Plus, celebrating a #DACA victory!
Girls from affiliates across the Girls Inc. Network have mobilized in support of the Black community in recent weeks. From organizing panels and public conversations about racial injustice to creating petitions to taking to the streets in support of Black Lives Matter, our community of young women is leading the way to change, teaching us by example. Read about their efforts.
The past few months have been among the most difficult times in many of our lives. As individuals, we are struggling to find solace. Imagine being a girl right now.
As our President & CEO Stephanie J. Hull has stated: "The work of Girls Inc. is of paramount importance right now, particularly the resources that we as a network can offer to help girls work through trauma brought about by loss, explicit and implicit bias, and outright systemic racism." Read more about trauma-sensitivity and racial trauma now.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Address Racial Injustice
In order to advance the rights and opportunities of all girls, we must address racial injustice and work to dismantle racism. In recent weeks, Girls Inc. has joined a number of organizations in advocating for safe, healthy, and inclusive school climates, which includes encouraging Congress to ensure school funds are redirected from hiring law enforcement officers to hiring more school counselors, providing mental health support for students, and improving social and emotional learning.
We also joined a number of youth-serving organizations acknowledging the impact of racism on youth development and pledging to actively engage in strategies to help mitigate and prevent racial trauma. We have encouraged our followers to join us in supporting House Resolution 988 condemning police brutality and calling for oversight and accountability.
Finally, we joined a letter calling on colleges to immediately suspend the consideration of SAT/ACT scores for the upcoming admissions cycle. These tests pose a considerable barrier to many students of color in accessing college and COVID-19 will exacerbate existing disparities; research shows that there are more equitable ways to assess applicants that better predict college success.
At the heart of all of our work is ensuring that girls have the crucial supports they need to succeed as well as opportunities to use their voices. You can read more about this ongoing commitment here.
A Victory for DREAMers
"To me, this means progress and hope. No longer do DREAMers have to have their dreams deferred." - Maya, Girls Inc. of the Valley.
Maya, a girl advocate and a member of our Teen Advocacy Council, has long believed in a day when DREAMers can pursue their futures in America, the only country they call home. Today, as we see the Supreme Court uphold DACA, we celebrate with Maya, Girls Inc. girls across the country, and supporters like you who participated in our action alerts and shared social media messaging to help achieve this victory! Girls Inc. stands with DREAMers - now and always!
Altered Environments Mean New Opportunities for Girls Thanks to AT&T
The AT&T Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund made a $300,000 contribution to Girls Inc. to work closely with our affiliates, including Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas, to provide a virtual programming model for the Girls Inc. network. This rapid response funding addresses the changes in service delivery to girls mandated by greatly altered environments and schooling situations. "We’re excited to support Girls Inc. as they create and pilot a virtual and interactive service model. This work will ensure the continued delivery of the Girls Inc. Experience at affiliates nationwide, and more importantly, keep young women learning," said Mylayna Albright, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility at AT&T.
Honor the father(s) or male role models in your life by participating in the Girls Inc. Father’s Day giving event.
In celebration of Father’s Day, we thank the men on our National Board who are committed to advancing the work of Girls Inc., acting as allies and partners in the creation of a racially just, safe, and more equitable world for girls.
P.S. Celebrate the Girls Inc. graduates by viewing President & CEO Stephanie J. Hull's commencement message to our seniors. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
