Girls Incorporated of San Diego County

Girls Inc. of San Diego County GISD takes a holistic approach to whole-girl health and wellness by providing life-changing, no-cost, research-based programming. GISDs three pillars of work along with a combination of skill development in a pro-girl environment equips girls to reimagine their futures believe in themselves pursue higher education and take their seat as tomorrows decision makers. Our curriculum aligns all three areas of our program model of STRONG, SMART and BOLD: STRONG programs focus on Mind + Body wellness, positive body image, stress management, and resisting peer pressure - we lay a foundation of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. SMART programs support girls academic success by providing hands-on, mentor-driven explorations of STEM fields. BOLD programs empower girls become leaders and enact positive change through civic engagement and social justice. For 50 years, Girls Inc. of San Diego has been providing our comprehensive approach to whole girl development. This is a critical moment for our society. The importance of naming and overcoming gender inequity is front-and-center as one of the most critical issues of our time. Girls today face vast and often intersecting challenges and barriers to academic and career success, such as inequalities associated with race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and socio-economic status. Many promising young women, especially those growing up in poverty, are at risk of being excluded from critical education and employment opportunities before they even reach high school. GISD empowers girls to overcome barriers and reach their full potential through programming that provides the chance to explore and grow. Our program model includes: 1. people - trained staff and volunteers who build lasting, mentoring relationships 2. environment - girls-only, physically and emotionally safe, where there is a sisterhood of support, high expectations, and mutual respect 3. Programming- research-based, age- appropriate, hands-on and growth mind-set, meet the needs of todays girls. In 2019 Girls Inc. had a relaunch of the organization. GISD went from being volunteer board run to hiring a seasoned CEO. From 2020-2021 GISD developed a three-year strategic roadmap, has increased revenue by 63 two-years over, more than doubled its impact and girls reached, increased the board from 6 to 12 members and added four new staff. Girls Inc. has developed several key partnerships allowing GISD to serve 5 additional schools within the San Diego Metro area. GISD has developed a train-the-trainer model with long-term partners in North County, leading to an increase in girls served by training school staff to administer Girls Inc. programming. In 2021 GISD launched Future STEMinists, a program that takes a holistic, cross-disciplinary approach to STEM. In 2021 Girls Inc. students launched a youth advocacy group called Voices of the unheard. In 2022 Girls Inc. reached a critical milestone of serving over 500 girls through intensive year-long programming. In 2022 Girls Inc. launched its first county wide all-girl conference with 100 girls in attendance representing 4 school districts and 8 schools. In June 2023 Girls Inc. launched Eureka, a 5-year STEM intensive for rising 8th graders, which takes them through their senior year of high school.