Margaret Beal
Contributor
Eleven young women from Madison recently walked a red carpet—not at a Hollywood premiere, but at the top of Salesforce Tower in Atlanta. The girls, all members of the Girlz to Queens program founded by local mentor and author Coach Marvin “Merv” Mattair, spent the day meeting with leaders from Argenbright Group and Unifi Aviation during a field trip designed to expand their thinking and their sense of what’s possible.
The June 27 visit was far more than a sightseeing tour. For these girls, it was a firsthand look at corporate life and a glimpse into the many paths their future could take.
“This wasn’t a vacation—it was a business trip for the mind,” said Mattair, who founded Boyz to Kings in 2009 and launched Girlz to Queens just last year. “Our goal is to give them a new way of thinking, to challenge what they believe is normal and show them a bigger world.”
Ranging in age from 10 to 15, the girls traveled from Madison to Atlanta with tablets in hand, taking notes as they observed city life and encountered new people and ideas. When they arrived in Atlanta, they were greeted by a team from Argenbright and Unifi—including Madison native Frank A. Argenbright Jr., executive chairman and founder of the Argenbright Group—with applause and a red carpet welcome.
Inside a 20th floor boardroom, the girls listened to personal career stories from company employees, participated in a goal-setting roundtable and enjoyed lunch with company leaders—some even trying Indian cuisine for the first time.
“They felt seen. They felt worthy,” Mattair said. “Just being in that space, being welcomed and celebrated for who they are—that made a huge impact.”
Argenbright Group and Unifi support organizations like Girlz to Queens and Boyz to Kings as part of their commitment to creating pathways for the next generation and investing in the communities they serve.
Executive Chairman Frank A. Argenbright Jr. shared, “They reminded all of us why mentorship and opportunity matter. We’re proud to support organizations like Girlz to Queens that are shaping future leaders.”
The Girlz to Queens program mirrors the mission of its brother initiative, Boyz to Kings, providing mentorship, life skills and leadership development for young people. The programs were born from Mattair's’ experience working in the youth residential system and his firm belief in the power of mentorship and exposure.
“These youth don’t always know what’s out there,” he said. “When everyone around you is struggling, it feels normal. But when you leave Madison and see something different, you start to question that normal. And that’s the first step to change.”
Argenbright has been a longtime supporter of Mattair’s work, hosting Boyz to Kings for a similar visit several years ago, helping arrange internships for local high school youth and remaining an active mentor and cheerleader for Madison youth.
“Frank’s support isn’t just financial,” said Mattair, “He gives his time, his encouragement—and most importantly—his example. He grew up here. He shows these kids what’s possible.”
One of Mattair's former students returned from an Atlanta internship and told the group he no longer wanted to be a professional athlete. “He said, ‘I want to make money—I’m a business-minded person now,’” Mattair recalled. “That’s what experience can do.”
For now, Girlz to Queens is back home in Madison, holding weekly workshops and reflecting on what they learned. But the memory of being celebrated in a corporate boardroom high above the Atlanta skyline—that’s something they’ll carry for a lifetime.