TAMPA, Fla. - The organization called GEMS, or Girls Empowered Mentally for Success, Inc., helps young women and girls learn entrepreneurship skills and empower them toward a brighter future.

One program they started is called Transitions Candles Social Enterprise, where the girls learn how to manage a small candle-making business.

What we know:

Candle-making isn't the only thing happening inside the building along North Second Street in East Tampa.

The lives of young girls are changing in front of Crystal Petersen's eyes.

Petersen said, "We open up shy girls and expose girls who are in a bad way or dealing with a family situation that caused them a deficit."

The backstory:

She started GEMS in 2003.

"Our focus is to create a space where she can have goals, understand time managem

See Full Page