Empower a Middle School Girl

Greetings everyone,

 There has been a lot of fun, learning and growing at the 4GIRLS Organization since our last update!

 We held our 6^th annual 4GIRLS Workshop on April 16^th and 17^th and by all accounts it was a huge success. There were over 75 girls in attendance – our largest group to date – and we had many first time adult volunteers that were eager and excited to share our mission of inspiration and empowerment with the girls.

Our workshop theme this year was “Powerful” and all of the presentations and activities at the workshop supported the theme. The topics and activities included a “Positive Power” presentation on anti-bullying, a teen “Power Panel” discussing character and leadership, a “Patting the Ants out of your Head” presentation teaching tools and tricks to avoid negative self-talk and behaviors, self-defense and vision journaling to name a few. Based on the overwhelmingly positive survey results from the girls and adult volunteers, it was an amazing and impactful weekend!           

We also held two Empowerment Events this quarter, including a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) event and a viewing of the acclaimed documentary, “Finding Kind.”

The 4GIRLS Organization teamed up with Shared Science (www.sharedsciencefun.org) for a half day STEM event where the girls learned how to code, had fun making a robotic "scribbler", and tried their hand at soldering LED "eyes" onto a Maker robot. The session was facilitated by a number of computer science and math savvy women (including a real life rocket scientist!) that shared their passion and intellect and shared with the girls the possibilities that are available to them if they wish to pursue a career in STEM. We all learned a lot!

 We also offered a special Mother’s Day weekend viewing of the acclaimed documentary, “Finding Kind” (www.findingkind.indieflix.com/home/) where the girls were invited to bring their favorite adult female. The documentary brings awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of girl-against-girl bullying. Their over-arching message is that not everyone can be the smartest, prettiest, wealthiest, etc. – but everyone can be kind. The viewing was followed by a presentation and a “kind” activity (the girls and women were encouraged to write a kind note or apology to someone in their life.)

As you can see, we have been busy! And, our mission continues as we look forward to August when we launch our new 4GIRLS chapter in Anaheim/Santa Ana. We are excited and ready to inspire and empower a new group of girls!

Thank you all for your continued support and sponsorship of our organization!

Sincerely,

The 4GIRLS Board of Directors