CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago-based nonprofit is stepping in to shift the future of civic engagement.

At just 20, Cherie Animashaun is spearheading Her Rising Initiative, which is launching Girls Who Lead groups in high schools and colleges across the country and globally. The goal is to educate and empower young women, especially those who are Black and Latina, to emerge as leaders in sectors like government, business, and media.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

“This is far more than just an extracurricular activity,” said Animashaun, who has been recognized with a Princeton Prize and is a previous Congressional Black Caucus Foundation intern. “We’re creating a curriculum with guidance from former White House personnel, Congressional leaders, activists, and CEOs to unravel the workings of government, instructing girls on advocacy for causes they are passionate about, and teaching community education.”

Following the viral success of her videos about studying policy at Cornell, Cherie saw the need to inform others about career opportunities in the policy arena. She is committed to enlightening hundreds of thousands about policy and encouraging them to become active participants. Her Rising will conduct virtual Gen Z town halls this summer and provide chapter toolkits along with civic engagement guides before the August semester begins. Students from over 25 universities and high schools in the U.S., alongside participants from Nigeria, India, and Uganda, have already shown interest in establishing chapters.

With polarization and apathy threatening the democratic process, Her Rising Initiative sees Gen Z girls as a political force in the making. The initiative’s goal is to reach thousands of students by 2026, arming them with the knowledge, networks, and confidence to challenge misinformation, run effective campaigns, and even run for office. Cherie is currently building an even larger team of students, from Stanford grads to HBCU leaders to help Her Rising bring all of this to life.

“At a time when it feels like so much is broken,” Animashaun said. “We’re betting on girls to help rebuild it.”