Calling All REAL Girls

Justine Magazine is looking for girls who aspire to make the world a better place – and they’ve come to the right place: Girl Scouts.

One lucky Girl Scout who is Remarkable, Energetic, Aspirtional and a Leader (R.E.A.L.) will be featured on the April/May 2011 cover.

Does this sound like you? If so, read more here.

Encouraging the Leaders of Tomorrow

Lidia Soto-Harmon is the Deputy Executive Director for GSCNC.

Nearly 90% of Latina girls want to be the kind of leader who stands up for her beliefs and values, brings people together to get things done, and tries to change the world for the better. Latina girls are likely to aspire to leadership, but at the same time, the greatest barrier for them seems to be low self-regard about certain skills and qualities (source: Change It Up! What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership, Girl Scouts of the USA). This is where the Girl Scouts comes in.

I, along with the Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital, believe in the power of Latinas. That’s why we’re inviting girls aged 11 to 17 to attend the Encuentro de Chicas Latinas de las Girl Scouts. The event is free and open to all girls, regardless of their affiliation with Girl Scouts. The leadership conference will be held June 29 – 30 at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Through this convening of girls, we hope to inspire them to recognize their abilities and become leaders in their schools and communities. We purposefully selected a college setting in order to instill in these girls a desire for academic success.  Research has shown that teens who experience college settings are more likely to see themselves attending college than those who have never had that opportunity.

Engaging workshops throughout the two-day event will focus on leadership skills, pride in cultural heritage and promote healthy behaviors with fun fitness activities like yoga and Zumba (a fusion of Latin dance and exercise). There will also be discussions on college admissions and scholarship opportunities. One exciting workshop hosted by Mary Fernandez is all about GeoGames, a fun, healthy and outdoor multi-player game played via smartphones! Each leadership workshop and interactive demonstrations are hosted by accomplished Latino professionals and are designed to prove to the girls that they do have the abilities to go far as they dream, sí se puede!.

On the final day, Henry Bonilla, a former congressman from Texas, will present the keynote speech, his story of triumph over difficult beginnings is just what our Latinitas need to hear. Most importantly, getting all these Latinas together and focusing on leadership and self-enrichment will help to encourage them to  become the leaders in their communities.

What do you believe are the greatest qualities needed in leaders today? What piece of advice would you share with these girls?

-Lidia

Honoring Our Girl Scout Volunteers

Lidia Soto-Harmon is the Deputy Executive Director for GSCNC.

At the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, we deliver the best leadership experience for girls, and at the core of the Girl Scout experience are our dedicated volunteers. Girl Scout volunteers are the steady and sure organizers who are often paid only in muddy shoes, half eaten cookies, and gasps of joyful glee from their girls.

Without the women and men who so graciously give their time, the Girl Scouting movement would not be possible.  Not only do our volunteers organize trips and run troop meetings and activities, they also bandage scraped knees, teach valuable lessons on fund raising, and serve as voting members who review issues relevant to our governance.

Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day began April 22, 1982, when a flag honoring Girl Scout leaders was flown over the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. Each year on April 22 we recognize the more than 30,000 volunteers in the Greater Washington Region (and the millions throughout the world) who help to make the Girl Scout experience successful.

At our Annual Meeting this year, 32 Adult Girl Scouts were awarded some of our most prestigious recognitions for their dedication and service to the larger Girl Scout movement. We encourage Girl Scouts everywhere to take a moment to thank their leaders—whether with a simple expression of gratitude or a recommendation to award their hard work.

As any parent can attest, building a girl of courage, confidence and character is not an easy task. Today, and everyday, we thank the thousands of women and “men-in-green” who devote their experience to helping girls become leaders, entrepreneurs, and adventurers–who make our world a better place.