Girls have the right...

...to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.

Five girls from Girls Inc. of Tarrant County have formed the team "Fort Worth Creators" and they are participating in Exploring Entrepreneurial Experiences (E3), a national Girls Inc. competition sponsored by Sam's Club for girls ages 12-14. The goal is for girls to come together in teams to develop new product-based business ideas.

The Fort Worth Creators (pictured here) consists of five girls. They are Jackeline, Mariah, Melissa, Teresa, and Alma. Not only will they learn how to start, lead and manage their own business, they will learn about career options, financial terms, and making business presentations to adults.

In addition, the girls will learn computer skills, improve literacy skills, gain knowledge of information systems, develop research tactics, and meet female business owners in their community.

They have signed up for a challenging competition and will compete with Girls Inc. affiliates across the nation. On November 22, they submitted an idea and are anxiously waiting for feedback from Girls Inc. National Staff. Their idea is original, innovative and savvy, but shall remain a secret, for now at least. This is a competition and other Girls Inc. teams could be watching!

The Fort Worth Creators are excited about the opportunity to learn new skills as they prepare for interesting work and economic independence. We will keep you updated as their business develops. Stay tuned for more news about this E3 team as well as Corporate Camp for Entrepreneurs (a team for girls ages 15-18).

I Vote, You Vote, SHE Votes!

November 2, 2010 - Election Day

With every experience in life, comes an opportunity to learn. As adults, we anticipated election day and we also took the opportunity to teach our girls about the importance of this privilege. This was their opportunity to learn.

Girls Incorporated posed this question to girls across the nation: Should school vending machines sell soda? Yes or no. On October 26, girls from Tarrant County cast their vote. The results? 79% of the girls polled (54 total) voted "No".

Debates sparked on election day as the girls passionately voiced their opinions against the selling of sodas in school vending machines.
"Obesity rates are out of control!"
"There is too much sugar in sodas."
"Kids can't concentrate because they have sugar rushes and then crash."
"It is not fair that not everyone can afford to buy a soda."

Those in favor of selling sodas also had opinions.
"There is nothing wrong with having a soda in moderation."
"We have a freedom of choice. If it is not good for you, don't buy it."

Not only did the girls engage in healthy debate, but they also asked questions about the voting process. Curiously, they questioned why casting a vote at a polling place was secret. "Is it so that people do not cheat off of you?" one asked. As mentors, we took the opportunity to teach them about the importance of voting, the history of it, and why it is such a "secret".

When I turn around, I see the sun setting on election day. I also see 54 silhouettes of young girls skipping along, carrying a new bundle of election knowledge. Election day is behind us. Did you cast your vote today? The Girls Inc. girls did!

Girls Learn Science Behind Cable & Roller Coasters!

This summer, Girls Inc. of Tarrant County hosted Summer SMART Camps. These week-long camps focused on our Operation SMART program, which teaches girls about science, math, and relevant technology. This program exists to change girls' attitudes about science, math and technology, as well as their attitudes about their roles as females in predominately male-oriented careers. The girls participated in hands-on activities that were geared toward increasing their knowledge and confidence in each of these areas.

Time Warner Cable sponsored our last week of SMART Camp, August 9-13. Representatives from Time Warner taught the girls "Cracking the Codes in a Digital World," part of their Connect A Million Minds curriculum, which showed them the science behind cable. The girls also went on a field trip to Six Flags Over Texas, where they took a private tour of the Titan roller coaster and learned the science behind roller coasters and how they work.

In addition to the field trips, Time Warner is hosting a school supply drive that lasts through August 25 in which they are collecting science-related school supplies that will be donated to Girls Inc. of Tarrant County. Click here to donate online or you can drop off your items at any Time Warner location or the Girls Inc. office on Matlock Road in Arlington.

You can view a story here that aired on NBC5 and see some great interviews with some of our girls! Thanks, Time Warner, for the awesome experience!

What is being strong, smart, and bold mean to you?

" To me being strong, smart, and bold means someone who is not scared of being their selves and to reach your goals, and to know whats right and whats wrong, and not being afraid of standing up for yourself and others."
- Mikaela, 11

Girls Doing Good in the Community

This summer and fall, members of our Berry Girls Inc. program will participate in SLANT 45, a program supported by the North Texas Superbowl XLV Host Committee, which seeks to raise awareness of the work done by nonprofits in the community.

The Girls Inc. Leadership Group at Berry brainstormed and came up with several ideas, finally deciding to remodel and update the playground at their school, Berry Elementary. Not only is the playground for their school, it is also a public play area for children in their neighborhood. There aren't any places in their neighborhood for them to play or be active except for the playground at the school.

The girls asked permission from the Berry Elementary Principal, Dr. Kathy Link, and she was so excited that they wanted to do something like this for the school. The girls are also hoping to get local businesses to donate supplies needed to complete this project.

The girls in the group will focus on teaching the younger girls problem-solving techniques and how to become active leaders within their school and community. This project will offer opportunities for girls to gain knowledge of what service-learning is all about.

We're so proud of these young girls for taking pride in their East Arlington neighborhood and encouraging their peers and neighbors to do the same! This is a great life-lesson for the girls and is really teaching them what it means to give back to the community.

The girls decided to do the following:

• Survey the park and make blueprints of any additions, changes, or repairs that the park needs


• Create a photo collage and presentation to showcase before and after progress


• Research the reasons why the project is necessary for this community


• Keep a journal of each phase of the project which will include their feelings, involvement and accomplishments


• Write a statement assessing how they feel the group did planning and executing this project

All of the girls who participate in this project receive a free workbook, t-shirt and a ticket to the year-end celebration at Cowboys Stadium in January 2011. The girls hope to have their project complete by August 2010.

Susana Victor goes to Washington D.C. to present her Girls Rock The House bill to Congress!

Susana Victor, an 8th grader at Stripling Middle School, is headed to Washington, D.C. to present her congressional bill on improving conditions for children in foster care. Susan competed along with two other groups in Girls Rock the House (GRTH), a national initiative for 8th grade girls in political districts represented by women of the House of Representatives, featuring a six-week curriculum that inspired girls to envision their roles in the political process. Girls Incorporated of Tarrant County oversaw the two groups and worked with the girls in a six-week, hands-on learning experience to create their bills. The young ladies were from White Settlement ISD and Fort Worth ISD.

Susana’s bill is about improving conditions for foster care children such as better screening of foster families and better management of case loads for caseworkers. Susana will meet with House Representatives and participate in a recognition dinner with winners from throughout the United States.

Beginning at the group level, each girl crafted and submitted a bill to a local, impartial judging panel. Group winners then went onto the district competition and the winner chosen at the district level won the trip to Washington, D.C. for a two and a half day program.

We are up and running!

The Girls Inc. of Tarrant County blog is official!