Meet Dr. LaShawn Frost, an alumna of formerly Girls Club of Manatee County in Florida and former chair for the board of Girls Inc. of Sarasota County. Dr. LaShawn is currently serving as the Executive Director of Student Services for Sarasota County Schools. She shares how Girls Inc. gave her the confidence to lead and now works to inspire girls to reach for their goals.  

Favorite Memories at Girls Inc. 

Celebrating milestones with my Girls Inc. sisters. To date, we still gather for milestones and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. It has become a powerful way to share in the lives of women who grew up with a smart, strong, and bold mindset.  

How did Girls Inc. help you grow as a ‘leader’ in your own life? 

Girls Inc. helped me understand that leadership begins with believing in yourself and having the confidence to make decisions that shape your future. It gave me opportunities to find my voice,  and recognize that I had the ability to lead.  

Through Girls Inc., I learned to think independently, advocate for myself, and take responsibility for my choices. It also taught me the importance of surrounding myself with positive influences and understanding that challenges do not have to determine my future.  

Most importantly, Girls Inc. helped plant the seeds of the leader I have become. It taught me that leadership is not simply about having a title, it is about character, courage, service, and using my voice to make an impact. These lessons have stayed with me throughout my life and continue to influence how I lead and how I support others.  

Can you share reflections on how you may have experienced a degree of economic or social mobility in your life––and how you think Girls Inc. played a part in that for you? 

As I progressed through my education and career, the early lessons from being a Girls Inc. girl, became part of the foundation I carried with me. I learned how to enter new spaces with confidence, advocate for myself, build relationships, and continue to reach for opportunities. 

Most importantly, my journey has taught me that mobility is not only about how far you personally go; it is also about what you do once you get there. Girls Inc. helped instill in me a responsibility to reach back, open doors, and create opportunities for others. For me, that maybe one of the most meaningful measures of success: not simply being able to move forward but helping ensure that other girls and young people can move forward too. 

Are there aspects of the Girls Inc. Experience that really helped you grow as a storyteller or as a person who knows the power of honing stories to make change? 

Yes. One of the most meaningful lessons Girls Inc. taught me was that my story has power. It gave me a space to be seen, heard, and valued, and helped me understand the importance of finding my voice and using it with purpose. I learned that storytelling is more than sharing what happened to us, it is about connecting our experiences to something greater. Our challenges, lessons, and the people who shape us can inspire others, influence decisions, and remind people why the work matters. 

As a leader, I use storytelling to help people understand not only what needs to change, but why it matters and who will be impacted. Girls Inc. taught me that when girls know their voices matter, they realize they have the power to change the story, not only for themselves, but for those who come after them. 

Is there anything further you’d share around pro-girl spaces / environments or being part of a community? 

A pro-girl space like Girls Inc. gave me a sense of belonging, confidence, and community. It was a place where girls were encouraged to use their voices, take risks, dream big, and support one another. 

Looking back, I realize how powerful it was to have caring adults who saw potential in me, sometimes before I saw it in myself. Girls Inc. taught me that when girls are surrounded by people who believe in them, they begin to believe in themselves, and that can change the trajectory of anyone’s life.  

Advice I would give to girls, knowing what I know now 

I would tell them: You do not have to have your entire life figured out. Keep learning, keep growing, keep showing up, and never underestimate the woman you are becoming. 

To the supporters of Girls Inc. 

Thank you for believing in the power and potential of every girl. You create opportunities for girls to discover their strengths, find their voices, dream boldly, and develop the confidence to lead.