Great idea! BTW - this is a perfect intro to something I wanted to post but have been shy to do so
This is a report out of in July alone what 'Girls Group' accomplished. It's very long - please don't feel you need to read this. But if you do - bare in mind that this is all because of one woman's commitment and devotion to making life better for young 'at risk' girls:
Hello, and Welcome to the July email update about Girls Group.
July was an exciting and emotional month, because we took five girls to very nice overnight camps. Amanda and I brought three girls to James Madison University in Virginia, for a two week college prep (and self-esteeming building) program. Although the girls were nervous about their first airplane rides, their new roommates, not fitting in, etc... they ended up having a memorable, life changing experience. I think that Amanda summed it up best when she said to me: "There's really no going back now. The girls are having adventures that their families and friends were never able to experience, and they will now be better able to envision a different future for themselves."
At the end of the James Madison University program, Jennifer and LaToya picked up the girls up in Harrisonburg, Virginia and drove them to Washington DC. Jennifer and LaToya took the girls on a tour of Howard University (where they were both students). Now all three girls want to apply to both Howard and James Madison, and the rest of the girls are ready to apply for 2008 summer schools programs.
Liz and I also took two girls to Blue Lake Music Camp near Muskegon, Michigan. (Thanks Liz!) Although the girls were initially nervous about being away from home and not making friends, they ended up being very enthusiastic about their experience. Actually, before Liz and I drove away from camp, our two girls were already sitting on a lower bunk bed with their new friends and playing card games.
I also took two girls to basketball camp for the second summer, and was pleased to see that our girls fit in with the other girls much more comfortably than last summer. We also have one girl who we take to weekly private gymnastics lessons, and have seen the improvement in self-confidence that comes from excelling at something that you love (and can do better than any other girl).
Our goal for next summer is to have even more girls attend special summer camps. Each of these opportunities is a major learning experience for myself and our staff, and we were proud (and relieved!) that everything went so well. The camps with which we are now familiar will be easier for us adults next summer, and we'll be able to add some new opportunities for next summer as well.
Attached, as always, are the current planning schedules for weekly discussion groups as well as weekend activities. Our attendance has improved this summer, and we have been fortunate to have 20 girls at weekly discussion groups. (Thanks Bonnie, and everyone else at Peace Neighborhood Center, for helping us with transportation.)
Girls Group was awarded the $2,500 grant from the Young Women for Change division of the Michigan Womens Foundation. This is our third grant so far, the first being from the James A and Faith Knight Foundation and the second being from the Ann Arbor Junior League. (Many thanks to Melissa for all her help with the grants!) We are still waiting to hear about the grant submitted to the Comerica Charitable Foundation.
Girls Group is currently in the middle of a five week collaborative effort with Planned Parenthood. For five Tuesdays, XX from Planned Parenthood is leading a structured program called "The Sistah Project". Weekly sessions focus on topics such as ethnic pride, behavioral skills training, assertiveness versus aggression, HIV AIDs awareness, and responsible decision making. XX is incorporating poems, movies, games, etc to ensure that girls maintain their interest in the discussion. All girls who attend the five sessions will receive a $100 gift certificate for Target. (Planned Parenthood received grant funding for this program.)
On July 3, Bethamie facilitated a Girls Group session about violence in our lives, both verbal and physical. With difficult topics such as violence, we are trying to create an environment where it is safe for girls to talk about topics which have traditionally been off-limits. Our belief is that the more we discuss uncomfortable topics, and the more girls realize that they are not alone, the greater the girl's ability to handle and change some of these situations now or in the future.
On July 10, we had an amazing cooking class facilitated by Debra Rosenberg. (Thank Ruth, for the contact and helping out!) Debra has offered to teach three cooking classes a year. Her first class focused on healthy breakfast eating. Debra taught us how to make yogurt parfaits, apple and cinammon oatmeal, omelettes, breakfast burritos, and scrambled eggs. She also introduced the girls to different breads, juices, cheeses, and fruits. She was also kind enough to buy aprons, measuring cups, and spatulas for each girl.
XX has agreed to join the Girls Group Advisory Board, and will help us with future fundraising efforts. (Thanks XX!) Our mailing list is now at almost 400 names, and we plan to continue building our list of supporters. We greatly appreciate those of you who have supported Girls Group consistently for over a year now, and we recognize that we need to constantly broaden our base of support.
Our next focus for weekly Girls Group discussion groups is "starting the new school year with a positive attitude". We will use skits, mentoring, and discussion circles to address topics such as the following: asking for help, first impressions, organization and planning, staying motivated, reducing "drama" with other girls, "to do" lists, study habits and schedules, and setting personal standards. We are hopeful that the positive experiences of this summer will enable the girls to strive more, dream more, and accomplish even more.
Many thanks, as always, for your support of Girls Group,
