Hearts 4 Girls is a 501(c)(3) non-profit headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, dedicated to combating homelessness among Black American girls across the Atlanta Metro area. The organization was founded by Afulenu Layla McReynolds, a student at Clark Atlanta University, whose guiding philosophy is that “service is justice and healing is revolutionary.”
The organization operates through a multi-pronged approach combining immediate relief, long-term support, and policy advocacy. Signature programming includes a 3-mile awareness walk around the Atlanta University Center that raises donations directed to shelters and predominantly Black schools throughout metro Atlanta. On an ongoing basis, the team runs monthly toiletry drives, care kit packing days, campus drop-off collection boxes, and volunteer meetups that last 30 to 45 minutes each.
Hearts 4 Girls collaborates with student organizations across the Atlanta University Center consortium and other institutions. The four-person leadership team includes Afulenu McReynolds as Director of Programs, Allysa Richardson from Spelman College as Director of Engagement, Cameron Cox from Howard University as Director of Fundraising, and Jacob Jordan from Morehouse College as Director of Outreach and Advocacy.
Future initiatives outlined on the organization’s website include scholarship programs and apprenticeships for homeless students still enrolled in school, expanded social media awareness campaigns, advocacy at the policy level, and broader partnerships with educational institutions and local Atlanta-area businesses.
Donations are accepted through Stripe, providing a direct giving option for supporters across the metro area. Volunteers and donors can contact the organization at Afulenu@hearts4girls.com. The organization’s work is centered entirely on the Atlanta metro, with programs designed to address the specific experience of unhoused Black girls within this community.