance target | 75% per session |

---

## Team

| Team Member | Ownership Area |
|-------------|---------------|
| Marlena Candelario Romero | Program oversight and leadership (lead). Co-write curriculum. Co-own logistics/operations. |
| Kasidy Brown | Lead facilitator. Co-write curriculum. Dedicated program coordinator. |
| Sarah Maldonado | Program design, budget, KPIs. Co-own logistics/operations. |
| Virginia Akar + Dyani Roberts | Mentor/partner comms. 4-tier partner recruitment. CEO funding strategy. T4 employer pipeline. |

---

## Confirmed Decisions

Locked as of May 1, 2026:

- **18 Skills × 6 Clusters** as the public spine (FL Chamber 2019 Framework + 3 Power Hour additions)
- **4-year vertical alignment matrix** (Aware → Practicing → Applying → Leading) with behavior + portfolio deliverable per cell
- **6 sessions, Nov–April**, monthly. Phase split: 1 Foundation + 4 Development + 1 Launch
- 5 E's framework retained as internal curriculum layer (E1 + E5 through-lines; E2/E3/E4 as depth dial)
- E-level follows years in program, not grade
- E5 components woven into the cluster structure (Growth Mindset + Adaptability in C1, Financial Literacy in C5, Entrepreneurial Mindset + AI & Tech Fluency in C6)
- All 4 sectors every year — sectors are the practice context for skill clusters; depth by year level
- SEL/character development in every session (constant, not siloed)
- Shared sessions with differentiated depth
- Portfolio is program spine — every deliverable maps to a specific skill at a specific depth
- 4-tier partner model (T1 Collegiate, T2 Industry, T3 Mentors, T4 Internship Providers)
- 100 enrolled / 75 consistent (25–33% of Girls Inc. 300-girl quota)
- Year 2+: seniors added
- Internships: 10 paid placements by summer 2027, 15 hrs/wk, funded by Girls Inc. and/or industry partners
- Year 4 seniors: light touchpoints + post-graduation tracking
- Title 1 = free; sliding scale for others; under $1.5K/student
- Kasidy Brown is dedicated program coordinator
- Digital badge for LinkedIn
- Alumnae pipeline connects to Girls Inc. HQ national alumni network

## Open Decisions

- "Women in Leadership" theme branding — final name TBD
- Sliding scale fee model (TBD with Virginia)
- FIU partnership formalization
- Session length (2.5 hours assumed)
- Device access plan
- T4 employer pipeline (5–10 partners by Feb 2027)
- SYIP feeder vs. direct pipeline decision
- MOU template + legal review
- Liability insurance confirmation
- E5 AI tool selection (now scoped to Cluster 6)
- E5 financial literacy partners (now scoped to Cluster 5)
- Entrepreneurship pipeline — StartUP FIU, etc. (relevant to Cluster 6)
- Employer value proposition one-pager
- **Pre-program orientation event** — needed to absorb cut Foundation runway. Format and timing TBD.
- **Sector-flavored variants per cluster** — 24 needed (6 clusters × 4 sectors). Separate scope-of-work.
- **FL Workforce Needs Study 2.0 reconciliation** — if alternate 18-skill list emerges, reconcile against this 18.

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*This document is a living planning tool. It will be refined through participant focus group feedback (before July 2026), facilitator input from Kasidy Brown, and CEO review with Virginia Akar.*

*Girls Inc. of Greater Miami — Power Hour Program Redesign (Skill-Spine Edition)*
*Marlena Candelario Romero & Sarah Maldonado — May 2026*
*Confidential Planning Document*