Bianca Myrick turned a personal struggle into a mission to empower young women and girls. After leaving a domestic violence situation, she founded Pretty Purposed, a nonprofit that mentors girls to become confident, resilient and ready to lead. 

Drawing on her experience in education and social work, Myrick focuses Pretty Purposed on girls ages 9 to 14, helping them develop leadership skills, emotional resilience and a sense of purpose. What started in 2015 with seven mentees in Petersburg has grown into programs serving more than 200 girls across schools and community sites in Petersburg, Hopewell, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Sussex and Richmond. 

“I wanted to do something with women and girls, but I didn’t know what it was,” Myrick said. “After taking time to think about options, I laser-focused on pre- and teen girls because of my background in education and social work.” 

A graduate of Virginia State University with a degree in elementary education, Myrick went on to earn a master’s in public administration and also completed a nonprofit management certificate at Duke University. In addition to driving the success of Pretty Purposed, she has a consulting and grant-writing practice and is a certified fundraising executive. She also collaborates with state agencies and judges on domestic violence policy and child support safety, while also shaping young minds as a part-time adjunct professor. 

Rooted in her personal journey and professional training, Myrick naturally takes a holistic approach to mentorship, designing a curriculum that nurtures mind, body and spirit. 

Myrick doesn’t speak publicly about her abuser, whom she met when she was 19. She notes that many abusers use similar power-and-control tactics and advises women in abusive situations to seek nonjudgmental emotional support. 

“When we talk about abuse, the blame is on the victim,” she said. “They feel shame and judged. It’s important to make sure they’re connected to someone or with some time and space to process what’s happening and process their emotions, so they can safely leave.” 

Myrick was born and raised in Petersburg, the hub of Pretty Purposed. She lives in Chesterfield with her teenage son and shares the same hope for his future as the girls in Pretty Purposed. 

“I want him to be someone who is compassionate, empathetic, resilient and grounded in who he is, so when the world tries to chip away at that, he can remain rooted,” she said. 

When was Pretty Purposed founded?

I founded the organization in 2014 and began mentoring seven girls in Petersburg in 2015. 

What is Pretty Purposed?

It’s an ode to girlhood and womanhood, a nonprofit mentoring program dedicated to empowering girls ages 9 to 14. I started the organization when I was actively leaving the abusive relationship. We began in Petersburg; now we are in Hopewell, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Sussex and Richmond. 

What is Pretty Purposed’s mission?

Pretty Purposed inspires communities and schools to empower young women and girls. 

What programs does Pretty Purposed offer?

Our flagship program, Pretty Purposed Girl Circles, trains schools and communities to cultivate spaces of joy and learning, centering leadership, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, and exposure to weekend enrichment and field trips. 

We also have the Girls Circle, where we offer enrichment activities on weekends, including leadership development, emotional learning, health and wellness, exposure (such as field trips, job shadowing, career exploration, STEM, arts and culture, theater) and workshops led by community leaders. 

Another program, Alumni Leaders, allows our girls to level up through recruitment and professional development, attend board meetings and thank donors. They handle our social media content and lead group activities, earning a stipend. For many, it’s their first job. 

Who are the girls involved in Pretty Purposed?

We have a diverse group of girls. We have Black girls in rural or under-resourced areas who don’t have access or exposure to activities. We have girls who come from areas where they are underrepresented. We also have girls who are at risk because of their economic circumstances. 

What are some of the positive effects you’ve seen come out of Pretty Purposed?

The work we do is about leveling the playing field. We had a girl from Midlothian who didn’t feel comfortable wearing her natural hair because she feared backlash from her peers at school. Now, she feels free to experiment with her hair, wearing it in braids, natural or straight. There was also a girl we took on a trip to Atlanta who was flying for the first time. She was nervous and afraid, but now she feels empowered to pursue her dream of working in design in Japan. 

How do parents get their girls involved in Pretty Purposed?

They can go to our website to sign up and find out whether their child’s school has a Pretty Purposed program in place. 

Who are your program partners?

We partner with many organizations, including Girls on the Run, Communities In Schools, the YMCA, Voices for Virginia’s Children, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, VCU and many others. 

How is Pretty Purposed funded?

Some of our funding comes from individual donors, which is very meaningful to us. We have youth fundraisers who tap into families and their networks of trusted people. We also have corporate and businesses that partner with us like Dominion Energy and local businesses like Nicole’s House of Beauty. There’s also foundational funding from organizations like the Cameron Foundation, the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation and other grants. There’s some state and local funding. We also get support from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services because it considers what we do to be preventative work. 

Why is this project important to you?

The organization is important because I know the investment we make in women and girls has a multiplier effect in our communities. I know that if the women in my life hadn’t invested in me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. 

You’re also on the board of Collective365. What is that?

We unite individuals who want to invest, learn from and celebrate communities of color. Collective 365 members combine our resources to provide funding to businesses, individuals and organizations that are doing community work in the Washington, D.C., area. 

How do you start the day?

In prayer, journaling and burn boot camp, which is a hard workout. 

What do you do in your downtime?

I love to read historical romances and history. I like to walk four miles a day in the warmer weather. I spend time with my son. I also like to find cool restaurants that are small local businesses. 

What inspires you?

Doing work that’s near and dear to my heart. My work is fun and creative, and I get to see growth and change. I like watching the girls who grow into future mothers, business leaders, teachers, etc. 

Who has influenced you the most?

My mother because of her resilience. 

What types of performances do you enjoy attending?

I like theater and dance. I’m a graduate of Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts & Technology, a performing arts school, so I love the theater, ballet and modern dance. I saw “Cinderella” with our girls. 

What are you currently reading?

“The Enneagram for Black Liberation: Return to Who You Are Beneath the Armor You Carry,” by Chichi Agorom. 

What’s next?

We are opening a girl-centered space at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. It has leased us a classroom, meeting space and much-needed storage space. It will be our new hub, and we’ll have an open house next year. It’s a milestone for us because we now have a centralized location.