The Evoluer House

I have nothing but praise for Cheryl Wadlington and the Evoluer House. I’ve been a donor and a presenter in the summer program for many years. I have seen first hand the confidence and shine that the Evoluer House instills in their young ladies. And I applaud the program’s inclusion of self care and sisterhood. Two things often neglected in the quest for success. Miss Cheryl strives for excellence in all that she does and she has created a program that not just inspires, but offers tools to young at risk teen girls so they too have the ability to create a happy, successful and meaningful life.

The Evoluer House is truly groundbreaking in the work that it does. I graduated from the Evoluer House five years ago and still value the lessons and experiences I had during the summer I was involved with the organization. The Evoluer House engages with the community in a way unlike other local organizations and works to provide safe spaces, sisterhood, and community to underrepresented black girls in urban environments. With workshops on professionalism, self-love and self-care, building your brand, how to be the best version of self, and so many more, the Evoluer House works to strengthen and give young black girls important life skills needed to succeed. The Evoluer House is an organization that I would definitely continue to support and hope others begin to do the same. Thank you for my amazing experience! -Asiyah Ball

In 2018, I had the opportunity to be part of this beautiful summer program. I learned to be confident, to be strong, and to develop skills that I never imagined I had. I came from Puerto Rico at the age of 13 because of hurricane Maria. I didn’t know the language, culture, or people in the United States; and that just made me anxious. However, in the graduation I earned the Power Girl Award and the Class Representative Award; which I couldn’t believe. One year later, my instructor from the Workforce Development (Ms. Eva Blackwell), and the Executive Director (Cheryl Wadlington) gave me the opportunity to be part of the staff as a personal assistant. Not being a student made me see through the souls of each one of the girls, I could see how bad they wanted to have freedom to express themselves; and they were just in the right place!This whole journey made me realize how valuable is my voice and how many wonderful things I could be able to do in this world. Nowadays, I’m a co-host in the podcast “Girl Truth: What Lens Are You Looking Through” which is a production by Evoluer House. In this project I’ve learned how to make my voice be heard; but also learn about other people’s stories. I feel blessed that my mom found Evoluer House. It literally made me feel at home. I truly recommend it for all the Black, Brown, Latina, Asian, White, and any kind of girls out there. I’m Jennielee Hilario and here’s my story������������������

My sister was a part of this program and the Evoluer House is a place of love and sisterhood and through this foundation it changed lives and hearts for anyone who attends. I have encountered people who have been in this program and they have distinguish poise and confidence about them. The Evoluer house is truly a wonderful place.

I was honored to have the opportunity to do a presentation for the young ladies of the Evoluer House. It was a pleasure to be able to share some knowledge with them to help increase their confidence in themselves. I admire the mission of The Evoluer House. Empowering and mentoring girls of black and brown skin is truly necessary in these times. The organization is professional, resourceful and innovative. It's an incredible organization for the community.

When I was in elementary school, I was told that I was never going to be good enough, because I was not a boy. It was such a simple statement, yet with a lasting impact; it is a message that is continuously reiterated to young girls as we grow up and manifests itself in many forms of inequality – some deplorable and some in the form of subtle micro-aggressions.

As a volunteer and now board member for The Evoluer House (TEH), I now have the opportunity to be part of the solution and focus on delivering empowerment programs to teen girls of color in my local community.

The Evoluer House does this through leadership training, community service opportunities, internships, career and educational support, and free eight (8) and twelve (12) week summer programs focused on Personal and Workforce Development for marginalized girls of color in Philadelphia. Our curriculum is designed to promote emotional, mental, and social well-being, to equip girls with the tools they need to become college-bound and career-ready, and break the cycle of inter-generational poverty. It is phenomenal the transformation our girls go through in 2-3 months; I have never left a TEH graduation ceremony with a dry eye. It is phenomenal how our girls shine and radiate with confidence when given the platform, the tools and the sisterhood to succeed and believe in their worth.

Our groundbreaking podcast, “Girl Truth: What lens are you looking through?”, further provides a tool for our girls of color to create their own narratives, tell their stories and have their voices echo across the world! The listener landscape for the podcast has reached five countries and is a top-charter on the Apple’s Non-Profit Podcast chart.

I am tremendously proud of our impact at the grassroots level and continuous perseverance towards gender and racial equality in the US.

There was a young school-girl – about my age of 7 or 8 - whose desk sat across from mine in a North Philadelphia school with the saddest and most hopeless eyes. I always wondered why she would stare at me. I would sometimes smile at her and she would smile back. She had a gorgeous smile that hid the most beautiful dimples I had ever seen. But I could only see them when she would muster enough energy to pull her thumb that she was sucking from in front of her face to reveal it. She wore her hair in these tiny cornrows which she would twist and twist and twist with her other hand until a braid would eventually fall out. I always wondered, what was she thinking that would cause her to twist her hair in such a way that would cause the braid to loosen from her scalp. Many years later, I found out that she was being sexually abused by her uncles almost every day. That abuse went on throughout her teenage years. I could only imagine how terrified she must have been at that age. She probably wondered what my life was like because my mom was a teacher in the school; and I wondered what her life was like as I watched her twist her hair, suck her thumb and stare at me all day.

The Evoluer House is powering through these uncertain times with more fervency, passion, and drive. Why? There are so many young girls like my former classmate. The executive director made a sincere commitment that black and brown girls would know their worth; possess the right to be safe; and to live a life free of sexual violence and exploitation. The Board and staff will continue to accelerate her mission. However, we can’t do it alone.

In the weeks and months ahead, nonprofits like The Evoluer House will need a major infusion of cash to sustain itself. We need a national spokesperson to amplify the message that young girl’s matter. And, until we find that monetary gift to enhance our operations – we will keep doing whatever we can for our black and brown girls; we can, we will, we must.

The Evoluer House rises to the occasion and seizes an opportunity during these challenging times! While our world suffers a pandemic and their in-person summer programs were canceled this year, the opportunity to expand the program globally was seized utilizing an online platform to offer culturally relevant workshops that include gender responsiveness, digital tools and resources, tips about higher education, professional development, and emotional wellness. I am so grateful for this organization especially during this pandemic. It has been difficult for my daughter spending so much time in the house and being away from her friends. These workshops offered her the opportunity to learn and have fun while socializing with her peers.

The programming and mentoring that The Evoluer House offers to teen girls of color is both unique and impactful. As a volunteer turned Board Member I have been able to see from multiple lenses how The Evoluer House is able to provide education to girls who need it in a way that meets their needs. From the topics to the hand-picked instructors for each class, the programming is well-thought out to ensure that it can reach its audience. At graduation, I have seen the program graduates give tearful speeches about the impact the program had on them and as a result they feel empowered to do great things. I am proud to be a part of an organization that is able to provide such a value into my Philadelphia community.

The Evoluer House continues its legacy of service, giving girls of color a voice, a platform & a choice for a better tomorrow. In the midst of the pandemic & social unrest, our Executive Director moved all of our summer workshop modules to a virtual platform to ensure that girls had quality programming and support during this difficult time. This move enabled us to provide workshops to girls across the nation, and the impact is tangible. This non-profit also sponsors a podcast, Girl Truth: What Lens Are You Looking Through?, in which EH alumnae share their views through their own unique lens. In its first year, the podcast audience extended across five continents, in 22 countries, 22 states & 2 Commonwealths in the U.S. Against all odds, the Evoluer House continues to do amazing things

Evoluer House is a monumental program for girls of color. This program has given me the confidence to purse a career in performing arts and most importantly to pursue a loving relation with myself. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to crossed paths with the Evoluer house it truly has saved my life and my creative drive.


Thank you for all you have done!!!!!!!!!!

The Evoluer House is such an amazing organization. They empower young ladies to be strong and confident leaders. Their success rate speaks for itself! I feel very fortunate to be part of such an inspirational culture.

Of the many skills I learned from the Evoluer House, I cherish the confidence I developed. Before the Evoluer House I would doubt my abilities and not take risks. Since being at the Evoluer House I now take risks without second guessing myself. I believe I am an extraordinary individual and I can do anything as long as I put my mind to it.

The Evoluer Program entered my life the summer before I began high school. Prior to becoming an Evoluer girl, I had refrained from acknowledging my abilities. I knew I was smart, but I would never say I was smart. I had a constant fear of coming across as arrogant. What I didn't know then was that knowing and expressing my worth is not equivalent to boasting. Through the program and my peers, I learned to empower and know myself. Now I seek to uplift myself and others to recognize all that we are capable of.

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I affectionately call this organization "The Little Non-Profit That Could". The Evoluer House continues to exceed expectations by delivering life changing programs to young ladies who need it most. A beautiful example of this is a young lady who came to us from Puerto Rico last summer. Her family was forced to move to Philadelphia because of Hurricane Maria. She was very shy. Her English was limited. After attending our 8 week summer program on a scholarship, she graduated at the top of her class, walking away with multiple awards. There are so many stories like hers, too numerous to mention. And the fact that Evoluer is able to do what it does with limited resources is a remarkable story in and of itself. It speaks of a mission that is bigger than the limitations that would cause others to walk away. It speaks of a purpose that must be fulfilled. It speaks of love & creating a brighter tomorrow each and every day.

Evoluer House exceeds your typical non-profit. The success is seen in 100 percent of all graduates, girls of color from Philadelphia, going on to pursue higher education. They are leaders who are driven to help and serve their community. A great recent success story is a graduate becoming a Fulbright scholar. She also helps the organization by serving on its board. Our girls leave knowing that they must share their talents and the gifts given to them with others.

During my daughter's time at the Evoluer House, she became one of the most outgoing girls. She credits strong female mentors and being around a diverse group of girls for helping her find her voice, try new things, and raise her expectations to see that she was capable of more than she knew. In fact, my daughter loved her time at Evoluer House so much, she decided to work there. After graduating college with a degree in psychology, she wanted to give back to the organization that gave her so much.

I began at The Evoluer House in 2011, as a freshman in high school. As a graduating senior from Villanova University, I reflect on all the influences in my life that have worked to get me to where I am today, and The Evoluer House is the biggest one. Through classes, mentorship and sisterhood, Evoluer push me to evolve. I attribute so much of my current successes, qualities and aspirations to the confidence, elegance and steadfast work ethic to my experiences here. I continue to be involved today, and I am delighted to see that their mission only grows stronger and brighter-shining on more and more young ladies each year.

The Evoluer house program is one that needs to be replicated throughout the tri-state area. Girls are an underserved and critically important sector of our community. Thanks to Ms. Waddlington and the volunteers that she works with, girls are exposed to the skills and people who are dedicated to truly supporting their future success. More of our girls need to be able to access this excellent program!

It is a privilege and an honor to serve on the Board The Evoluer House. I have been affiliated with this organization for many years in a variety of capacities. I have witnessed firsthand astounding transformations of young ladies who have gone through the Personal Development and Workforce Development programs. Cheryl Ann Wadlington and her dedicated staff do a phenomenal job in developing this young ladies into strong, confident and productive members of society, and do so with a minimal budget. I have never witnessed the quality of the program suffer for lack of funding. The Evoluer House staff makes the necessary sacrifices to insure every girl gets exactly what she needs to evolve into the woman that she was born to be.

With a dedicated Director and a strong staff of Volunteers working tirelessly, The Evoluer House has been successful in providing young girls of color in the Philadelphia area with the skills to access the vast reservoirs of potential they possess. Going above and beyond to truly reach at risk girls, this organization's goals and resulting impact are invaluable. Very proud to be a part of such an amazing cause.

Evoluer House really reaches out passionately and gets the most dedicated volunteers and workers to really lift young girls up. I am truly blessed to be apart of such an amazing organization and I am very proud of the success from the program.

The Evoluer house is an amazing non profit organization, dedicated to empowering teens girls from all different walks of life. Helping them find themselves and build that confidence to chase any dream in life knowing that it's achievable. I recommend everyone to send their daughters here. The program is outstanding.

Ms. Wadlington and The Evoluer House provide such a wonderful service to girls that are so vulnerable to the negative influences of their environment. For these girls, the Evoluer House is most definitely a beacon of hope where hope can be hard to come by. I have seen the difference her programs help to make, and the majority of these girls leave and become wonderful and productive citizens that everyone could be proud of.

The Evoluer House is an outstanding organization dedicated to helping young girls from urban communities reach their full potential. Highly recommend.

Prior to attending the Evoluer House, my niece was very shy and lacked self-confidence. When she graduated from the Personal Development Program she was gleaming with confidence. The support and encouragement that she received will not only benefit her, but will allow her to inspire other girls as well!

Working with Cheryl has always been a pleasure. I love what the Evoluer House represents. The program is what every teenage girl needs to experience to help them evolve into a young woman personally and professionally. I love how they encourage and empower the teenage girls to conquer their fears, to dream and to help them realize their full potentials.

The Evoluer House Rules !!! Go Girl Power!!!

I am so thankful that my daughter was able to participate in The Evoluer House camp for Girls. Charisma has become more confident in valuing her uniqueness and being herself. I see she is also more willing to appreciate the value of positive friends.

I am a Social Work Supervisor, I have been working in the Children and Youth field for 16 years. While working with other families, I have a family who also needs my attention, a very helpful therapist informed me that there was a program that may be a good fit for my teen aged daughter, she provided me with only a name Evoluer House. I remember like it was yesterday, I Googled Evoluer House at 7:30 pm. I completed and submitted the registration form for the 2015 Youth Workforce Development Program by 7:50pm. My telephone rang at 7:55pm, to my surprise, it was Ms. Cheryl telling me that my timing is perfect and my daughter would be the last person accepted into the program. I am a firm believer in "everything happens for a reason". As of this date, my daughter has expanded her once narrow minded approach in dealing with inner city challenges, she continues to strengthen the bond with her "evoluergirl” peers and they network and encourage each other to find employment and seek independence etc. As I watch the growth of these young ladies, I wish more of our families in the community could experience what Evoluer House has to offer. In my opinion, with the proper funding, Evoluer House can show young ladies that not only does everything happen for a reason but there is a reason everything happens. So many girls have inner strength but are unaware how to reach for it; Evoluer House empowers them to reach for their reason. I will continue to support Evoluer House and look forward to seeing young successful ladies highlighting their reason for being alive.

I am proud to say that my daughter is a graduate of The Evoluer House Personal Development Program and currently a college senior at a top university. It would not fair to deny that Evoluer House influenced her academic achievements. And at a time when girls of color are overwhelming suspended and expelled from schools for subjective behavior, The Evoluer House is a treasure in the Philadelphia region.

I had the honor to attend the 2015 Evoluer House Graduation Day, and to say that the girls were bursting with joy is an understatement. In their own words, the Evoluer girls felt transformed, as if they had undergone a personal metamorphosis. Their speeches rendered me speechless, as they talked about the sisterhood they created, the life lessons they learned, and the newly found confidence they now harbor within their hearts. Last but not least, to see how proud their family members were was the defining moment - it shows how effective The Evoluer House is in impacting the lives of these girls. Their genuine smiles and tears of joy were a testament that Evoluer girls leave the program more confident, self-assured, wiser, and more prepared to take on the world.

I have had the honor to witness how The Evoluer House programs assist young women to push against their fears and step into greatness. It also teaches them the importance of having self-confidence and provides them with the necessary tools to complete their goals. They become forerunners of the 21st Century.

Whenever Cheryl Wadlington pours her heart into something, it comes out with a good rhythm, a natural beat, a great vibe. That is why Evoluer House sings to the souls of young girls. It's a safe haven for them to share their fears, tears, and dreams without judgement. I saw it as a volunteer and I still see it now as I read about its progression. Girls are at risk more today than ever before. Evoluer House takes them and loves them right where they are. That is SO vital. Cheryl and her team teach young girls, through their amazing programs, about loving the skin they are in. I can’t wait to see the next chapter for Evoluer House!

The Evoluer House is an awesome organization and I have seen the positive transformation of several girls who participated in their program.

I would definitely recommend this program to any teenage girl who is looking to reach her fullest potential and be a leader.

The Evoluer House and it's commitment to changing the lives of Philadelphia's at-risk teens is commendable. As a repeat summer program self-development presenter and volunteer, I'm honored to be a part of the mentorship team. The transformations of these young ladies are simply incredible.

I have been a financial supporter of the Evoluer House for many years. I continue to support them because I see the impact they are having in the lives of so many young and disadvantaged girls in the Philadelphia area with their outreach, mentorship, summer enrichment programs and so much more.
Evoluer House has also proven to be good stewards of the money and donation they receive from others. I feel that every dollar that I have contributed goes directly to building, developing and creating opportunities for the young women they serve.
I am proud to be associated with such an outstanding Community Organization.
Linda Robertson, Executive Director
WE CAN HELP-MOMS & BABIES
A Maternal Infant Health Program

Evoluer House is truly making a difference with at-risk young girls. They are given valuable personal development tools to help them for years to come.

My experiance at the Evoluer house was wonderful and I graduated with so much knowledge about how to prepare myself for the work world and even about myself.I highly recommend this program ..it's worth it!

I have been a volunteer since April 2014. Cheryl Ann Wadlington has created an empowering girlhood culture that is second to none. The summer programs are incredible. Some girls enter the program hesitantly and some enter eagerly, but they all leave the program CHANGED, IMPROVED and RESTORED! They are equipped and able to share what they have learned with those whom they will come in contact with.

I attended a event "A Night with the Wilsons"recently presented as a fund raiser for The Evoluer House. Two of their former students spoke. The girls were very fluent and described how The Evoluer House helped them from being shy and awkward teens and changing them into confident articulate women. This program would benefit more teens

Many programs address the needs of girls. Evoluer House makes a difference. It is a non-profit with results.

The Evoluer House has been apart of my life for 11 years now and every moment has been amazing. Being one of the first gield to graduate from the Evoluer House, I was taught at an early age how to love myself to the fullest and build my self esteem. Evoluer has helped me in so many ways, there is not enough room to write it all down! I have gained personal and professional development and have made long lasting relationships. Ms. Cheryl is one of the most amazing women I know because she is selfless in her duty to serve. There is no other program that caters to minority girls like Evoluer. So many lives have been changed by Ms. Cheryl and all of those who have volunteered over the years to help young women like myself. Now that I am older, I do not hesitate to give back and change the lives of young minority girls because I was once in their shoes.

What so special about Evoluer House is that. way more then half of the girls who have graduated go on to have productive lives and come back to volunteer'

I have served as a volunteer and as a guest speaker for The Evoluer House. Each time, the experience is phenomenal. While I am there to inspire and motivate Evoluer participants, they always end up inspiring and motivating me. The girls are so well-guided through every step of their programs. I find it hard to believe that many of them hail from difficult socioeconomic backgrounds, because by the time they complete the programs, I see girls who are polished, inquisitive, bold, self-assured ladies. They truly evolve. This is a fantastic, globally focused nonprofit, and I look forward to seeing what it's going to do next!

Since 2004, Evoluer House has served over 800 girls from the city of Philadelphia and Delaware Valley region in its researched-based multi-week Personal Development and Workforce Development programs. The Evoluer House programs boast a100% high school graduation rate – a success that was recently led Black Enterprise magazine to proclaim
program The Evoluer House an “everyday hero” (along side the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls). This is a necassary organization that is making a difference in the lives of Philly girls, their families and, ultimately, our communites.

When you donate to The Evoluer House, it might just be money in your hands. But in the hands of the Evoluer program, it is a young woman's golden ticket to a brighter future...and in my case, to change the world!

I have witnessed first hand the greatness that The Evoluer House has done & continues to do. The spirit that the ladies have after the program is Amazing!

I enrolled in the Evoluer Workforce program the summer before my junior year of high school. Through this program, I have learned vital career skills, such as networking, that I still utilize today as an undergraduate student.

My daughter was constantly teased and bullied because she was dark skinned and thick. The Evoluer House's program did something that I could never have done. It gave my daughter her life back and showed her that she is beautiful inside and out. It gave her the confidence she needs to succeed in life. I can't thank them enough.

The first time that I had ever heard of the Evoluer House was in July of 2012. My daughter and I attended the beautiful book launch of The Diva Girl’s Guide to Style and Self-Respect! The book launch was a “Girly Gala” atmosphere filled with girl empowerment! During the trivia, my daughter won a book by answering a question and gave it to her cousin, who as a result has attended and thoroughly enjoyed the program! After we left the book signing that evening, in just that short time, my daughter was able to walk away with a renewed sense of confidence, accepting who she is and wanting to be the best Diva Girl that she can be!

Needless to say, when the opportunity for volunteering became available, I didn't hesitate. It is very rewarding to be able to be a part of the empowering girlhood culture that Ms. Cheryl Ann Wadlington has created