GRACE Academy & Annual Corazón Ball

The Grit, Resilience, Accountability, Community, and Empowerment (GRACE) Academy is a 9 month transformational journey for rising 9th - 11th grade girls concluding in a celebration of growth and community on the 3rd Saturday in May, the Annual Corazon Ball. The program starts in September 2026 and concludes with the inaugural Annual Corazon Ball on May 15, 2027. Application period runs from April 1 - June 6, 2026.

Our initiative is intentional about focusing on the traditional Quinceañera and Sweet 16 coming of age celebrations and harness this "coming of age" window to launch a student’s "Passion Project." This initiative also continues to offer the participant and her family a meaningful way to celebrate these milestone years.

We are especially excited about welcoming girls from Hispanic/Latin, Black, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Native American heritage to this program.

Girls from economically disadvantaged families are also encouraged to participate as we're seeking sponsorships to offer 12 partial to full scholarships.

Experience includes
Limited participation to 25 girls
12 Hour Saturday retreat w/ 3 meals
Access to GRACE Academy Curriculum
Three 1-hour Group Virtual Meetings
Lunch with 25 Mentors w/Power Feedback Sessions
Professional Portrait Session
Presentation at Annual Corazon Ball
Quarterly Alumni Check Ins
And more...

Please see below for FAQs

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Mentors Needed

Strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them

We're seeking female mentors who want to join us at the Mentor Brunch in late January 2027 and the Annual Corazon Ball to celebrate GRACE Academy participants' growth.

Mentor Info

Frequently asked questions

What else is included in the program?

Corazon Kit - Academy Journal, T Shirt, Pen
Pre-Ball Rehearsal w/Lunch
Up to 10 Tickets to Ball (including participant)
Option to purchase additional tickets to Ball for $75/person
Alumni connections and support - Quarterly follow up sessions through 11th grade.

What is the program eligibility?

9th - 11th grade girl in 2026/2027 school year
Resident of Austin, TX area since at least April 2025
Living in Austin or surrounding area during 9 month program
Strong aspiration to attend college - demonstrated by an application and a virtual 15 - 30 minute interview
Able to commit to 100% participation in all events
Signed agreement/contract to participate and abide by code of conduct

Investment

The cost of the program is $3000, payable either in full by August 1, or in three parts with the full amount paid in full by September 9, 2026
Ball Gown - in any color other than white
100% Attendance at all events - 3 Saturday events (Sep 2026, Jan 2027, May 2027) , 3 virtual 1 hour meetings
2 Caregivers/Parents as Escorts at Ball

Why is this program offered only to girls?

Research consistently shows that girls in single-gender leadership environments take more intellectual risks and allows girls to perform better in leadership roles. GRACE Academy leverages this by creating a high-psychological-safety zone where participants can fail forward and build a powerful peer network to support them through high school and beyond.

Additionally, a long term goal of this initiative to drive pay parity between women and men in the workforce. Even after controlling for education, job major and tenure, women remain underpaid in the workforce. According to a 2026 study, 2024 data shows women earn 76 cents for every dollar earned by a man in the US. Of particular note is that the average lost wage by women over a 40 year career is about $540k, women of color (Black, Hispanic/Latina, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Native American) each lose more than $1 million over a lifetime at today’s rates.

The initiative will build a mindset and provide tools critical to showcase impact and progress in workplaces.

What is the GRACE Academy Curriculum?

The GRACE Academy Curriculum focuses on research-based recommendations by the American Psychological Association on grit, resilience and self esteem in youth combined with the neuroscience of compassion, focus and values-driven goal setting and activate these concepts in the student as she is guided in defining a passion project idea, timeline and execution plan.

This experience will not only drive social impact but will provide an enriching growth opportunity and demonstrate the student's uniqueness in their applications to competitive and elite universities. By starting in 9th or 10th grade, participants gain the necessary runway to build and execute a social impact endeavor that will combine the student's interests and values while learning more about their community along the way.

The curriculum was designed by Isis Martinez, a parent of three high achieving teens, community leader, and professional with 20 years of people strategy leadership and executive coaching roles in global tech, management consulting and non profit orgs. Ms Martinez holds a Master's of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, serves on the Girls Scouts of Central TX (GSCTX) Board of Directors since 2023 and has served as a GSCTX volunteer and/or troop leader since 2017.

Can you tell me more about the Corazon Ball?

The Corazon Ball will be the premiere "coming of age" celebration designed for the modern era. As the capstone of the GRACE Academy experience, it will provide a stage for program participants to debut their social impact initiative to a supportive audience of family, mentors, and local trailblazers. The Corazon Ball will be held in a sophisticated Central Austin venue, will include a high-end dinner, the vibrant sounds of a live Mariachi band, and a DJ.