Nonprofit Empowers Girls to Overcome Gender Inequity

Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta is “a gender-specific, youth-serving organization that provides research-based programming to help girls overcome the effects of gender inequity, while inspiring them to be self-sufficient, responsible and economically empowered,” said Deborah Woods, Manager of Center-Based Programming at Girls Incorporated of Greater Atlanta.

The organization’s partnerships with more than 50 schools in Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb and Clayton counties utilize informal educational programs to encourage girls ages six to 18 to make strong, smart and bold decisions, take informed risks and master challenges.

“When I was relocating to Georgia the girls of the program made me a photo book,” Woods recalled. “One particular girl wrote (about) one time when I gave her my lunch…She expressed so gracefully how much that meant to her. At the time I just knew a child didn’t have any food so I took care of it, I didn’t care if I didn’t have any food. But she remembered this and it meant a lot to her.”  

Patch: How did the nonprofit start? How, if at all, has the nonprofit changed since it opened?

Woods: The very first Girls Inc. started in 1864 in Waterbury CT. Girls Inc. movement started in New England during the Industrial Revolution as a response to the needs of a new working class: young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of newly available job opportunities in textile mills and factories.

“The organization today looks very different from those early centers in New England—for good reason. In this increasingly complex world, girls need more than just a ‘building of their own’; they need skills and knowledge to confront the challenges, make constructive choices, and take advantage of all the opportunities opening to them.”

As the world has become more complex, Girls Inc. has transformed into a multifaceted organization to meet girls' needs. In many instances, Girls Incorporated is a local center that girls attend after school.

“It is also a scholarly organization; our research arm identifies and explores the most pressing issues girls face. It is an advocacy organization; we speak out on behalf of equitable opportunities for girls. It is an educational organization; we develop innovative programs that help girls develop strategies for leading successful, independent and complete lives.”

The one element that is all-encompassing is the Girls Inc. philosophy: In a society that still delivers subtle, often unintentional messages that girls are weaker, softer and not as bright as boys, Girls Inc. helps girls become strong, smart and bold.

Patch: How many people do you serve a year? Tell me about the different services you offer.

Woods: Since its inception in 1976, Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta has served approximately 100,000 girls in the metro area. Annually, the organization serves more than 3,000 girls ages 6 to 18 through various programs; such as after-school and summer camps at the Cobb/Marietta Center and school and community based programming. Girls Inc.’s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong (healthy), smart (educated) and bold (independent).

Girls Inc. delivers year-round programs focused on six core areas:

• Career and Life Planning
• Health and Sexuality
• Leadership and Community Actions
• Sports and Adventure
• Self-Reliance and Life Skills
• Culture and Heritage

Patch: Tell me about the girls you serve.

“We strive to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold; accordingly, our girls represent a wide variety of backgrounds.”

Woods: Recently, Girls Inc. has focused on working with historically under-served and represented populations. Over 50 percent of the organization's girls come from single-parent homes, with an average yearly income below $25,000. Additionally, more than 2,000 girls are reached through Girls Inc.'s school and community-based programming, while other girls are involved through the center, which provides after-school care and summer camp programs.

Patch: What is the biggest struggle for the nonprofit?

Woods: "Non-profit organizations do wonderful things for our world. They provide everything from community involvement to supporting families to protecting the environment. But somehow many non-profit organizations are losing instead of gaining supporters of their cause. I have found that quite often this is especially true when it comes to funding and not getting the word out there constantly. 

"The message is not reaching the right people, about who we are and what we do. So we’ll always hitting the pavement and knocking on doors to introduce ourselves, when I feel we should be using this energy to support the cause, which is the youth."

Patch: Do you have plans for changes or expansion?

Woods: "Yes, I have plans to change the teen program to keep them more motivate and involved, offer assistance and preparation for college and life skills. Girls Inc. has plans to put a mentoring program together."

Patch: What is the most rewarding part of being a part of the nonprofit?

“Rewarding is seeing the smiles on their faces when they try something new for the very first time. Rewarding is when a youth has had many struggles in their little lives and they come to us, and we’re able to give them support, new adventures and a new look on life.”    

Woods: Watching them grow into advocates for their community and for themselves then finally watching this same youth start talking about college, dreams and hopes that she wish to accomplish—that’s just perfect; that’s when you as a community leader have done your job.