Middle school is fun but challenging time. For middle school girls, making the transition from childhood to young adulthood often brings doubt and fear. Fairfield Community Ministries, a new UM faith community project in Huntington, has started a new ministry to help develop confidence and teach new skills with 10 middle schools girls.

Rev. Ella Dorsey, director of Fairfield Ministries, has created relationships with Ebenezer Community Outreach and the A.D. Lewis Center in the Fairfield neighborhood through her consistent presence and work as a mentor and a tutor. Rev. Alan Williams, deacon associate at Johnson Memorial UMC, was a coach last fall for Girls On The Run at Southside Elementary School in Huntington last fall. He saw first hand the positive impact the program had on the girls he helped coach.

Heart & Sole is a 10-week, 20-session curriculum from Girls on the Run (www.girlsontherun.org/What-We-Do/6th-8th-Grade-Program) that they have chosen to use. This is structured to create a positive space for middle school girls to learn about themselves, explore new ideas, cultivate empathy, strengthen connections and develop life skills that will help them as they move through adolescence and beyond.

The young women were told at their first session, “Heart & Sole is about being active AND becoming more confident, strong, secure and connected so that you are empowered to do anything you choose to do.”

The 10 week session will conclude with a celebration 5K on Sunday afternoon, November 12. Keep watch on at wvumc.org to find out more details. If you would like more information about how to support Heart & Sole in the Huntington area, or would like information about Girls On The Run in your area, contact Alan Williams at (304) 542-1427, or revalanwilliams@gmail.com