GIRLS FOR A CHANGE
Girls For a Change (GFAC) is a local grass roots initiative. The mission is to bring girls, women and other community members together to empower girls to embrace their future, confident about their individuality, supported by friends, parents and mentors and secure in their ability to lead and to achieve self-sufficiency, fulfillment and success.
Founded in Bozeman, Montana in January 1997 by sixteen girls and their female mentors, Girls for a Change has been devoted to encouraging the healthy development of girls. The group has sponsored a number of activities including team building activities, journaling workshops, community-based mother-daughter groups, challenge courses, communication skills seminars and local conferences.
In 2004, GFAC participants came together to host the “Opening Doors” conference. One-hundred-twenty-four high school girls, ages 13-18, attended the “Opening Doors” one-day event held at Montana State University in February 2005. The conference was planned “for girls, by girls” and centered on assets, opportunities and resources. During the conference, participants learned strategies to communicate effectively and cope with stress and anxiety. Girls also discovered how to enrich their lives through civic engagement and examined educational and career opportunities. Interacting with local, professional and inspirational business women, participants explored stereotypes of women in the media, discussed world issues facing today’s women and increased self-awareness and confidence through creative writing, yoga, and improvisation. “Opening Doors” conference sponsors included Montana State University, Turner Youth Initiative, Prevent Child Abuse, Inc. and many local businesses and individuals.
Two-time Oscar winning actress, Jane Fonda was the keynote speaker. Almost 300 people attended her address. Over the past 10 years, Jane has focused her activism and philanthropy on girl’s reproductive health and resiliency. In 1995, she founded the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.
This is what girls said about the conference: “it was very unified, really promoted spirit and femininity throughout”, “the different ways to encourage women were creative and inspiring”, “the workshops were fun and they put being a woman into a different perspective for me”, “it just opened doors so to speak”, and “it allowed oneself to be open in an encouraging environment and showed that you can be a girl and a strong one at that.”
Girls and adult community members worked together to create and host the 2006 conference, again at Montana State University. Eve Ensler, playwright, author and performer, was the keynote speaker. Both middle school and high school girls planned and participated in the conference. We also reached out to Belgrade, Ennis, Dillon, Livingston, West Yellowstone and beyond in hopes that girls from many Montana communities would participate.
There were many opportunities to share energy, resources and ideas by working on a committee, making a financial or in-kind donation, or suggesting names of young women who might be interested in participating.
The 2007 conference was held February 24 at Montana State University. Lisa Woll, CEO of the Social Investment Forum, was the keynote speaker. The focus was to "dream big and envision the possibilities" and encouraged participants to discover opportunities as they grow in confidence and understanding.
The 2008 conference, "Picture Your Potential," was held March 22 at Montana State University. Anne Sherwood, a freelance photojournalist based in Bozeman, MT, was the keynote speaker. New this year was a Women's Leadership Workshop with Pat Alea.
For more information, contact Deborah Neuman at 406-587-3840 or dneuman@bridgeband.com.
|
