Creating Confident, Purpose-Driven Leaders with Ladies of Virtue - Cynthia Plouché in conversation with Jamila Trimuel
Belonging, empowerment, and long-term community impact are at the heart of the Alzenia Project. These values shape not only how we operate but also how we choose our grantees. We partner with organizations that align with our mission of fostering joy, inclusion, and leadership in the next generation, and one such organization is Ladies of Virtue (LOV), founded and led by Jamila Trimuel.
Jamila’s inspiration to start LOV traces back to her own high school experience. “My dad always told me I could do anything I put my mind to, and I almost took that for granted,” she reflects. “But by junior year, I realized not everyone had that kind of support. Some had lost parents or lacked positive role models. I saw how easily they could spiral without guidance, and I knew I wanted to step in.” She began tutoring and volunteering in college, and soon young women started gravitating toward her. By 2011, she had created Ladies of Virtue, with the vision of equipping young women with the tools to thrive.
Today, LOV empowers girls and young women ages 9–24 to become confident and purpose-driven leaders. Their mission comes to life through three pillars: character development, civic engagement, and career readiness. Over the last 14 years, the organization has touched countless lives, building a powerful community of alumni who carry their lessons forward.
When asked what inspires her to keep going, Jamila points to two things. “First, the girls. I have had the privilege of watching them grow over the years. To see alumni go from shy teenagers to poised young women leading with purpose is the greatest reward. Second, our staff. Watching them grow as leaders in their own right is deeply motivating.”
Jamila is equally focused on the future and sustainability. “I want Ladies of Virtue to stand the test of time, to exist long after I am gone. For that to happen, it cannot depend on me as the founder. It has to have its own brand, its own reputation, and a strong foundation that ensures its impact endures.”
At the Alzenia Project, we were drawn to Ladies of Virtue because our visions are so deeply aligned. Both of our organizations believe in long-term leadership, strong community involvement, and empowering people, particularly women and girls, to live fully into their potential. In Jamila’s words and in her work, you see what it means to build not just an organization but a legacy.
By partnering together, Alzenia and Ladies of Virtue are investing in the kind of leadership that transforms communities for generations to come. It is a partnership rooted in joy, belonging, and purpose, and in the belief that every young woman deserves the opportunity to rise into her full power.
Connect with Cynthia on LinkedIn.
Connect with Jamila on LinkedIn.
