Empowering the Future: Alums Shape Opportunity for Middle School Girls

When Emily Zhang ’23 first walked the halls of The Baldwin School in 8th grade, she was already carrying two things: a deep appreciation for her multicultural upbringing as a first-generation Chinese-American born in Japan, and a budding entrepreneurial spirit that had been sparked years earlier through childhood “businesses” and later through her involvement in DECA.

By the time she was 15, Emily had founded Future For Her (FFH), a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial literacy and STEM education to underserved middle school girls across the Greater Philadelphia region.

 

“Future For Her is the embodiment of both my passion for entrepreneurship and Baldwin’s message of female empowerment,” said Emily, now a rising college junior in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, which is a coordinated dual-degree program between The Wharton School and the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. Emily is majoring in Economics and International Studies, concentrating in Finance and minoring in East Asian Languages and Civilizations (Japanese). Looking ahead, she’ll be joining Lazard as an Investment Banking Analyst in the New York office after graduation. She’s also had the opportunity to intern in private equity at a boutique private equity firm and in wealth management at UBS, both in New York. To Emily, FFH is more than workshops. “It’s about changing the narrative around who gets to lead in business and STEM.”

 

Over the last six years, what began as a summer camp has evolved into a multi-faceted, year-round initiative — thanks not only to Emily’s leadership but also to the talents and commitment of fellow Baldwin alum, Katherine Smith ’24.

 

Katherine is a rising college sophomore at Penn in the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology, majoring in Computer Science and Economics with a concentration in Finance. She recently interned at a renewable energy tax credit firm in New York and she’s exploring roles within the intersection of technology and finance. She joined FFH as a volunteer while still at Baldwin, and later became its president during her senior year. Like Emily, her journey toward equity in education began early.

 

“I discovered my interest in STEM through the Technology Student Association (TSA) competitions in middle school,” Katherine recalled. “That experience showed me how powerful hands-on learning can be — especially for young students discovering their passions.”

 

Before joining FFH, Katherine had already launched her own nonprofit, Calculators Count, focused on donating STEM supplies to underserved Philadelphia schools. When she learned about FFH’s mission, it was a natural fit. Today, she serves as Camp Director, coordinating summer camps, designing lesson plans, and organizing guest speakers alongside Emily.

 

“We want every girl to walk away not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to imagine herself as a future entrepreneur, coder, or financial analyst,” said Katherine.

 

At the heart of FFH’s work is the belief that middle school is a pivotal age — a time when girls begin making decisions that can shape the rest of their academic and professional lives.

“I chose to focus on middle school girls because this is when students start forming real ideas about their future careers,” Emily said. “It’s important to expand their awareness of what’s possible.”

 

Through partnerships with organizations like Girls Inc., TechGirlz, the Philadelphia School District, Bryn Mawr College, and local library systems, FFH runs weekly after-school workshops during the academic year and entrepreneurship-focused summer camps. All programming is free of charge.

 

The curriculum — entirely created by Emily, Katherine, and a team of volunteers — blends practical knowledge with career exposure. Students learn about supply and demand, Python programming, personal finance, and even real-world concepts like taxes, often relevant for those working part-time jobs.

 

Perhaps most importantly, they learn to use their voice. “In co-ed environments, girls often hesitate to speak up,” said Katherine. “Our goal is to create inclusive spaces where girls feel empowered to ask questions and explore ideas without judgment.”

 

Despite its current reach, FFH’s path hasn’t always been easy. “When I first started, I emailed over 150 middle schools to find partners. Only three replied,” Emily recalled. “That experience taught me the power of persistence — you only need one open door to begin making a difference.”

 

Today, FFH has received over $44,000 in grant funding from organizations like The Starbucks Foundation, The Wawa Foundation, and The American Eagle Outfitters Foundation. That support has funded transformative field trips to the Federal Reserve Bank, the U.S. Mint, and other institutions, enriching the curriculum beyond the classroom.

 

The result? Students who come back year after year — and some who are now becoming mentors themselves. “One of the girls from our earliest camps kept in touch over the years,” Emily shared. “She just got into college to study Business Administration. She told me FFH gave her the confidence to pursue that path.”

 

The Baldwin community continues to be a driving force behind FFH’s growth. More than 15 Baldwin students volunteer with the organization, spanning from the Class of 2022 to the Class of 2028. And more than 20 alums have volunteered, serving as workshop leaders or guest speakers. “Our volunteers are the backbone of this program,” said Katherine. “Even as Emily and I are in college, the next generation is stepping up to lead.”

 

And Baldwin itself made space for these dreams. Both Emily and Katherine credit the School’s supportive environment — from flexible scheduling to faculty mentorship — for empowering them to pursue their visions. “Baldwin taught me to put myself out there and not fear rejection,” Emily said.

 

“Baldwin gave me the tools to balance a full academic schedule with running a nonprofit and even competitive fencing,” added Katherine. “That balance continues to serve me well today.”

 

As they look to the future, both Emily and Katherine are focused on expansion — but with purpose. “We want to continue growing across the city while maintaining our middle school focus,” said Katherine. “The impact at that age is profound.”

 

And they want to ensure that FFH remains a space where leadership is passed down, not handed off. “I hope more bright Baldwin girls will join FFH,” said Emily. “The future is limitless, and we want to keep opening that door for the next generation.”

For young women aspiring to lead or launch their own initiatives, both founders offer words of encouragement:

 

“Lean on your community — whether it’s Baldwin or beyond,” Emily said. “You don’t have to do it all alone.”

 

“Don’t be afraid to fail,” added Katherine. “Trying something new is the first step toward building something great.”

 

And to their middle school selves?

 

“If you can dream it, you can do it,” said Emily.

 

“Be open. Be brave. The rest will follow,” said Katherine.

 

You can follow Future For Her on Instagram: @_futureforher