Angela Rudolph Little empowers girls and parents through volunteerism
Angela Rudolph Little, director of customer care onboarding and readiness at Synovus, is dedicated to empowering teenagers and young girls. For 15 years, she’s volunteered with the Diamond In The Rough youth development program. In recent months, the organization appointed her to its executive board of directors. Her volunteerism mirrors the expectations she has for herself, her daughter and the young women of DITR.
Her introduction to DITR began in an office parking lot, where she met Nicole Steele, Ph.D., DITR founder and CEO. “I saw Dr. Steele wearing a pink and black t-shirt, and it looked very similar to my sorority colors,” she recalls. “I stopped and asked her about her shirt, and she told me about Diamond In The Rough.”
Impressed by the organization’s mission, Little enrolled her shy fourth-grade daughter, Jasmine Little, who participated for eight years. At 23 years old, Jasmine now volunteers to pass down what she learned through DITR.
The success of Little’s daughter is the example DITR wants for participating girls. Little explains that DITR played a role in breaking her daughter’s shyness and encouraging her to run for – and win – Miss Berry College (Mount Berry, Georgia). Her daughter won more than $80,000 in college scholarships and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in early education and is now a second-grade teacher.
Little credits the college prep work through DITR with increasing Jasmine’s confidence.
“We want to transform the world – one child, one family and one community at a time.”
“DITR is an excellent organization that’s set a foundation of skills that enabled my success in college and now, as a teacher,” Jasmine says. Her volunteer work typically involves helping with events and working closely with the girls.
The girls meet at a donated space in Cannon United Methodist Church in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and programs are centered on mentoring, leadership training, family enrichment, college and career coaching and mental and health wellness. “We want to transform the world – one child, one family and one community at a time,” Little says. “Their lessons and exposure are based on grade level.”
DITR offers a place for all parents to be involved, and fathers can be active in Diamond Dads. The girls and their dads participate in activities and conversations created to build stronger bonds that will last a lifetime.
Steele admits she can’t do all the work alone. Staff and volunteers include psychologists, community and business leaders and other professionals who serve as confidants, role models, life and career coaches and teachers.
As the parent orientation leader, Little often asks parents to volunteer. “I’m responsible for parent orientation every September, plus I’m Dr. Steele’s right hand for their introductions to the program,” Little explains. “All of our volunteers are put through a very tough screening.”
After orientation, each parent is assigned to Little to determine where and how their services are needed. Many DITR volunteers who served while Jasmine was a member are still volunteers today.
Throughout the years, the group has become like family to each other. “There are occasional weekend getaways for the volunteers, including an event at Emory University with the girls and an anniversary gala,” she recalls.
Little hopes their success – for the volunteers and the girls – opens doors to opportunities that allow them to positively impact another girl’s life.
Read more about how Synovus team members are enabling people to reach their full potential.