Girls Inc. Spotlight

Stay Strong, Play On: National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Join Girls Inc. in celebrating the 24th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which honors female athletes and encourages girls and women to participate in sports.

Even 38 years after the passing of Title IX, female athletes remain at a disadvantage. Today, girls’ sports programs typically have less participation and lower funding than boys’ programs. Girls also struggle to obtain facilities and practice times. This year’s theme, “Stay Strong, Play On,” promotes perseverance and persistence in the face of such obstacles. Read on and find out how you can join the celebration:

• Learn more about National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

• Read an op-ed by Dylan Barnett, a former Girls Inc. intern, about why it is critical for adults to encourage girls to play sports.

• Check out the facts on Title IX.

Girls Inc. Leader Testifies at Congressional Hearing on Girls and Juvenile Justice
Dr. C. Jackie Jackson, Ph.D., the Executive Director of Girls Inc. of the Greater Peninsula in Hampton, Virginia, testified at a Congressional hearing, “Girls in the Juvenile Justice System: Strategies to Help Girls Fulfill Their Full Potential.” At the hearing on October 20, 2009, held by the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, Dr. Jackson emphasized the need for investing in cost-effective measures to prevent violence and juvenile delinquency, including afterschool programs like those offered by Girls Inc. The hearing focused on addressing the alarming increase of girls in the juvenile justice system despite the decline of juvenile crime rates.

• Read Dr. Jackson’s full testimony.

• Read an op-ed by Clarissa King, an alumna of Girls Inc. of Metro Dallas, about how Girls Inc. helped her make positive choices.

• Download the Girls Inc. Girls and Juvenile Justice fact sheet.

• Visit the Subcommittee’s website.

The Clinton Global Initiative: A Girl's-Eye View

This September, Rose Lee, a 17-year-old member of Girls Inc. of New York City reported as official press from the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York City. As part of her coverage, Rose was present at the Plenary Session on Investing in Girls and Women, which addressed gender inequality around the world and the benefits of efforts to improve the global status of women and girls.

Watch Rose’s report on the panel discussion, her experience covering the event, and her views on why creating sustainable support systems for girls is crucial both here and abroad.

Girls Inc. Girls Honor September 11 National Day of Service

This summer, in observance of the first September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Girls Inc. girls throughout the United States chose and put into action projects to address the needs of their communities. Girls at twenty-five participating Girls Inc. organizations took part in Day of Service activities that focused on giving girls opportunities to lead efforts to create lasting positive change.

Read more about the girls' projects.

Girls Inc. Testimony to Congress on Girls and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

On July 21, 2009, Girls Inc. Chief Operating Officer Dr. Marcia Brumit Kropf testified at a Congressional hearing held by the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, a part of the Committee on Science and Technology. The hearing focused on examining current research findings, best practices, and the role of federal agencies in increasing the interest of girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in primary and secondary school.

• Read the full testimony.

• Learn more about the hearing and download the charter.

• Check out the Subcommittee’s website.

The Fourth Annual Girls Inc. Corporate CampSM for Entrepreneurs

Girls Inc. Corporate CampSM for Entrepreneurs, held in partnership with the Goldman Sachs Foundation, brought twenty girls ages 15-18 to New York City to learn about the demanding world of business ownership, build leadership skills, and gain exposure to female professional role models.

Teams from four Girls Inc. organizations were selected from a nationwide competition that challenged girls to develop an original product or service and construct a business plan. During the week, girls met with business leaders to refine their business models, enhance their presentations, and gain first-hand understanding of entrepreneurship as a career option. They visited women-owned businesses to learn about how healthy risks and hard work can lead to success. The girls and Girls Inc. staff also closed the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Watch the four teams present their business plans on the Girls Inc. YouTube Channel:

• Water Girls, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, California

• Teenage Touch, Girls Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska

• Breaking Boundaries, Girls Inc. of Memphis, Tennessee

• Bové, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, Colorado

Girls Inc. Girls’ Rights Week 2009: If Girls Had Their Rights

What would the world look like if all girls everywhere had their rights?

From May 4-8, 2009, help Girls Inc. mobilize a network of supporters to advocate for girls' rights.

In celebration of Girls’ Rights Week, get involved and launch your own campaign for gender equity.

• Watch video of Girls Inc. girls sharing their dreams for the future, send us your hopes for the future of equality, and download graphics to share online.

• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to join our community of advocates for girls’ rights: get updates about Girls’ Rights Week, read supporters’ messages of equity, recruit friends to the campaign, and raise support for girls’ rights.

Watch Video Highlights of the Girls Inc. 2008 Los Angeles Celebration Luncheon

On Monday, November 17th, six leading women in the entertainment and sports worlds were honored at the Girls Inc. 2008 Los Angeles Celebration Luncheon for their professional achievements in historically male-dominated industries, having a willingness to take risks, and demonstrating a world of possibilities available to girls and women.

Girls Inc. National Scholars presented awards to each Honoree, creating an intergenerational exchange unique to Girls Inc. Celebration Luncheon events.

Watch video highlights from the program.

Plus, get more from the Girls Inc. 2008 Los Angeles Celebration Luncheon:

• Watch Girls Inc. girls pitch their own story ideas to leading women in entertainment on the Girls Inc. YouTube Channel.

• Read about each luncheon Honoree.

The Girls Inc. Outlet Store on eBay Featuring EILEEN FISHER

Girls Inc. is honored to partner with EILEEN FISHER to inaugurate the launch of the Girls Inc. Outlet Store on eBay, which will benefit Girls Inc. through the sale of high-end brands at significant discounts.

• Shop the Girls Inc. Outlet Store on eBay.

• Learn more about the history of EILEEN FISHER’S continued
  support of Girls Inc.
  
  

The Girls Inc. She Votes 2008 Mock Election

More than 3,500 Girls Inc. girls all over the United States cast their votes for President, electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden by a margin of approximately five to one. Obama and Biden earned 2,969 votes, while John McCain and Sarah Palin earned 561.

Learn more about Girls Inc. She Votes 2008, the nonpartisan, civic engagement initiative that empowers girls to become savvy voters, engaged citizens, and future candidates and leaders.

Girls, Women, and Stress
Women are experiencing a significantly higher level of stress than men in the face of today’s challenging economic environment, reflecting the different stress levels experienced by girls and boys.

Find out how Girls Inc. teaches girls and young women economic literacy skills critical to minimizing stress brought on by financial concerns.

The National Political Conventions: A Girl’s-Eye View
This summer, Girls Inc. girls reported as official press from the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Experience what it was like to be a girl in the midst of the summer’s two most significant political events.

• Girls Inc. presents The National Political Conventions: A Girl’s-Eye View

• Explore more online features from Girls Inc. She Votes 2008.

Teen Birth Rate is on the Rise
For the first time in more than a decade, the rate of teenagers giving birth is on the rise. Unfortunately, it takes celebrity teen pregnancy scandals to draw attention to unplanned pregnancies and the unrelenting pressure girls experience to grow up too quickly.

• Learn more about how Girls Inc. empowers girls to understand the importance of making healthy decisions in all aspects of their lives.

• Read the Girls Inc. Advocacy Statements.