Early 2010s — The GEMS Project

Listen to the ice show music that defined this FSH era

Bria Clark (‘11)

Bria Clark was a part of Figure Skating in Harlem for eleven years from 2000-2011. As a student at FSH, she was co-captain of the first synchronized skating team and represented the program for multiple summers in Lake Placid. Bria is a graduate of Virginia State University where she earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology in 2015. Bria also holds a Master's of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Lehman College. Bria began her professional career serving families by working with new mothers and families in Harlem as a Family counselor at The Baby College, a subsidiary of The Harlem Children’s Zone. She is currently an early childhood educator at Central Park East II, the very first school where she began her educational journey. FSH has instilled values of determination, poise, high standards, and exemplary work. Bria is proud to continue the legacy of success and honor as a graduate of Figure Skating in Harlem for her younger sisters, Autumn and Zoe.

Bria’s Story

When we all turned ten, I remember writing a letter to Sharon asking to be moved up to the older group. I remember making sure that she understood that I was now ten and I should not be in the group with the nine year olds. I deserved to move up because I'm ten, this is what ten year olds do, and this is what all the ten year olds have always done. I wrote it in a letter, and then I gave it to her. And shortly after, I was moved to the group with the ten year olds. In that moment, I felt heard and empowered.

I remember feeling very grounded knowing that I would feel heard by anyone that I spoke to. Whether it was in the beginning of the program when it was a lot smaller, so we were able to have more conversations with Sharon. Even as the program grew and more girls joined, we didn't see Sharon as much, but there were still lots of role models and women I could have important conversations with. We were teenagers while in the program, so we were going through our own changes, our own life challenges were coming up for us. And the counselors didn't change, they didn't judge us. They were really focused on who I was and didn’t judge me for who they thought I should be or who they wanted me to be. They saw me as an individual and then gave me the space to explore that.

I still bring up being a part of the program, because I think it's a big deal to be a part of something from first grade until you leave for college. There aren’t a lot of people that share that. It's really powerful to who I am and who I turned out to be. There was also that accountability of starting something and finishing it. It wasn't easy. There were other things that I wanted to join. I went through three different schools, my friends changed in location, I moved a couple of times throughout those years. But I think I still felt like I didn't have a choice.This was something I signed up for and I was going to finish.

Daria Forde (‘08)

Daria Forde participated in FSH from 2004-2010. After her time in the program, she went on to attend and obtain her high school diploma from Miss Porter’s School. In spring 2020, she graduated from Barnard College with a degree in Computer Science. Since her undergraduate experience, she has been working as a Product Manager at Groupon. Over the course of her journey, she has been incredibly grateful for her mom getting her involved in FSH. Her involvement in the program allowed her to feel comfortable being in her body, while using it as an agent of creative, self-expression.

Daria’s Story

Skating in a show for the first time really showed me how much I loved performing. It showed me the beauty of being really comfortable in your body. I loved being able to have a creative outlet to be active and loved being in an environment that was so warm. It wasn't even just on the ice, but even before ice practices, studying with other girls of color, and being taught by women of color, like Ms. Jackie, really helped build my self-confidence.

I'm realizing how much of a blessing it was. I truly thought that it was normal to grow up dancing and figure skating. Along with that, continuing to pursue creative avenues and having a really strong appreciation for the arts in general stems from my time in FSH. After I left the program, I realized how much I loved watching musical theater and dance performances and even loved doing painting and pottery. FSH had a huge influence on that part of me.

I recall feeling so whole while in the program, especially because I'm an only child. I didn’t grow up with sisters, but it was really beautiful to witness sisters be in the program together. I remember Flo and Wendy and Tahari and Sharendalle. So, sisterhood was present in that way, but it was also present in the sense of being a part of a community of color. After leaving FSH, I went to an all girls boarding school, which was predominantly white and in Connecticut, and that was a very different feeling. FSH was a space where I truly felt comfortable to exist without second guessing myself or my identity due to being a minority because I wasn't underrepresented in FSH.