Girls Inc. members and staff participated in Night in White at the Parkside Baptist Church yesterday.  The service was hosted by the Alliance of Women Clergy, Inc.  and their vision is "a multi-racial grassroots coalition of faith-based leaders on one accord commited to equality and diversity.  We see clergy women coming together to weave a web in the sacred acknowledgement of God; learning and growing from that knowledge 'to encourage and build each other up...' (1 Thess. 5:11).  The theme for the service was "Shine on me Lord!" and opened with the singing of "This Little Light of Mine."

Girls Inc. was chosen to receive the collection donation from the service and members of the Girls Inc. step team performed during the service.

'"It was a definitely new experience for me, having the girls perform in a church." - Ms. Candice, Girls Inc. step team coach.

In addition to being impressed with the Humanitarian Award winners and throughly enjoying the guest speakers (Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy) at the Inhclusive Communities dinner, the gala also gave the girls the chance to practice eating in a formal setting.  For many of them, this was a first meal with more than one fork and with more than one course.  The girls learned that  a napkin can be a slippery devil and land on the floor despite your best efforts to keep it squarely on your lap.  They enjoyed the place settings, the centerpieces, and the overall elegance of their evening.  And the cake!

Rex Fisher and Gayland Alukonis came to Girls Inc. today to personally deliver a check for $8,000 from the Qwest Foundation.  Qwest is underwriting Girls Make the Grade, a program to support girls and their academic achievement.  Girls Make the Grade provides homework supplies (markers, pens, pencils, calculators, poster board, thumb drives, paper, etc...), daily homework help, tutors, computer lab access, and programs designed to support academic outcomes.

Qwest is a longtime supporter of Girls Inc. and we are proud to call them a partner in our efforts to "inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold."

Neither of the girls in this video clip has been to kindergarten yet.  One of the girls, however, has been in the GIRLStart program at Girls Inc. for a full school year.  Her language development over the course of the past year is amazing.  She has also developed great skills in alphabet recognition and writing.  She is beginning to sound out words - decoding!  Can you tell by listening to their oral speaking skills which girl has been with us for one year and which girl just started?  Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWl8LIbG5bU

The good news is that ALL of our pre-k girls will be able to great progress in GIRLStart.  Next year, (spolier alert:  the newest Girls Inc. pre-k member is Jamila!) Jamila will be talking a mile a minute, too.  Watching her progress day by day and month by month is an exciting process.

Just in case you aren't convinced, here is some more of Fatuma (nicknamed "Famo") dominating the conversation.  And we mean that in a good way:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdPEtMDq6nA

Girls Inc. staff took the Sister 2 Sister peer mentors for lunch and manicures/pedicures as a reward for being good role models to the younger girls and helping out with programs, such as GIRLStart literacy, for the younger girls.

Ms. Mara and Ms. Tess claim they are supervising thier rough jobs from their pedicure chairs.  Hmmmm...  Nothing rough here but some heels.

Click here to hear their perfectly logical explanation.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGFbuN42bXM.

The girls were given some spa pampering for participating in the Sister 2 Sister mentoring program at Girls Inc - some girls chose pedicures; some chose manicures. 

Click here to see Jaleah do the pedicure shuffle:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bzfg3TrcHA.

What girl wouldn't want one of these one-of-a-kind, cool light switch plates in her bedroom? 

My Dad is here! - Madinah

I LOVE Operation SMART!  I truly appreciate the opportunity for the girls to have a completely different venue where they feel empowered and inspired to learn!
                           - Shawne Coonfare (mother of  Isabella and Chloe, and a parent representative to the Board of Trustees)

Ariyah won one of the books raffled off at the GIRLStart parent sharing night.   We raffled off 3 copies of Lily's Purple Plastic Purse - the same book we used for the evening's read aloud activity.