Angela Patton facts for kids

Angela Patton is an amazing activist who helps young African-American girls. She likes to call them "at-promise" girls, meaning they have lots of potential for a bright future. Angela is the founder of Camp Diva and the CEO of Girls For A Change (GFAC) since 2012.

As the leader of GFAC, Angela works hard to help young girls of color feel important and celebrated. Through special programs and summer camps, GFAC teaches girls aged 6–14 important skills. These skills help them build a great future. GFAC also helps improve neighborhoods around Richmond, Virginia by creating positive changes.

In 2012, Angela became well-known after her speech, "A father-daughter dance...in prison," at the TEDxWomen event. She talked about how Camp Diva started a special father-daughter dance for girls whose dads were in prison. Her speech showed how much this dance helped their relationships and the community. Over 800,000 people watched this inspiring talk. Angela has received many awards for her important work.

Learning and Skills

Angela Patton studied Business Administration at ECPI University. She also earned a special certificate in Non-profit Management from Virginia Commonwealth University. This training helped her gain the skills to create and run her own non-profit groups, like Camp Diva.

Helping Others

Angela has spent over 20 years working to help people. She worked with other non-profit groups in Richmond, Virginia. These include the YMCA, the Children's Museum of Richmond, and the Richmond AIDS Ministry. Angela is also a licensed nurse and a doula, who supports new mothers. She helps guide the East District Family Resource Center. This center offers help with education and career programs for people in the East End area.

Camp Diva

Camp Diva started in 2004. It was created to honor Diva Mstadi Smith-Roan, a five-year-old girl who sadly passed away that year. Angela worked with Diva's mother, Clover Smith, to create a summer camp. They wanted Diva's spirit to live on through this camp.

This five-week summer camp is for African-American girls aged 11–15. They do fun activities like cooking, sewing, dancing, and swimming. Through these activities, the girls learn important social skills. These skills help them grow into strong, confident young women. Camp Diva also offers special programs before and after school. In these programs, girls learn about starting their own businesses and practical life skills. To make sure Camp Diva is affordable for all families, they raise money through fundraisers and events.

Father-Daughter Dance in Prison

In 2007, Camp Diva held its first father-daughter dance. This event showed how important a father-daughter bond is for a girl's growth. As more people joined the dance each year, Angela realized some girls couldn't come. Their fathers were in prison.

So, Angela and the girls decided to write to the Richmond City Jail. They asked for permission to host their own father-daughter dance inside the jail. The jail agreed, understanding that good family connections can help inmates change their lives. To attend the dance, fathers in prison had to complete a 30-hour parenting class.

On March 17, 2013, 16 fathers and 18 girls attended the first father-daughter dance inside the jail. This event became famous across the country. It was featured in a Washington Post article and in Angela's TED talk. Camp Diva still holds its annual father-daughter dance at the Richmond City Jail. Other prisons, like Miami's Federal Detention Center, have also started similar dances.

Awards and Recognition

Angela Patton's hard work for her community has been recognized. She has been named "Virginians Making a Difference" and received "The Cultural and Leadership Award." These honors came from her non-profit work in the Richmond area.

After her TED talk was released, her message spread nationwide. It was featured on NPR, ABC World News, and Inside Edition. In 2016, President Obama honored Angela. He named her a "Champion of Change for Enrichment for Marginalized Girls." This award was given to ten people who help improve the lives of girls through special programs.

Several groups have also helped Girls For A Change financially. In 2003, the Draper Richards Foundation gave GFAC a three-year grant. This money helped GFAC start new programs. In 2014, GFAC also received a generous grant from the Allianz Foundation.