“The performing arts is my life now because of the experiences I had in Global Girls.” Ava is a senior at the University of Minnesota majoring in musical theatre. She spent a summer studying at the Globe Theatre in England and won the lead role in Henry IV.
“It (Global Girls) was a different kind of feeling when you were there – the way it was run, the values they set, how we could ask pretty much anything and get the information we needed. The girls who were a part of it were so great. …we were sisters.” Prosper is a speech pathologist working in the Atlanta Public School system and interested in starting a Global Girls group there.
As Global Girls, Inc. continues the 20-year providing arts education and performance opportunities/experiences for African American girls, we are critically examining what we do, how we do it and the long term impact on participants. While the staff and board knows that Global Girls is a vital contributor to the artistic life blood of Chicago’s South Side, has an international reach and stages stories that have the power to heal and build bridges between generations, we also know we need the numbers and data to show it.
Currently, impact is measured in terms of:
The key research questions were:
In order to find out, the consultant conducted a focus group with the team to create survey and interview questions. Then the team collected 72 surveys from school-based program participants and conducted interviews with Legacy Global Girls (girls who were in the program for five years or more). The team worked together to analyze and interpret the data.
72 current school based Global Girls participants completed the survey. Findings include:
A focus group and interview data reveal that Global Girls is highly impactful as an organization because the programs are founded on the following values:
Interviews with Legacy Global Girls (program participants of 5 years or longer) are indicating that they are currently:
Quotes from Legacy interviews
“We knew it was never just about us. We were representing Global Girls and what we did in public represented something bigger than just us.” Damane, age 26
“It saved me you know. Like it gave me so much hope. I’ve missed Global Girls so much because you really can’t find what we had out here in these streets. I mean I had a sisterhood. It was like a habit. I could say what I wanted to say. I could be weird. I could be quirky. I didn’t even have to say anything. We would just put on music and dance.” Ava, age 21
“Sometimes we would perform and afterwards lead conversations with girls and half the time we were the same age, maybe younger. It was really interesting to learn how to navigate tough conversations with your peers.” Christina, age 25
“We would do these shows for girls who were 13, 14, 15 years old and they would come up to us afer crying being like, ‘I really related to that.’ It was a beautiful thing.” Nailah age 24
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In preparation for our 20th Anniversary in January 2020, we’ve begun a long-term evaluation study and hope to get responses from 200 girls who have participated in our programs. So far, 105 girls have responded to the survey. Here are a few of the responses to the question, “How has Global Girls impacted you?”
Here are a few additional highlights from our fall program.
22 girls and 6 adults went on our annual Camp Duncan retreat at the end of October to YMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, IL The girls enjoyed boating, archery, candle-making, wall climbing, team challenges roasting marshmallows for s’mores and having fun just being girls. This was a cell phone free weekend and not one girl complained. Our girls learn dance, acting and social/emotional skills five days a week after school and two Saturdays each month at our Global Girls studio. While all participants get the opportunity to perform in community events and in our quarterly showcases.
32 youth and adults participated in the “Arts in the Dark” parade October 19 and 26 modeled, danced and sang in our annual Fashion and Talent Showcase at our partner organization, Calvary Baptist Church on 83rd and Jeffery. Parents and community members enjoyed seeing them celebrating themselves and their talents. Those girls who excel in their training join in the youth company of the Global Girls Theatre Collaborative. We are so very proud of six girls who performed at a National Youth Summit in Austin, Texas November 2nd. There were groups from New York, Boston, California, Austin and Florida who also performed. Global Girls was selected as the BEST of all groups by the event organizer and other adults and youth.
We have partnerships with the 4th district police department (speaker at our girls conference), Atlas Center (performances and ticket sales), UIC Blue Demons basketball (3 free basketball games and transportation for up to 35 youth/adults) and Eastern Illinois University (trips for our girls and conference support).
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In a few short months, Global Girls will turn 20 years old. January 18, 2000 was the day we were granted organization status in the state of Illinois. We've accomplished quite a lot since then including taking girls to Ghana twice, traveling to Kenya four times, to India, London and Grenada once. In all, over 40 African American girls from the south side of Chicago have traveled abroad and worked with hundreds of girls in other countries thanks to Global Girls. Since 2000, we’ve engaged over 5,200 girls and a few boys in arts education programming. We are currently conducting a research project to reach all girls who have ever participated in our programs and determine our impact in a variety of areas so that we can our model and share it with others.
So far, 2018 has been a banner year. Here is a snapshot:
It's only August! We've got four months of programs and activities before our birthday. Lots more to come!