FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CNN's Sara Sidner Headlines Her Climb's Inaugural Launch—Bringing 16 Girls from the Bronx, Harlem, and Washington Heights to Columbia University
Dean Jelani Cobb to Offer Remarks
New York, NY — July 2, 2026 — For most girls who grow up in Harlem, Washington Heights or the Bronx, Columbia University is a campus they pass on the train, not a place that was built for them. On July 6, 2026, that changes.
Her Climb, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership program for public high school girls from underserved communities across New York City, will hold its Opening Ceremony at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, marking the official launch of its first cohort of scholars: 16 rising sophomores selected through a competitive application and interview process from seven public high schools across four boroughs. CNN anchor Sara Sidner will deliver the keynote address. Columbia Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb will offer remarks.
The ceremony will be hosted by CBS Weekend Morning Anchor and Reporter Aziza Shuler and will include remarks from Her Climb board members and program leadership.
Her Climb is the only free, multi-year leadership program for public high school girls housed at an Ivy League institution in New York City. Her Climb is rooted in four pillars—leadership, access, wellness, and sisterhood—and delivered across four career tracks: business, creative arts, journalism, and STEM. It recruits students during their freshman year and walks with them through high school, college, and into early career—providing mentorship, experiential learning, and industry access that most girls in these communities have never had. Everything is free for the scholars.
The Opening Ceremony is proudly supported by Dunkin’, Lenwich, and Levain Bakery.
“July 6 is a day we’ve been building toward for a long time,” said Rita Omokha, founder and executive director of Her Climb and adjunct assistant professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. “Having Sara Sidner and Dean Cobb in the room with our girls on day one tells these young women something important about who they are and what they deserve. I am deeply grateful, and I cannot wait for the world to meet this cohort and the ones to come.”
“There is a time for girls to thrive, but like the generations before us it’s going to take grit, goodness, and the will to fight not just for your right, but for your best life,” said Sidner. “I am honored to be with you, talk with you, and stand up for you however I can. Let’s make the climb to greatness together with this fantastic organization.”
Her Climb's inaugural Summer Intensive runs July 6–24, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, at Columbia University's Pulitzer Hall. Following the Summer Intensive, scholars will continue through year-round programming that includes Saturday workshops, check-ins throughout the academic year, and curated field trips designed to deepen cultural fluency and expand the worlds our girls move through. Each scholar receives a stipend for their participation. The inaugural cohort represents 16 students from Harlem, Washington Heights, the Bronx, Far Rockaway, and Corona.
About Her Climb
Her Climb is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership program for public high school girls from underserved communities across New York City, based at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Rooted in four pillars—leadership, access, wellness, and sisterhood—and delivered across four career tracks—business, creative arts, journalism, and STEM—Her Climb provides a free, multi-year pathway that combines academic preparation, mentorship, industry exposure, and cultural fluency.
Media Contact
Sakura Komiyama Amend
sakura.amend@herclimb.org
212-479-8206