Womens Journey Foundation

Profile Current (Last updated: Jan 08, 2026 )

OUR STORY

Empowering women and girls through mentorship and historic legacy.

Mission Statement

Empowering women and girls through mentorship and historic legacy.

Background Statement

Founded in 2002, the Women’s Journey Foundation (WJF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls, honoring women, and changing futures. For more than two decades, WJF has been a volunteer-powered, multi-generational movement addressing one of the greatest inequities in education: less than 5% of historical content taught in schools includes women.

Through award-winning productions, mentorship programs, and community events, WJF brings women’s untold stories to life—restoring them to their rightful place in history. At the same time, our self-esteem and leadership programs for at-risk girls provide tools, role models, and inspiration, helping them see their worth and step into their full potential.

The Women’s Journey Foundation exists to ensure that women’s voices are heard, their legacies remembered, and that every girl grows up knowing she belongs to a lineage of strength, courage, and leadership.

We provide opportunities for women/girls to enrich their lives through multi-generational events and peer connection.
Our events are designed for participants to connect and share their experiences.
Our programs create a path to authenticity and personal growth for women of every age.
Women are empowered to honor the personal journey.
We encourage women to share those experiences for the betterment and growth of all.
The Women’s Journey Foundation acknowledges the accomplishments of women leaders, authors, humanitarians, business women, mothers/grandmothers; women who have risen above the challenges to reach their personal goals and dreams.

Our role is to create a transformational shift in the way women and girls view themselves.

Values We Embrace
Equality is essential for any person to live a peaceful, fulfilling life • Celebrate diversity – it’s way more interesting
Recognize the value in each and every person • Safe spaces to share our stories of value that move us forward.
Education is key to realizing potential and charting a path to our greatest good.
Change is created when women engage and become masters of their own life.
The Women’s Journey Foundation lifts women and girls of all ages through education, empowerment and engagement.
We love to collaborate with other non-profits and community organizations – including our school systems.
What Makes WJF Unique?
In our programs – women find connections and experiential learnings to inspire them and realize their life’s meaning. Women feel heard. Our intention is that our programs create transformative results – whether as a professional career woman, as a mother, as a sister, as a daughter, as a retiree or in any of the roles women fill. At Women’s Journey, we embrace the WHOLE woman.

Impact Statement

Bringing HERstory to life so every girl knows her worth.

Needs Statement

Despite centuries of contributions, women remain nearly invisible in history education—less than 5% of school curriculum highlights women’s achievements. This lack of representation deprives girls of role models who reflect their potential, leading to lower self-esteem, limited aspirations, and a sense of invisibility in society. At the same time, many at-risk girls face additional barriers such as poverty, trauma, and lack of mentorship, further diminishing their opportunities to thrive.

The Women’s Journey Foundation exists to fill this critical gap. By bringing women’s untold stories to life through live productions, mentorship, and self-esteem programs, we ensure girls not only learn their history but also see themselves as part of it. With your support, we can change the narrative—empowering girls, honoring women, and building a future where women’s voices and contributions are visible, valued, and celebrated.

Geographic Areas Served

Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Westminster, Garden Grove, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Irvine

Top Three Populations Served
  • Latinos
  • Asian Americans Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (AANHPI)
  • African Americans
Statement from the CEO/Executive Director

I am proud to serve this organization. From the very beginning it was founded by a group of passionate volunteers who sought to create change and become positive influence or example for women of all ages. To this day the WJF seeks to empower women and girls by building confidence while encouraging self-exploration and growth through our programs. Countless lives have been changed, mine included. When a young girl shared with me that she had contemplated suicide but changed her mind after attending the girls I CAN program, I knew this is where I wanted to put my attention. I am thoroughly convinced that we can change the minds of hundreds if not thousands of girls who lack confidence or the ability to believe in themselves; these girls will most likely make poor life decisions. We have the capability to change that outcome.

Statement from the Board Chair/President

I have never been involved in an organization before that does the tremendous amount of work like that of the Women's Journey Foundation. And operates with a volunteer staff. That requires passion and commitment that the Founder exhibits every day. It is because of her example that we as an organization have advanced as we have. Funding could help this program grow and reach more women and girls. The impact would be transformative.

CONTACT

Womens Journey Foundation

3151 Airway Ave
Ste K108
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

pattyturrell.wjf@gmail.com

Phone: 9493076888

womensjourneyfoundation-org