Dear Friends,
To lead and thrive, girls need to be emotionally strong. Yet the prevalence of depression and anxiety is increasing among teen girls throughout the nation, and this was before the pandemic affected adults and children alike. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and during this time of global uncertainty, prioritizing and caring for our mental health becomes even more important.
Knowing this, I am so proud of my team for making the agile shift to virtual programming (via YouTube and Zoom) with the focus on staying connected with our youth, many of whom no longer have access to trusted adults amidst the closures of schools and community centers. We are continuing to learn how to serve them best in this new reality, and to modify accordingly.
As we look ahead, my staff and I am extremely excited to be putting together our first virtual Power of the Purse gala. It will take place on Friday, June 5th, from 5:30pm – 7pm via live stream. With the change to free admission and a virtual experience, it’s your year to attend. Mark your calendars now and register at this link. With an all-star lineup of Purse-o-nalities, designers and, of course, our Girls Inc. youth, it will be a night to remember. I hope to see you there!
Gratefully,
Elizabeth Nye Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest
GIRLS GROUPS
The program team has launched a variety of virtual Girls Inc. experiences for youth across Portland, SW Washington and Seattle. Each week focuses on a different Strong, Smart or Bold theme, giving youth the opportunity to meet with their peers and Girls Inc. staff while staying connected and supported during what may be an overwhelming time for many.
In addition to self-paced resources and content, live Girls Groups for elementary and middle school aged youth currently run twice a week with the goal of bringing the pro-girl environment to the virtual world. Each session follows a typical Girls Group agenda giving youth the opportunity to engage with one another and dive into Girls Inc. curriculum (STEM, Mind & Body etc.). The team plans to host these online sessions until our school programs are able to resume across the region.
EUREKA!
In response to COVID19, the Eureka! program will be going virtual this summer. We will be creating a mix of independent, do-together-at-home-virtually sessions (including the one pictured here) to keep Eurekans engaged with life skills, STEM, and college and career readiness topics while prioritizing their social-emotional wellbeing.
If you are a STEM professional and interested in being a mentor, teaching a skill, hosting a virtual field trip, or sharing your STEM story, please reach out to Youn Han at youn@girlsincpnw.org.
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The Girls Inc. Leadership Council continues to meet virtually on a bi-weekly basis. In addition to identifying opportunities to lead within their own communities, the Council is actively preparing for their role within Power of the Purse, writing and recording their speeches virtually.
POWER OF THE PURSE 2020 IS GOING VIRTUAL
Spring 2020 marks our 15th Power of the Purse gala. Thanks to our presenting sponsor First Tech Credit Union, this year we will be bringing Power of the Purse to the comfort of your own home!
Bidding for the one-of-a-kind purses will open at 9am on Monday, June 1st, and end during the virtual gala on Friday, June 5th. Please visit our website to view this year’s fabulous purses, and the teams of designers, Purse-o-nalities and Girls Inc. youth that created them.
We will be raising a glass to toast Girls Inc. and 15 years of Power of the Purse at the virtual event. Our generous wine sponsors Et Fille Wines and Sokol Blosser Winery have put together special discounted packages for Power of the Purse attendees. Please visit our website to view the discounts and purchase.
PROTECT TITLE IX
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and national emergency, when this Administration should be prioritizing providing much needed resources and relief for students and schools, it is instead taking action to make schools less safe.
The new rule seeks to weaken Title IX’s protections against sexual harassment in schools.
How You Can Help:
WILD FRIENDS FOODS
Through their pioneering giveback program, Fuel Her Future, Wild Friends donates 1% of sales to programs that help ensure women and girls have the environment and empowerment to make their dreams a reality.
We were honored to be chosen as their first non-profit partner!
Last week, Wild Friends Foods hit their goal of $10,000 raised for Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, including contributions from their Wild Friends network. Thank you Wild Friends!!!
WE ASKED THEM WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO GIRLS INC.
Daniel Le – Audit & Assurance Services Partner, Deloitte I am excited for the opportunity to be part of an organization that strives to inspire our children to be future leaders. Embracing and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion is imperative and working with a wonderful team to provide opportunities for girls to succeed, build confidence, and dream big is rewarding to me. I particularly look forward to working with the team to help grow our Seattle presence.
Lara Blair – Founder & Owner, Lara Blair Photography/Brave & True Girl
Have you read Stronger, Smarter, Bolder: Girls Take the Lead yet? As shown in a recent assessment by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), the Girls Inc. Experience makes a measurable and marked difference in the lives of girls, regardless of demographic, academic, and social characteristics.
To learn more, read the full report.
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