A new Toledo-area youth center, focused on empowering girls through the use of mentorship, life skills, behavioral health services and community-based programming.
TOLEDO, Ohio — A new community resource designed to empower young girls and provide support is s opening its doors with a mission rooted in personal experience. The HER Center, founded by Tia’Tiauna Fuller, celebrated its grand opening in May and is already offering a variety of programs focused on mentorship, behavioral health, life skills and youth development.
This story continues below.
Fuller, a mother, entrepreneur, mentor and author of Wheels & Heels: Empowering Women on the Road, said the center was born out of a desire to create the kind of support system she wished had existed during her own childhood.
“The HER Center was created because it is the space I wish I had growing up, a place where girls feel seen, supported and empowered,” Fuller said.
Located in Toledo, the center serves youth through programs that focus on building confidence, teaching practical life skills and providing a safe environment where young people can be heard.
“I created it for teenagers to come in and be able to be heard, ask questions, help out with getting resumes, getting jobs, life skills — things that they don’t know and they need to know,” Fuller said.
Programming at the HER Center includes mentorship opportunities, fitness activities, dance therapy, public speaking, confidence-building workshops, personal hygiene education, self-care instruction and lessons in etiquette. The organization also offers behavioral health services for qualifying individuals through Medicaid and self-pay options, while maintaining community-based programming intended to make support accessible regardless of a family’s circumstances.
Fuller said community involvement will be essential to the center’s long-term success and growth.
“We need the parents involved, we need community partnerships, we need donations, sponsorships, mentors,” Fuller said. “If they know a trade and they can teach the girls, we just need the community.”
The center’s services extend beyond teenage girls. Fuller said programs are available for individuals ranging from young children to older adults.
“We pretty much start at 5 into 100, so we can service anyone here,” she said.
During the summer, programming is divided by age group, with activities for children ages 7 to 11 during the day and sessions for youth ages 12 and older in the afternoon and evening. The HER Center also hosts weekly community events designed to provide safe, positive alternatives for young people. Every Saturday, all community members are invited to participate in games and discussions, while Friday evenings feature teen-focused activities such as movie nights and karaoke.
Fuller hopes those offerings will give young people a welcoming place to gather, connect with peers and access guidance from trusted mentors. As the organization continues to grow, Fuller said her goal remains simple: creating opportunities for girls and families to develop confidence, life skills and a stronger sense of belonging.
Community members interested in learning more about programs, volunteer opportunities or ways to support the organization can follow the HER Center’s journey through the HER Gold Mind Facebook page.