Harvest Fest 2012

The fall brings about a certain freshness at a time of year that is quickly coming to a close.  The color of the leaves change, the time falls back an hour and we begin to think of the approaching holiday season.  As the leaves settle, so does a feeling of gratitude.  We begin to look for ways to help and give, in honor of the season.

Recently, girls from our Northside Fort Worth program volunteered at the annual “Harvest Fest” held at the Northside Fort Worth Community Center.  Our high school girls spent the day running various game booths, painting faces, coloring hair, distributing candy and talking to girls about Girls Inc. programs.  There were hundreds of people in attendance and the girls were grateful to be a part of this annual event.  


Many thanks to Abel and his wonderful staff at the Northside Recreation Center for always giving us the opportunity to collaborate on events in the community.  Special thanks to Rosy for making the girls feel welcome.  It is always a pleasure to work with you all to help our community!

Participating in this event is something our girls look forward to each year.  They start asking about it at the beginning of each school year and they sign up early for a chance to provide fun games and activities to the youth and families in the Northside community.

The leaves have settled, the time has fallen back and our hearts are set on the season of giving.  What will you give this season?

"Brooklyn Castle"

The Girls Inc. Leadership group from Berry Elementary took a field trip to the Angelika Theater in Dallas to watch the documentary, "Brooklyn Castle".

 

“BROOKLYN CASTLE tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories.”

Many thanks to Time Warner Cable for making this possible for our leadership group.  The girls thoroughly enjoyed their time at the Angelika Theater.

 

Some of the lessons they learned from the film were:

 

Practice every day and that’s how you get better – Dejah, age 11

 

Never give up on your dreams – Joanna, age 11

 

If it’s something that you love try harder – Skyler. age 11

 

The queen is the strongest piece on the chess board – Kaitlyn, age 11

Thank you, Time Warner Cable!!

She Votes!

The presidential election only happens every four years.  It is a time in our lives when we watch every move of every candidate.  We watch debates, engage in our own debates, and we reflect.  We look into our future and we reflect on the past.  We analyze our mistakes, mishaps and regrets and we hope that our candidate of choice will build on previous successes, improve the shortcomings and lead our country to a prosperous future. 

On Tuesday, October 23 Girls Inc. held a mock election at all of our Tarrant County program locations.   The election is called “She Votes”.  We set up a “polling place”, created ballots and asked the girls to cast their vote.   Girls Inc. She Votes® is designed to give girls the skills and confidence to see themselves as future voters and as future candidates.


On Tuesday, 528 girls voted.  The votes have been tallied and the results are in.

463 – Barack Obama
48- Mitt Romney




There was another question on the ballot that the girls voted on.
Do you think your school cafeteria should serve food from McDonalds?

423 – Yes
105 – No

Passed by Congress June 4, 1919, and ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment granted women the right to vote.  Today, women remain significantly under-represented in Congress, among Governors, in state legislators, and in local office. Our hope with Girls Inc. “She Votes” is that our girls will find their voice in their communities, as well as their local, state, and federal governments.  All 528 girls who voted found their voices in this mock election and while they don’t all agree on who the next president should be, there is one thing they agree on: Voting is important. 

Fort Worth Nature Center

On Monday October 8th, the Girls Inc. staff and the girls from Eastern Hills High School traveled to the Ft. Worth Nature Center and Refuge.  The FWNCR  is a hidden jewel- a wilderness comprised of forests, prairies, and wetlands reminiscent of how much of the Fort Worth/Dallas Metroplex once looked.

Photo taken by Sha'Toria T.

The drive to The Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge resembled a scene from a scary movie.  The girls screamed, “wrong turn” and “jeepers creepers”, for a few minutes upon our arrival.  They were unsure of their unfamiliar surroundings and asked several times about snakes, and if we (Girls Inc. staff) knew where we were going.  While they were a little unsettled at the beginning, they came around and ended up appreciating the peace of their surroundings.   Their comments eventually turned in to, “this is a place I would like to come for some peace and quiet”, while others said, “it is very relaxing here”.

Photo taken by Sha'Toria T.

The day’s activities included walking through the woods, exploring the bison range, and strengthening our team building abilities and communication skills.  It was a gorgeous Texas day and was perfect to be outdoors.  The girls of Eastern Hills expressed their enjoyment through laughter, jokes, and smiles as we traveled through the Crosstimbers Trail at the Nature Center.  The girls walked 3.37 miles that morning.

Photo taken by Shacora O.

Our hike was accompanied by butterflies and many prickly pear but the girls stayed as far away as possible, as they did not want to get poked by the cacti. The girls who attended this trip were such an inspiration!  They met all of their commitments prior to attending this field trip and we are proud of them.  They joined us on an excursion on a day when they could have stayed in their warm, cozy beds.

Thank you for such a great experience, girls!  It was a great day!

~Ms. Rodriguez

Dove Self-Esteem Weekend

Dove is encouraging moms and mentors to take a moment during the 2012 Dove Self-Esteem Weekend to talk to a girl in their life about beauty, confidence and self-esteem. The theme for this year’s weekend is “Let’s Talk”.   Girls Inc. of Tarrant County will be assisting by setting up a booth at the locations below.  We will be talking with mom’s and mentors and distributing activity packets for them to complete with their daughter or a girl in their life.

 

 

 

 

Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012

7th Annual Carnaval de Salud (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

Tarrant County Public Health (1101 S. Main St. Fort Worth TX 76104)

This is a free event open to the public in honor of Binational Health Week and focuses on the wellbeing of the Latino population. The event will include a series of health promotions and health education activities that include workshops, insurance referrals, vaccinations and medical screenings. There will be raffles and variety of activities throughout the day. 

Tarrant County Harambee Festival 2012 (9 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Evans Avenue Plaza (Rosedale Street & Evans Avenue Fort Worth TX 76104)

This is a free event open to the public.  The festival will offer a variety of activities that will promote love and harmony; including, food services by local restaurants, vendors booths, arts and crafts by local artists, and a concert showcasing the talent of local artist/band performers.  There will also be a parade at 9:00 am, a wellness expo, anti-bullying rally, kidz zone, and much more!

STEM Field Trip

Girls Inc. inspires girls to pursue careers in the fields of science, math, and technology.  On Saturday September 15 the girls from the East Arlington program went to the Museum of Nature and Science (in Dallas) to walk through the exhibits and participate in interactive activities.  Some of the exhibits included “Your incredible Body” and “The Electric Theater”.

At the Electric Theater, the girls got to see how electricity is made and learn about the different types of electricity.  Three of our Girls Inc. participants were chosen as volunteers in a live demonstration.  The girls held florescent light bulbs while the demonstrator turned on a large tesla.  When the tesla started to produce electricity (which looked like lightning bolts) the light bulbs turned on. Awesome!

Girls Inc. participants also had access to the Museum of History where they saw the mammal exhibit, the wetland exhibit, the bird exhibit, dinosaurs and fossils, and the gems and minerals exhibit.

When we asked the Girls about their experience on this field trip, this is how they responded:

What was your favorite part of the field trip?

 

"Learning about the extinct animals and the albino grizzly bear!" -Skylar age 11

"Seeing the electricity show and learning about the cheetah." -Amy age 11

"ALL OF IT!"-  Juliet    age 8

Our sincerest thanks to Time Warner Cable for making this field trip possible for our girls.  We appreciate you, Time Warner Cable!

Trinity Trash Bash

On Saturday September 15^th the Girls Inc. team ventured out with the young ladies of Eastern Hills High School to volunteer their time at the Trinity Trash Bash in Fort Worth. The Trash Bash was extremely successful and the young ladies of Eastern Hills took advantage of an opportunity to contribute to their community and build stronger relationships with their fellow classmates. It was inspiring to see the girls dedicate their Saturday morning to clean the area by the Trinity River and to give back to the City of Fort Worth. I am proud to see the girls growing into leadership roles and participating in the opportunities offered in their community.

--Post contributed by Michelle M.

North Texans Come Together to Give!

The fourth annual North Texas Giving Day was held September 13 from 7 a.m. until midnight and was an overwhelming success! The day raised more than $14.4 million from 37,858 gifts for 927 nonprofits! Girls Inc. of Tarrant County was excited to participate in our first Giving Day and raised more than $3,000 to inspire girls to be "strong, smart, and bold!"

North Texas Giving Day was established so that donations of $25 or more made specifically through DonorBridgeTX.org would be multiplied from a pool of $1 million in matching funds and prize money. To see the final results for the day, click here.

Girls Inc. is truly grateful for the support we received!

We love to go to the FWSO!

Tito Puente Jr. lit up the stage at the Fort Worth Symphony’s “Concerts in the Garden” last month.  Girls Inc. members had the privilege of attending this electrifying show of latin jazz and salsa. 

Tito Puente Jr. signs autographs for the girls.

Before the show, the girls were invited backstage to meet Mr. Puente.  He welcomed the girls and greeted each one individually.  He smiled, laughed and answered all of their questions with enthusiasm and humor.  He took pictures with the girls and autographed a postcard for each one of them. 

The girls returned to their seats, but only for a moment.  Tito Puente Jr. took the stage and encouraged the audience to dance to the beat of his drums and to move to the rhythm of the band.  The girls loved the music and danced for the duration of the concert.  It was an evening they will never forget. 

Girls holding their autographed postcards.

The chance to attend shows like this would not be possible without the support of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.  This spring the girls attended a concert which featured guest conductor Maestro Mei-Ann Chen who is “one of the most dynamic young conductors in America.”  She is an expert in a field that is traditionally dominated by men.  It was an honor for the girls to meet her and see her on stage. 

We are grateful for the FWSO!  Thank you for giving our girls these incredible opportunities.   

Girls pictured with Maestro Mei Ann Chen

"Chemistry behind beauty"

The “Chemistry behind Beauty” Summer SMART camp was held at the University of Texas at Arlington and was sponsored by Chesapeake Energy.

On the first day of camp, UTA Staff, Ms. Norma took the girls on a tour of the university campus. Seeing the large beautiful campus was inspiring.

Attending summer camp at a college campus has many benefits.  What made this camp special was that the girls had access to the UTA Chemistry and Physics lab. They had the opportunity to experience what it is like to be a scientist. They used lab equipment such as a hot stove, beakers, aprons, gloves, goggles, and chemicals to make lotion. They got to wear lab coats, protective eye wear and gloves. 

 

At Camp, the girls learned how to make lip gloss, a face mask and ice cream using liquid Nitrogen.  The girls had so much fun participating in these activities and learning about the strategic process of making each product.  After their experience at SMART camp, some of the girls expressed their interests in becoming a scientist!  

This was a rewarding experience for the girls.  Many of them realized that science is fun and that it would be an exciting career to pursue. 

 

Many thanks to Dr. Winters, Ms. Cole TJ, Cuong, Dr. Cleaver and the staff at UTA for making this a memorable week for our girls.  The girls were grateful to be able to participate in this learning experience with you all!

Guest blog - Elizabeth volunteers at SMART Camp

I am Elizabeth, an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas. I am majoring in Psychology and will be graduating this December. I was inspired to volunteer with youth after taking a Play Therapy course at school. I was very fortunate to stumble upon Girls Inc. via a job shadowing program that UNT held this spring. 

After that experience, I was eager to sign up for more volunteering. For two weeks I worked alongside Girls Inc. staff, volunteers, and some of the high school-aged girls at the “Geek Girls” SMART camp held at the Diamond Hill Branch Library in Fort Worth. We encouraged the girls to pursue a greater appreciation and knowledge of the science, math and technology fields. 

I will admit I was a little apprehensive about leading the groups of girls at first. Would they like me? Would I be able to teach them anything? Would they have fun at all? As the first week quickly sped by in a blur, I realized I had nothing to worry about at all.

Throughout the week, the girls disassembled electronics to view their inner workings.  They also had to create a “SMART Girl” which was a hypothetical career woman.  This involved research on the part of the girls.  

I was amazed at how each girl shared what she had found in her smashed electronic device and strongly voiced what she believed it did for it. I laughed alongside the more talkative younger girls as we made aromatic, yet delicious Rice Krispy Treats in the microwave. Silliness aside, they were able to name the measuring utensils and follow directions. 

I taught the older girls how a webpage was made using HTML codes and even showed them how to make hyperlinks to their favorite websites. It was quite dense material but I felt they had a good grasp of the information presented. They had a lot of fun learning how to add pictures and links to a page. I was proud of their perseverance. 

I was deeply touched by how welcoming these two groups of girls were of new comers. The compassion and encouragement these girls had for each other was astounding. The girls were very eager to give a helping hand to their friends and even the adults without specifically being asked. I remember on the last day, one of the girls was standing alone in front of the room when the time came to present her project.  Seeing her expression of fear, two of her friends immediately jumped up to help give her moral support and she was able to continue on. 

I was quite saddened when SMART camp came to a close. Surprisingly I learned quite a bit about myself from these two groups of girls. I was a role model to the younger girls. I was able to encourage them when they got stuck on a task. I found out I can teach others what I know. Sometimes it’s okay not to know what the answer is to everything, but to always ask questions in order to learn. I enhanced my listening whilst helping the girls with their activities. I learned that patience is a must and to never give up on any goal. I feel all these characteristics are crucial to being an effective counselor. More importantly I feel these skills are beneficial for everyone to have. I cannot thank Girls Inc. enough for allowing me to share these experiences with these amazing girls.            

Lions, and tigers and ... animals, oh my!

“This was the best camp I have ever been to!” 

“I wish it would last all summer!” 

These are just a few quotes from some of the girls who attended the Animal Science SMART Camp held at the Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington.  The girls learned about different animal habitats such as the tundra, forest, wetlands, deserts, and grasslands.  The girls also participated in an interesting activity about barn owls.  The girls learned about what foods they like to eat, the food web they are a part of, their habitats and their anatomies. Once the lesson was finished the girls dissected owl pellets, which was truly a unique experience for all of them.

One afternoon, Peggy Brown from the Humane Society of North Texas spoke to the girls about taking care of domestic animals. The girls had so many interesting questions about what foods were okay to feed their dogs and the appropriate ways to speak to animals. They learned that avocados, grapes and foods high in fat can cause health problems for dogs.   Wow! 

The week concluded with a trip to the Fort Worth Zoo where the girls enjoyed seeing a variety of live animals. They even got a chance to pet a snake!  

Many, many thanks to Chesapeake Energy for sponsoring this camp!  We also appreciate the volunteers and interns who helped us make this possible and a special thank you to the Shepherd of Life Lutheran Church in Arlington for providing us with the space to host this camp.  We are grateful for all of your support!

...and ACTION!

Ever wonder about the “Science Behind Weather”?  Our girls did and they had the opportunity to take part in some exciting educational activities at the NBC Studio in Fort Worth. The girls ate breakfast with news anchor Deborah Ferguson and got to meet anchor Lindsay Wilcox and Meteorologist Remeisha Shade.  The girls engaged in inspiring conversations and learned how these extraordinary women became involved in this profession.  The women emphasized the importance of having a solid education with a strong background in science and math.   

The girls were then given a tour of the NBC studio and were able to watch the news cast live right inside the studio. It was exciting! The news cast concluded with the Girls Inc. girls being introduced as guests and were shown live on television. 

Thank you Time Warner and NBC for giving our girls the opportunity learn about what you do.  At the end of the trip, many girls expressed their interests in learning more about math, technology and the “Science Behind Weather”.