Posts tagged ‘women’
Leading the Way
Girl Scouts from the Greater Washington region have many opportunities to participate in important high-profile events that occur in our Capital. The exposure helps our girls envision a future where they will lead. Leave a comment telling us about a Girl Scout leadership opportunity you have experienced!
Here’s one local Girl Scout’s recent experience at the White House’s International Women’s Day reception.
http://blog-aauw.org/2010/03/09/at-the-white-house-for-international-womens-day/
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
National Women’s History Month
It is the Scouting Spirit [which] rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best. ~Juliette Gordon Low
Lidia Soto-Harmon is the Deputy Executive Director for GSCNC.
Each month there is a special reason to celebrate, and March is especially poignant for Girl Scouts and women everywhere. This month we honor the establishment of the Girl Scout movement by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912; it is also a time when we look back at the achievements of women in celebration of National Women’s History Month.
This is a time to reflect on the accomplishments of great women leaders such as Union Organizer Dolores Huerta, Human Rights Advocate and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and our first female Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. As Girl Scouts, we know the importance of learning the lessons of our past, so that we can forge a greater future. In doing so, this month we should commit ourselves to re-examining the contributions of women in history like Rosa Parks, Clara Barton, and Anne Frank. Their perseverance in the face of adversity created a stronger future for girls and women today.
Just this Monday, March 8th, I had the honor of escorting five our Girl Scout Ambassadors to the White House for International Women’s Day. They all received hugs from our First Lady Michelle Obama, but most importantly they heard about the struggle of women and girls around the world and learned about how our Girl Scouts hold in their actions the future of our communities.
I encourage you to take the time to honor the inspirational women who surround us each day—our mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and especially our Girl Scout leaders. Girl Scout leaders are dedicated to helping girls discover fun, friendship and their inner strength. As the preeminent leadership organization dedicated solely to girls leadership, our mission at Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. We celebrate all the women past and present who help us achieve that goal.
Join us in celebrating Women’s History Month by taking a moment to tell us your Girl Scout HERstory at www.gscnc.org/herstory.html
Below are some simple resources on National Women’s History Month that can be incorporated into your Girl Scout meetings.
