buildHERstudio is where creativity becomes capability and capability becomes commerce.
buildHERstudio is an advanced youth entrepreneurship experience designed exclusively for Girls Hub alumni ages 14–17 who are ready to move from hands-on building to real-world business ownership. Through a structured bi-monthly cycle: Think It Up (ideation), BuildHER Studio (production), and Sell It Forward (marketplace experience), participants design and produce handcrafted products, learn pricing and branding strategy, sell at community pop-up markets, and earn a profit share while building financial literacy and leadership skills. The program strengthens confidence, workforce readiness, and economic agency, creating a clear pipeline from creativity to commerce for the next generation of young women entrepreneurs.
Through a structured cycle of collaborative learning, studio production, and community-based sales experiences, participants develop competencies in financial literacy, branding, manufacturing, customer engagement, and profit analysis. At its core, buildHERstudio reflects Women of Toledo’s commitment to advancing economic equity and expanding access to real-world career pathways for young women across the region.
Vision
To cultivate a generation of young women who are empowered, innovative, and economically self-reliant through experiential learning that nurtures entrepreneurial mindsets, leadership capacity, and long-term mobility.
Program Overview
The Youth Entrepreneurship Track is a selective, hands-on initiative designed to spark innovation, build enterprise skills, and foster confidence among Girls Hub alumni exploring pathways into entrepreneurship. Participants engage in a monthly cycle of ideation, creation, and commercialization, developing competencies in creativity, production, and financial literacy while participating in a continuous learning loop.
This experience empowers young women to transform their creativity into a real-world enterprise while practicing negotiation, leadership, and venture management skills.
Our Enterprise Team
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Technical & Instructors Team
Lead Instructor
Julia LaBay is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and creative practitioner dedicated to cultivating environments where young people, particularly girls and emerging women leaders, can discover their voice through artistic expression. Working across sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and mixed media, she guides students in transforming concepts into tangible works while strengthening confidence, critical thinking, and creative agency. As an instructor in the Department of Art at the University of Toledo, she pairs technical rigor with exploratory learning to prepare the next generation for both creative and professional pathways.
Instructor
Israelle (Izzy) Onyeneke is a multidisciplinary artist specializing in hand lettering, calligraphy, and mixed-media design. She will guide students through creative techniques that encourage self-expression and inspire them to try something new. Izzy is the founder of Fearfully & Wonderfully Made, a creative business centered on meaningful, personalized artwork. She holds degrees in business and leadership and has experience working in both corporate environments and as a small business owner. Through her work, Izzy looks forward to helping young students see that creativity is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and grown — not something you have to be “born with.”
Instructor
Megan Powell is a woodworker and trainer with a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management and a strong background in adult safety training for skilled labor. She has also worked extensively with youth in restorative justice settings, fostering a teaching style rooted in patience, accountability, and care. In the woodshop, Megan prioritizes safety while empowering students to develop practical skills through guided, hands-on instruction.
For more info about this program, please contact our Program Manager, Jessica White, at email: Jessica@womenoftoledo.org or call our office at 567.970.7172