Inspiring all girls
to be strong, smart, and bold.SM
Click here to download latest schedule
Although we have changed our name to be more inclusive of our varied programs, we remain committed to meeting the special needs of girls. Accordingly, we are still an affiliate of National Girls Incorporated, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Our program shares this mission and we offer innovative programs that help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives. Specific national programs address resisting harmful substances, community action, teen pregnancy prevention, science, math & technology, sports and fitness, media messages, self-defense and violence prevention, lifeskills, economic literacy and financial concepts. This program serves girls ages 5-18 with a specific emphasis on teens.
Girls Inc. Operation SMART® builds girls' skills and interest in science, math, and technology. Hands-on activities give girls the opportunity to explore, ask questions, and solve problems. Components of Operation SMART include: Eureka!®, GirlsLinkSM, GirlsLink Gets SMART, Girls Dig It, and Career Action.
Girls Inc. Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy® helps girls identify ways and reasons to avoid early pregnancy. The program fosters girls' communication skills, provides basic health education, and encourages girls to plan for the future through four age-appropriate components: Growing TogetherSM, Will Power/Won't Power®, Taking Care of BusinessSM, and Health BridgeSM. The first two components have been translated into Spanish as Crecer Juntas and Querer/Poder Decir "no".
Girls Inc. Media Literacy® encourages girls to think critically about media messages and fosters their awareness of the scope and power of the media and its effects of girls and women. Girls gain media literacy skills that enhance their ability to critically examine and advocate for change in entertainment, news and advertising media.
Girls Inc. Project Bold® strengthens girls' abilities to lead safer lives. Girls develop strategies for self-defense (including physical techniques), for seeking out and talking with caring adults about personal violence, and for advocating on violence issues for girls and young women. Age-appropriate components include Kid-Ability!TM (Kid Jr.), Action for SafetySM and Taking Action.
Girls Inc. Economic Literacy® introduces girls as young as six to basic financial concepts, including money management and investment. The program explores how money affects us locally and globally as it fosters development of the skills needed to be financially self-sufficient.
Girls Inc. Friendly PEERsuasion® builds girls' skills for resisting pressure to use harmful substances such as alcohol, tobacco, household chemicals and other drugs. The two-part substance abuse prevention program teaches girls ages 11 to 14 healthy ways to manage stress and confront peer, media and other pressures. The girls then assume roles as PEERsuaders for younger girls.
Girls Inc. Sporting Chance® builds movement and athletic skills, cooperative and competitive spirit, health awareness, and interest in all sports as girls explore career opportunities related to sports and experience the benefits of healthy risk taking. The program lays a foundation for a lifetime of sports participation through two age-appropriate programs: SteppingstonesSM and BridgesSM.
Girls Inc. Discovery Leadership® partners girls and women in community action projects chosen by girls, building leadership skills and creating lasting change. This leadership development program for girls ages 9 to 11 celebrates the heritage of girls and women as leaders, and fosters girls awareness of themselves as community resources and trustees of the common good.
For more information on these programs, click here to visit the Girls Inc. National site.
Events
Celebration Dinner
She Knows Where She's Going Award Ceremony
and Scholarship Dinner
sponsored by Girls Inc. of the Berkshires
May 7, 2009
Country Club of Pittsfield
Educational opportunity has always been an important part of the Girls Inc. mission. In 1990, the First annual Celebration Luncheon was held to honor area women and award college scholarships to county high school seniors. It is now an annual dinner held at the Berkshire Hills Country Club. Nominate a woman you know who Knows Where She’s Going! Contact the Brigham Center for more information.
Expanding Your Horizons
Hands-on Science and Math
for Girls in Grades 7 and 8
June TBD 2009
Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA
8:30am -1:30pm
The Expanding Your Horizons Conference held at Berkshire Community College provides hands-on workshops in math and science and non-traditional careers for over 200 girls each year. We are always looking for professional woman in interesting career fields to present workshops. Please contact Christa Collier at 442-5174 if you are interested.
For more info, contact Christa Collier
413-442-5174, ext. 16 or by email.
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Girls Inc. Online
extends Girls Inc. research-based programming to girls everywhere in a safe, membership-based web community where members share and connect on message boards, meet inspiring women, and participate in fun activities.
Click here for details.
Girls Bill of Rights
Girls have a right to be themselves - people first and females second - and to resist pressure to behave in sex-stereotyped ways.
Girls have a right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.
Girls have a right to take risks, to strive freely and to take pride in success.
Girls have a right to accept and enjoy the bodies they were born with and not to feel pressured to compromise their health in order to satisfy the dictates of an "ideal" physical image.
Girls have a right to be free of vulnerability and self-doubt and to develop as mentally and emotionally sound individuals.
Girls have a right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.
