The Power of Her Voice Newsletter – August 2019

Dear Friends,

I feel like I say this every year, but this year it feels especially true – summer has flown by! As we approach the end of August, it seems fitting to pause for a moment, celebrate the successes of the summer, and set our sights on the great things planned for this fall.

For the past six weeks, our summer programming has been engaging our girls, giving them safe spaces to explore, learn, and grow. Our girls have experienced Volcano Camps, local college campuses, field trips to OMSI, documentary film making, Thorns FC games, and so much more. Rappel for Her not only gave our girls the opportunity to be bold and rappel but also allowed our community to come alongside them and lead by example. Summer is the perfect opportunity for us to supplement our girls learning and cultivate the skills they will need to thrive in the upcoming school year.

As we look forward to all that the fall season holds, please be sure to save the date for our upcoming Day of the Girl Luncheons, October 11th in Portland, October 18th in Seattle, and October 25th in Vancouver. We are thrilled to be hosting our annual luncheon in all three locations for the first time this year, we hope you can join us at one or all three!

Warmly,

Thank you for an AMAZING Rappel For Her!

We asked our Girls Inc. community to be bold and Rappel for Her and you did! This successful event not only celebrated our special community but empowered our Girls Inc. girls to recognize their own strength and in the end – we raised over $20,000 to enrich our Girls Groups and expand the number of girls we serve. Thank you to everyone that sponsored, donated, volunteered, or participated. And a special thanks to Bloom Photography Northwest for capturing our girl’s journey.

Eureka! Camp 2019 Highlights

This year’s Eureka! 2019 summer camp was better than ever with the strong, smart & bold girls of Eureka! Flexing their mental skills in subjects like engineering, robotics, coding, health sciences and more. Our research-based Girls Inc. curriculum serves to challenge the youth to learn in new ways that have a lasting impact. Our champions at Tektronix, Mentor Graphics, Qorvo, LAM Research, Vestas, Nike & the Bodecker Foundation hosted the inquisitive young women of Eureka! for interactive field trips that provide critical exposure to STEM work environments and female role models. At the Bodecker Foundation, they had the chance to learn about the physics of music and tried their hand and sound recording. We continued our amazing partnerships with the Kaiser Educational Theatre Program and Planned Parenthood to offer specialized curriculum in conflict resolution and healthy sexuality, which are critical for the development of positive interpersonal skills and healthy relationships. This is all part of our mission to guide the youth of Eureka! To realize how strong, smart and bold they truly are.

Out-of-school time programming equips youth to thrive

While classroom learning provides students the knowledge necessary to prepare for work and economic independence, out-of-school time programming equips young people to excel in life, cultivating the skills, mindsets, and relationships needed to thrive. All youth stand to benefit from after-school and summer programing, particularly youth who face economic and social barriers that limit access to these critical supports.

Out-of-school time programs are effective. Resesarch shows programs using evidence-based practices are associated with significant improvements in youth’s self-perceptions, school bonding, positive social behavior, as well as test scores, grades, and school attendance. Out-of-school time programs have such positive benefits that each dollar invested saves up to nine dollars by increasing youth learning potential, improving school performance, and reducing crime and welfare costs.

Such programs can be quite pricey, though. In fact, the wealthiest 20 percent of families in the U.S. spend almost seven times more resources on private, out-of-school programs than do the poorest 20 percent. State and federal funding for out-of-school programs close this gap, providing all students academic enrichment, social and emotional learning, knowledge about healthy living, opportunities for physical activity, and interpersonal relationships – to name just a few advantages.

At Girls Inc., we know the value of out-of-school time learning and believe all young people need spaces to explore who they are, uncover and develop their talents, and set goals for the future. We strive to create safe, supportive environments where girls grow up strong, smart, and bold — and ready for the future. Through these environments, girls are able to take risks, make mistakes and problem solve. They learn about the world around them and expand their minds and perspectives.

Let us recognize and appreciate out-of-school time programs and the benefits they offer our young people. Join us in support of accessible out-of-school programs, whether by advocating at your local school board or at the statewide or even federal level. Together, let’s do everything we can to ensure the next generation has the education, resources, and support to seize every opportunity and solve the biggest challenges of tomorrow.