Empowerment 4 Girls enthusiastically announces a life-changing opportunity for Grays Harbor’s youth to engage with programs that support the development of our children to be confident and empathetic community members. “We support girls to speak their truth, stand up for themselves and be confident,” says Michele Drake-Hyde, Empowerment 4 Girls president and public-school teacher. The Grays Harbor Community Foundation is generously offering 132 full scholarships. This allows people to move beyond financial or other considerations to enrollment.
It’s a challenging, complex world. Empowerment 4 Girls offers practical, engaging, real-world courses, designed to have participants connect with themselves and their peers through evidence-based activities and education. Programs provide all girls and non-binary youth ages 10-15 with life skills and supportive networks to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally as they move through adolescence and beyond. Safe spaces are created for youth to get information, ask questions, and learn.
Empowerment 4 Girls Programs
“Conscious Minds Conscious Bodies: Sexual and Reproductive Health Education”
Conscious Minds Conscious Bodies is comprehensive sexual health education. Courses include,
Anatomy and Puberty, Consent and Boundaries, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Stages of Pregnancy, Building Confidence, Social Media Moderation, and Pregnancy and STI Prevention.
Empowerment 4 Girls goes beyond traditional sex-ed by including social emotional learning components. For example, participants will learn that manipulated photos, influencers, and filters can harm one’s self-esteem and body image. They will leave the program with tools to identify unrealistic beauty standards and avoid unhealthy comparisons.
“Empowerment: Social Emotional Learning”
Participants spend time with peers in a nurturing environment learning about self-care, and engage community-building games, yoga, art, mindfulness, and physical movement. They learn strategies for navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. Those who attend this program will discuss topics such as social media moderation, positive body image, and self-accountability. Guest speakers inspire and educate youth, often by sharing stories about their paths to success in male-dominated fields and overcoming gender stereotypes. Empowerment 4 Girls encourages youth to find their voices and move forward in life with confidence.
“I never had an opportunity for any of this kind of programming,” says Jeannine Anderson, executive director of development.” E4G Programs are designed to meet these youth where they are in the moment and to reinforce that ‘you are enough.’ As girls progress, Empowerment 4 Girls offers a variety of tools.
“I truly admire Empowerment 4 Girls’ commitment to celebrating diversity, as I believe it is crucial to provide safe, inclusive environments for all,” adds Kallie Kidder, teen volunteer.
Facilitators Help Youth Develop in a Healthy Way
On the website, you can learn more about the skilled team, all with extensive experience in social/emotional learning, sexual health education, outdoor ed and facilitating programs for those with special needs. Their education and experience working with youth empower their belief that education and connections are powerful tools for life-long well-being. Find more details about each facilitator:
Youth Courses in Grays Harbor and Thurston Counties
Between Grays Harbor and Olympia, Empowerment 4 Girls will be hosting nine Saturday programs, one spring break program, and eight weeks of summer programs. “We are thrilled to announce our largest program schedule yet,” explains Philip Hyde, executive director of operations. The support from Grays Harbor Community Foundation gives more youth the chance to attend, including the two-week long programs at Lake Sylvia State Park. There is also $15,000 for scholarships for Olympia programs, exceeding last year’s 27 awards totally over $4,000. No application is required.
Empowerment 4 Girls Program Locations
Grays Harbor Saturday programs take place at Events on Emerson and week-long at Lake Sylvia State Park (Legacy Pavilion). Olympia programs will take place at Huber’s Gasthaus.
Volunteer Opportunities for Adults and Teens
There are 54 program days in Grays Harbor and Olympia. Along with a team of enthusiastic, qualified facilitators, Empowerment 4 Girls encourages adults to volunteer. “Self-love is the most important thing girls can learn to be inspired and empowered for their future. I want girls to understand from a young age how much power they have and how much better life is when you understand your self-worth,” says volunteer, Kieran Stilson.
Teen volunteers provide peer-to-peer support and can receive community service credits. “I’ve always been drawn to this program because of the accepting environment and the information shared to truly help young girls accept and appreciate themselves,” says Sarah Walz, participant and teen volunteer. “Having gone to this program before, I have found myself thinking about it a lot and what I had learned. This program truly stuck with me after years and years.”
Parents do their best. Truly, the world is stressful for all ages. Unfortunately, many people find intimate or vulnerable conversation hard or even impossible to begin, let alone progress through. Empowerment 4 Girls is on your side. The programs provide additional support and information for the girls and nonbinary youth in your family to engage with peers, learn from other adults, talk about what’s on their minds and learn self-care skills to better maneuver our fast-moving world. Take advantage of the abundant scholarships. We are in the midst of a mental health crisis with our children, and constructive support is available for you. Find out more details on the Empowerment 4 Girls website.
Action Steps for Empowerment 4 Girls Registration and Information
- Register your child for E4G programs.
- Tell your friends about the programs.
- Sign up to be a volunteer.
- Inquire about becoming a board member.
- Contact us with opportunities and ideas.
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