At Girls Inc, we are on the countdown to the Girls Celebration Event on June 11th. It is the day we invite friends from across Central MA to celebrate the girls in our community, and say a special thanks to individuals who advocate for girls everyday.
This year, we are honoring Linda Cavaioli and Dr. Jean King as the 2009 Advocates for Girls. Both women have worked tirelessly to meet the needs of girls and women in their professional and their personal lives. We honor the Fuller Foundation as we dedicate our indoor acquatics center to join them in their commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles. And we thank Jen Parrity for her work on the new "tree of life" in our foyer!
Even as we say the thank you's, the Girls Celebration Event gives us a chance to find new ways to tell the whole community what girls really need to grow up healthy in a world of media hype and technological overload. Today, girls face very complicated challenges while growing up - from media messages that promote distorted and unhealthy body images, to sexting and other forms of harassment in their schools and communities, to peer pressure regarding sex, drugs and drinking. The issues sound age-old, but the context for the messages has changed, and the consequences for the girls are much riskier and dangerous.
In a recent study of middle school girls in Worcester, the girls clearly said that they wanted healthy relationships with adults.... ones where WE LISTEN as well as speak!
We all need to step up for the girls! Each of us can provide ways:
- to build healthy relationships,
- to give them opportunities to find their own voice,
- offer innovative, proven programs that strengthen their minds and their bodies,
- provide ways for them to contribute to the community.
These are the core needs required for girls to succeed. Girls Inc provides research based programs and services that meet those needs for girls 5-18, and we work together with other organizations, through the Investing in Girls Alliance and Youth Net, to expand our positive reach for girls in Worcester. We need you to work with us too!
On June 11, we take a day out to CELEBRATE all the girls in our community - to tell them that we believe that they are special, that we want to listen to them, and we want to INSPIRE ALL girls to be Strong, Smart and Bold!
Please join us on June 11th from 4:30 to 6:30 at our Providence St Center. Proceeds from the event help to fund our urban and camp summer programs. Call Anne McCarthy for more information at 508-755-6455 x41.
Thanks and take good care,
Cathi