“Growing Strong: Empowering Girls in the 21st Century through Stories of Classical Female Mythological Figures and Contemporary Women” is addressing a major social challenge of our times, namely female empowerment. The UF and the Community partner seek to create an interactive, thought-provoking space for young girls to reflect on their identity as active community members and the multiple roles they can assume by discussing the stories of inspirational ancient Greco-Roman goddesses/figures alongside contemporary women. At a time when gender equality has not yet been realized, empowering girls to reach their full potential emerges as a crucial need. To actively contribute towards this goal, this program will open a dialogue between the UF Classics Department, which explores the language, literature, and culture of Ancient Mediterranean societies, and Gainesville’s middle-school community by engaging with the diverse participants at Girls Place. Our goal is to inspire girls of all backgrounds, ethnicities, and social status to become brave leaders and independent women. The project fosters an environment where the girls have the chance to connect with narratives about women’s identities and to consider their own roles in society.