White House to Recognize Local Advocate for Young Black Women

Cheryl Ann Wadlington. | Photo by Milton Perry

The White House will recognize 10 individuals around the country as “Champions of Change” this Friday, and among them will be Philadelphia’s Cheryl Ann Wadlington, who has advocated for the voices of young black women in the city for 20 years.

Through her nonprofit The Evoluer House, Wadlington oversees two eight-week personal and workforce development workshops for black girls in Philadelphia between the ages of 13 and 18 years old.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, black girls are suspended six times more than white girls nationally. Wadlington created The Evoluer House in 2004 in effort to inspire strength and confidence in disadvantaged girls who are at risk of unfair or unjust treatment in school systems.

“I am thrilled, honored and deeply humbled to be recognized by the highest level of government for advancing opportunity for marginalized girls of color,” Wadlington said in a press release. “They are experiencing a unique set of social and emotional challenges and barriers to success. At The Evoluer House, we are constantly on a mission to equip these girls with resources and opportunities to help them reach their God-given potential.”

More than 1,200 girls have graduated from Evoluer House programs. When the nonprofit turned 11 years old, it received a signed letter of thanks and recognition from President Barack Obama.

“The Evoluer House works to equip the most underserved and hard-to-reach girls in Philadelphia with essential tools to become college-bound and career-ready and break the cycle of intergenerational poverty,” the White House statement reads. “As a testament to its success, 100% of Evoluer House graduates finish high school on time and 90% go on to attend a four-year college.”

The Champions of Change program recognizes those dedicated to “extracurricular enrichment, after-school, and summer programming for marginalized girls, including girls of color.” White House officials will recognize Wadlington and nine other awardees at an event on September 30th.

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