Learning About Limitless Ambition

New Grant Partner, Limitless Ambition, is a nonprofit helping girls in Barberton City Schools in grades 6, 8, and 9. BCF funded their program for the first time this year. We interviewed the founder and director, Alicia Robinson, to learn more about how the organization got its start, and what they do for our students. 

Barberton Community Foundation funded Limitless Ambition in its Education and Workforce & Economic Development grant cycle earlier this year. They are a first-time grant partner, receiving $20,000 to expand their program “Purposely Chosen Teen” to girls in 6th, 8th and 9th grades at Barberton Middle School and High School.

We interviewed Executive Director and Founder, Alicia Robinson, to learn more about her organization, the program, why she started it, and how she’d like to grow.

Alicia Robinson

A seed was planted for Limitless Ambition early on. Robinson shared that she grew up in a small town that saw its share of gun and drug violence. Growing up, she personally experienced a lot of the same challenges she addresses in her program – challenges like poor body image, a struggle with self-acceptance, and understanding what healthy friendships and relationships looked like. “I am the youngest, with two older brothers. I always wanted an older sister,” she said. “I wish there had been a program like Limitless Ambition for me when I was young.”

Despite these struggles, she knew she wanted to go to college. “I am a first-generation college student,” Robinson said. “I had to learn a lot on my own, but I also want to credit Upward Bound, which I participated in from 8^th grade through graduation, as well as the first-generation student support programs at Kent State University with helping to track me toward success.”

After her freshman year at KSU, tragedy struck. “My dad passed away suddenly due to a car accident when I was 19,” she said. “I thought about dropping out and going home to help my mom. But I had a good mentor that said, ‘Is that really the best choice for your future?’ I chose to stay in school, and it fueled me.”

“I tell people, pain plus passion equals purpose. And that is true of how I look at my motivation to create Limitless Ambition.”

Robinson wanted a program that would help girls navigate their lives – by teaching them how to build the network of aunties, advisors, girlfriends and mentors that had given her such good advice and encouragement.

She incorporated Limitless Ambition in October 2013, finalized her 501c3 status in 2015, and launched the first teen programming in 2016.

The programming, Purposely Chosen Teen, is a 10-week curriculum for girls focused on social-emotional learning. Each session has its own topic, such as self-care, sisterhood, confidence, and building compassion. Girls think through concepts like supporting fellow classmates (even if they aren’t best friends), and empathy building. Topics also include hygiene, passion discovery, and goal setting. Each session lasts about an hour, and then the girls put into practice what they’ve learned by doing an activity such as creating empowerment bracelets, writing affirmation letters, or painting to help de-stress.

The ‘23-‘24 school year was Limitless Ambition’s first year in Barberton City Schools. Girls reported learning more about how to build healthy relationships. In a survey, one student said ‘It helped me learn I don’t need to always get mad at every single thing. It helped me realize my worth and how to love myself.’

In Barberton, the Purposely Chosen Teen program is funded for girls in 6^th, 8^th and 9^th grades, which is viewed as a crucial transition time for girls. “I’d like to extend a big thank you to Barberton Community Foundation for supporting Limitless Ambition and investing in programming for teen girls,” she said. “We are excited to begin this next school year and to empower the next generation of young women leaders.”

Robinson wants to continue expanding programming in Barberton City School District, and regionally, as well. “I would love for us to have a flagship location in Northeast Ohio and grow into a full-time director and staff.”  She would like to have Purposely Chosen Teen in all the districts in Northeast Ohio, and eventually sell the curriculum for broader implementation.

Learn more about the Purposely Chosen Teen program and Limitless Ambition by visiting their website at https://www.limitlessambition.org/.