Many lives are impacted when one inf luences a woman, especially a young woman.
Top Left:Two Girl Talk chapter members wearing special shirts at their school during national bullying prevention month in October. Bottom Left: Girl Talk National Teen Advisory Board Member Brittany Davis holding up Girl Talk’s “Thanksgiving” Thank You card for friends and supporters at Girl Talk offices. Right: Girl Talk camp counselors holding up a welcome sign at the entrance to the annual Girl Talk “Project Inside Out” camp. All photos courtesy of Girl Talk, Inc.
doing. Girl Talk became such a need that more schools throughout the state of Georgia began inquiring about the program. After high school, Kilpatrick attended Kennesaw State University. She pursued a degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. She also received her nonprofit management certificate. This was all accomplished in just over three years. Going to school in a larger city was helpful for Kilpatrick to really get Girl Talk going. She took night classes and worked all day on building Girl Talk. “I was so grateful to go to
Kennesaw and learn from professors who really walk the walk. My professors were a huge support and really helped shape what Girl Talk is today,” said Kilpatrick. Today, Girl Talk helps young teenagers build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the importance of community service. Their mentoring program and camps started in Atlanta, but are now offered throughout the U.S. “Girl Talk is an amazing club,” 11-year-old Lily Moss, a Girl Talk member, said. “I like Girl Talk because it helps me with life and being confident. We talk about boys, drama, cliques, bullying and self-respect.
Girl Talk means a lot to me because everything about it is important.” In 2012, Kilpatrick wrote a book about her own experience called “The Drama Years”. It focuses on the struggles of middle school and includes stories of surviving the bullying, brands and body image. Kilpatrick has made a huge difference nationwide in young girls’ lives and continues to leave her footprints wherever she goes. She is a great example of how one decision can not only affect you, but also others around you.
24