DETOUR named 2024 “Central Region Public Health Champion”
by Live Well San Diego!
DeTOUR’s F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls EXPO
Apr 30, 2024 By Tihut Tamrat
On Saturday, April 27th, DeTOUR Empowers, a nonprofit that focuses on increasing access to education and employment opportunities for girls of color, hosted the Focused and Naturally Confident Youth, F.A.N.C.Y. , Teen Girls EXPO event at KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy, just behind the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation.Vendors, exhibits, workshops, demos, food, and fun for elementary, middle, and high school girls were designed to motivate and achieve academic excellence for young girls, provide a source of education, allow a platform for exploring career/academic interests, and provide the essential skills needed to become community leaders.
7th Annual F.A.N.C.Y. Awards Celebrates Local Teens Making A Difference
March 22, 2025
The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint — DETOUR F.A.N.C.Y Expo & Leadership Academy stands for “Focused And Naturally Confident Youth”, something DETOUR does through curriculum and mentorship to young women and girls focused on building confidence, healthy relationships, and leadership skills.Local Org Teaching Girls of Color Drone Technology Goes to Ghana
Jan 05, 2024 By Nia Watson
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A local program that teaches young girls about drone technology has gone global.
ABC 10News first did a story on Our Genetic Legacy's Drone Project in 2022. The program is geared toward girls of ethnic minorities interested in the STEM field.
ecently, the group took a trip to Accra, Ghana, to follow the history of the transatlantic slave trade.
"We learned so much about our history, and it was such an amazing experience," said Shyanne Smith.
FANCY EXPO Channel 8 News Broadcast
'Detour' named ABC 10News Leadership award winner for September
Sep 02, 2022 By Lindsey Peña
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — KGTV Proud only begins to describe how Tinesia Conwright feels about her girls."Proud, blessed, appreciative, and honored. Honored to be a part of their journey," said Conwright.
All of these young women belong to the non-profit Conwright started called Detour FANCY.
"Depositing empowerment through outreach and urban redevelopment and FANCY stands for focused and naturally confident youth," said Conwright.
Honoring Black history: Nonprofit empowers young girls through leadership program
Feb 1, 2022 By Liberty Zabala
SAN DIEGO — Inspiring young Black girls to be leaders in the community is the primary mission of a San Diego-based nonprofit. What started as a breakfast talk for foster sisters in southeast San Diego is now a thriving leadership academy for girls of color.
“DETOUR is my love letter to the community,” said Tinesia Conwright, executive director of the nonprofit.
DETOUR, which stands for Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach and Urban Development, helps girls develop self-esteem, self-love and self-empowerment.
Getting F.A.N.C.Y. in San Diego
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 By Karen Pearlman
Nurturing and mentoring middle school and high school girls across San Diego County, helping them find their best paths in life is a passion for Tinesia Conwright.
Conwright in 2009 developed what she calls a “boots on the ground” nonprofit venture called Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach and Urban Redevelopment. DETOUR seeks to inspire girls of color to find their way during a time in life when they are typically most vulnerable.
It has been successful, too – with more than 70 percent of its graduates going into Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEM) fields in advancing...
DETOUR named 2020 “Outstanding Organization for Diversity and Inclusion” by The Association of Fundraising Professionals!
San Diego mentorship program uses FANCY approach to empower teen girls
June 8, 2019 By San Diego Workforce Partnership
Our world is in desperate need of programs that introduce girls of color to fields they are not typically exposed to. DETOUR (Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach and Urban Redevelopment) sets out to dismantle stereotypes while building girls up with self-confidence and the desire to pursue their passions, regardless of today’s societal boundaries. Driven by positivity and leadership, the DETOUR vision is to see equity and inclusion for teen girls in higher education and priority sector employment.
The organization is bursting with contagious, motivational energy, which is expressed through dance, apparel and events. You can feel the confidence and drive of those involved—see for yourself on YouTube or Facebook.
Tinesia Conwright, DETOUR Executive Director, Selected as a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network Fellow
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership is an innovative fellowship for local leaders to connect, grow and lead transformational change on behalf of children, families and communities.
Tinesia will be a part of a dynamic and diverse group of 80 individuals who are dedicated to working within our communities to build brighter futures. Fellows come from all walks of life, drawing upon a diversity of experiences and disciplines to unite us on the path toward a more equitable society.
The class includes tribal leaders, elected officials, health practitioners, youth advocates, educators, businesspeople, attorneys, civil rights activists, conservationists and faith leaders.
More than 800 people applied to the WKKF Community Leadership Network program. From that pool, 80 people were selected to be part of Class Two.
FANCY Expo Featured On Channel 10 News
Tinesia Conwright, DETOUR Executive Director, Selected as the 2018 Champion of Pride
By San Diego Pride
Devoted community leader within the nonprofit and for-profit industries, was born and raised in Southeastern San Diego during the 1980s and 90s, at the peak of gang violence within a neighborhood facing large pockets of poverty and few opportunities for educational advancement and socio-economic mobility.
Despite the challenging environment, she found an outlet to express her love for dance through a Christian youth group, where she realized the capacity within youth to impact social change and uplift their peers and community. She discovered her self-worth and met people within her community who inspired her to become the person she is today.
Meet Tinesia Conwright of DETOUR Empowers
July 26, 2018 By SDVoyager
Today we’d like to introduce you to Tinesia Conwright.
Tinesia was born and raised in Southeastern San Diego during the 1980s and 90s at the peak of gang violence within a neighborhood facing large pockets of poverty and few opportunities for educational advancement and socio-economic mobility.
Despite the challenging environment, she found an outlet to express her love for dance through a youth group, The Steps of Praise. As a member of this group, she realized the capacity within youth to impact social change and uplift their peers and community. She discovered her self-worth and met people within her community who inspired her to become the person she is today.
Passionate about nurturing the growth of girls and developing them into our future leaders of tomorrow, Tinesia launched her nonprofit, Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment (DETOUR). The organization provides three youth development programs: The Focused And Naturally Confident Youth (F.A.N.C.Y.) Teen Girls Expo, Leadership Academy, and Scholarship Program which has empowered over 1,000 girls since 2009.
Girls get F.A.N.C.Y at teen expo
San Diego Workforce PartnershipApril 24, 2017 By Amber Shevin
On April 22, Depositing Empowerment through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment (DETOUR) hosted its seventh annual Focused and Naturally Confident Youth (F.A.N.C.Y.) Teen Girls Expo at O’Farrell Charter School in Southeastern San Diego. Since 2010, the event has helped young women of color develop confidence; explore careers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fields; connect with academic, employment and other community programs; meet community mentors who provide ongoing mentorship; and hear from local leaders.
Empowering young women
March 30th, 2018Gay San Diego
By Ian Morton | Profiles in Advocacy
In February 2012, I had the privilege of meeting Tinesia Conwright, the passionate founder and executive director of DETOUR (Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment) Empowers, when she received a community service award from Urban Pride, at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. I was able to feature her, and her growing nonprofit, in my May 2012 column, while she was still working toward her master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership, at San Diego State University. Hence, it was very exciting to sit down with Tinesia, six years later, to catch up with her and discuss the growth of the organization.
Voice & Viewpoint
By JoAnn Fields
Contributing Writer
San Diego, CA: The Fourth Annual Focused And Naturally Confident Youth (F.A.N.C.Y.) Teen Girls Expo took place in Southeastern San Diego on April 12th, 2014 from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm at O’Farrell Charter School. The F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo DETOUR Empowers is an annual signature event that draws 200 teenage girls between the ages of 14 – 19 to participate in a day-long summit. Over the past three years $3,300 in educational scholarships has been awarded to 21 expo attendees selected through a scholarship contest.
DETOUR Empowers to host “22” F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo Fundraiser
at the A/C Lounge on February 22, 2014
San Diego, CA – DETOUR Empowers will host “22” a F.A.N.C.Y. Fundraiser on February 22, 2014 from 6-9pm at the AC Lounge, to raise awareness and resources for girls in San Diego County through the F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo. The dressy-casual evening will include a cocktail reception including Hors d'oeuvres provided by the Fast Food Company, a live neo-soul performance sponsored by She Is Soul and a silent auction for several amazing packages. Items donated include tickets to the Symphony, The Old Globe, and the Museum of Photographic Arts.Teens and Women Kick Butt for a Cause
Tinesia Conwright of DETOUR Empowers and creator of F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo hosted a women’s and teens self-defense class with the help of Divas In Defense, an organization empowering women of all ages with the training and tools imperative to their personal safety and the safety of their families. This weekend’s event was educational and entertaining as close to 20 teens and women gathered at The San Diego Dance Theater in an effort to kick butt for a cause. Things from how to react in a purse snatching incident to the options available if ever being held at gunpoint, were some of the lesson’s taught. Last weekend’s fundraiser benefited two local non-profit agencies, F.A.N.C.Y Teen Girls Expo and Eleanor’s Place for Women.
2012 F.A.N.C.Y. Teen Girls Expo Inspires Local Youth by JoAnne Fields
San Diego, CA: The Annual F.A.N.C.Y. - Focused And Naturally Confident Youth Teen Girls Expo took place Saturday, June 23, 9am-4pm at the San Diego City College Educational Cultural Complex located at 4343 Ocean View Blvd, San Diego, CA 92113. Jazzay Buncom, incoming freshman student at High Tech High shared, " I appreciate the Domestic Violence and Teen Relationships class the most because the instructors answered the questions honestly and thoughtfully. I also thought the documentary about Human Sex Trafficking "Indoctrinated" was interesting because I did not realize how easy it was for teens to fall into that life at such a young age."
DETOUR and T.E.A.M. Inc. Hosts its Focused And Naturally Confident Youth (FANCY) Expo for Teenage Girls in the 4th District by Ghia Ransome
Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach and Urban Redevelopment (DETOUR) in partnership with Teaching Empowering and Motivating (T.E.A.M.), Inc. reached out to the community and provided information regarding education, self-esteem, professional development, arts, and culture during its inaugural FANCY Expo held Saturday, June 11, 2011. More than 60 teenage girls in San Diego’s 4th City Council District gathered at the Skyline Hills Recreation Center to learn ways to increase self-confidence, stay ahead in school, plan for college, build upon natural talents and abilities, and pursue their dreams. The purpose of the event was to empower teenage girls through life development skills, while visible and available positive role-models also provided a support system. The event highlighted five facilitators: Janaha Ransome (T.E.A.M., Inc.), LaWanaRichmond (UCSD), Kadesha Carroll (Charisma Events and Consulting), Johnique Poole (The Posh Knot), and Ghia Ransome (MsImpeckable).