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Dear Friends of Girls Inc.,
I have the privilege of working with girls on a regular basis and witnessing them grow strong, smart and bold. Every time I meet a Girls Inc. girl, she motivates me to continue working diligently for gender-specific services
and advocating for the rights of all girls. I would like to share the following letter, from a social service coordinator, about one girl's progress that illustrates the work we do and the girls you support:
"Heather" has lived in our program for approximately nine months. She came to us with needs for emotional management skills, improved self-esteem, and positive social skills. Heather has worked hard and has a strong personal investment in
her well-being despite the various setbacks she has had to overcome in life.
As a requirement of our program, Heather began participating in the Girls Inc. GO Onward program every week. Heather immediately expressed her enjoyment in group and became involved with Girls Inc. on a more extensive, non-required level,
including getting involved in career mentoring activities. Her participation in various aspects of Girls Inc. has truly helped her to build necessary social skills, gain self-esteem, and serve as a positive role model for other girls. We
are grateful for the investment and involvement we have experienced with Girls Inc., including their tireless support of Heather and the work she is doing with us. She is on the road to a positive adulthood, thanks in part to Girls Inc.
Heather's story represents the hundreds of girls we inspire to create a better life for herself. Thank you all for contributing to her--and many others girls'--success.
Warm regards,
Annette
Feature Story
Ensure Portland's budget includes gender-specific services
Several years ago Multnomah county removed $50,000 from the budget for gender-specific services. For well over a year, Girls Inc. of NW Oregon has been advocating on behalf of Multnomah county girls to get those dollars reinserted into the
budget to provide focused services to 200 girls.
Girls need your help!
We urge you to e-mail each of your county commissioners (contact info below) the following letter to help this proposal pass:
Dear Commissioner (insert last name):
I am writing to urge you to support and pass the Girls Inc. proposal on gender-specific funding. This proposal ensures that low-income, at-risk Multnomah county girls receive academic support and skill development services, including case
management, attendance support, tutoring/mentoring, life skills development, conflict management, anti-bullying, youth violence prevention, and more.
This proposal provides long-overdue funding to finally get services to a targeted population of at-risk girls. Girls who do not graduate from high school are twice as likely as their male peers to live in poverty. Women represent 75% of
the impoverished in Multnomah County. Girls drop out of school for different reasons than boys. Primary indicators include social alienation, low self-esteem, and a lack of hope for their futures. Girls need academic support services that
specifically address their unique pathways to failure in school (Why Girls Fail, 2007) including peer support, one on one educational support via mentoring and tutoring, and futures planning.
Please do what you can to make sure that this important proposal passes to serve the community that so desperately needs it. Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
E-mail your county commissioners right now!
Ted Wheeler
Maria Rojo de Steffey
Jeff Cogen
Lisa Naito
Lonnie Roberts
Did You Know…
That it took nearly 100 years for women to win the right to vote?
 Some battles for women's suffrage were won state-by-state by the early 20th century but it was not
until 1920, when the 19th Amendment passed, that women could finally vote nationwide.
Although Oregon's primary is far off--don't forget to vote!
It is never to early to start educating yourself--and girls--on issues that impact you and your family. Girls Inc. programs, like the
United Girls Summit, are so important because they let girls know that their vote counts, that their voice needs to be heard, and that they can make a difference in the world.
Upcoming Events & Activities
 Power of the Purse
Space it limited--buy your ticket today!
April 10, 2008
Portland Art Museum
Community & Facilitator Trainings
Our community and facilitator trainings are ideal for anyone working with girls, including parents, educators, and counselors.
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Allies in Action Training
Learn how to engage girls in activities to explore relational aggression, how relational aggression impacts girls' lives, and what girls can do to resolve conflicts constructively and build healthy relationships with each other.
When & where: April 3 and 4, 9:30-4:30, Lewis and Clark College
Cost: $250, two-day training
Register today!
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Smart Girls Training
Learn how to implement the Smart Girls curriculum, which gives girls the opportunity to explore math, science, and related technology with hands-on activities.
When & where: March 15th, 9:30-4:30, Edgefield
Cost: $250, one-day training
Register today!
Events for Girls
A strong, smart and bold future requires early planning
Join 1,500 girls at the United Girls Summit:
May 22, 2008
Oregon Convention Center
For more information visit our
website or call 503.230.0054.
Don't Miss this Event-Register today!
Other Girls Inc. Member Events
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Tillamook Forest Hike
What: Hiking, lunch, and tour of the Forestry Center
When: Saturday, April 26th
Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Contact: 503-230-0054 ext. 4, or stacey@girlsincnworegon.org
Registration Deadline: April 16th
Strong, Smart and Bold Girls Go Snowshoeing
The annual Girls Inc. snowshoeing trip was blessed with sunshine and clear skies. A BIG THANK YOU to everyone, including REI, for giving our girls a day to remember!
Hope to see you next year!
Sponsor Spotlight
 Aveda Institute Portland has partnered with Girls Inc. through their AIP Gives
program. To thank those in the community who give of themselves, Aveda Institute Portland created the AIP Program that provides complimentary salon or spa services to volunteers and staff of partnering non-profit organizations. During the
week of February 11th, Aveda Institute Portland generously nurtured Girls Inc. staff and donors with soothing facials and stylish haircuts.
Thank you Aveda Institute Portland for much needed pampering
We're recharged and ready to continue on our mission to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold!
About Aveda Institute Portland
Aveda Institute Portland is an upscale cosmetology school located in the heart of the Pearl District. All services are provided by students under the supervision of licensed instructors. Services include haircuts, color, facials, waxing,
body treatments, makeup applications, and more.
Giving to Girls Inc. Means Giving to Girls
Give a girl a Girls Inc. Membership
This fall we kicked off our Girls Inc. Membership that allows all Portland-area girls to participate in our programming--even if their school does not offer Girls Inc. When you give a Girls Inc. membership you are giving a girl the
opportunity to develop the self esteem and confidence needed to live a strong, smart and bold life. Don't you wish you had Girls Inc. when you were a girl?
Become a Girls Inc. Member--
click or call 503.230.0054
Need more information? Please call us at (503) 230-0054 and we would be happy to answer any of your questions.
Don't forget about Girls Inc. Gear
Our t-shirts and onesies are stylish and fun - all proceeds benefit Girls Inc. programming.
Check out the Girls Inc. gear!
Become a Girls Inc. Volunteer!
If you are interested in volunteering for
Power of the Purse or the
United Girls Summit, please contact Kristin Robinson:
Kristin@girlsincnworegon.org or (503) 230-0054 x 7
We'd Love to Hear from You!
Please
e-mail us any feedback you might have on our newsletter, website, events, and more--we would love to hear from you!
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