Inspired! Newsletter - Summer 2020 | Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

Inspired!

Summer 2020

Newsletter

HONORING HELPERS THROUGH SERVICE As the world continues to change, we are reminded that Girl Scouts has never been more relevant—or important—than it is today. Since our founding in 1912, Girl Scouts have lived by our motto “be prepared.” Now, 108 years later, our girls and volunteers are strong role models who are resiliently helping their communities in times of crisis.

Over the last several months, Girl Scouts have shown up in unprecedented ways to keep the bonds between sisterhood and charitable work strong. While social distancing, girls have written thank-you notes and made masks for first responders, earned badges for preparedness, and made progress towards earning their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

Collectively, Girl Scouts impacted their communities through social-distanced service, benefitting organizations such as Rush Copley Hospital and the Orland Park Food Pantry, among many others.

BY THE NUMBERS • Girl Scouts in more than 130 communities have donated cookies to frontline responders and essential workers • 76 troop-led COVID-19 service projects were reported to the council from April to June.

• 85 Girl Scouts earned their Gold Award this spring, along with 713 Silver Award and 1,006 Bronze Award recipients. @girlscoutsgcnwi

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YOU ARE THE GIRL SCOUT DIFFERENCE Summer is usually a glorious time for Girl Scouts. Usually, our girls and families would be celebrating milestones such as prom, graduation, and bridging ceremonies. Usually, we would be welcoming girls to camp. This year, however, is anything but usual.

Even as parts of our lives start to return to normal, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt life as we know it. Girls of all ages are struggling with increased anxiety and mental health challenges stemming from isolation—and don’t know where to turn for support. In this time of pain and racial inequity, families are seeking a place to heal; be respected and heard; and take action. As an organization, we continue operating with a reduced staff while adjusting to safety guidelines that evolve daily.

Thanks to you, Girl Scouting continues to make a difference. Over these past few months, you enabled us to lead virtual programming for girls within and beyond our council. You helped us guide volunteers in providing social-emotional support to girls from afar. You ensured families facing hardship were able to continue their Girl Scout journey.

Simply put, we would not have been able to endure these unusual times without you. I hope you’ll be inspired by the impact you have made possible as you read through this issue. While there are many uncertainties today and in the months ahead, we are hopeful about the future. Thank you for being on this journey with us and powering a stronger connection for our girls and families.

Nancy L. Wright, CEO

FINDING HOPE IN SISTERHOOD When times get tough, Girl Scouts show their resiliency and heart.

While life looks radically different, members from around the council have taken the changes in stride.

In their own words, several members shared how staying connected to others through Girl Scouting has kept their spirit alive and well.

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“Girl Scouts has helped me to be resilient and brave in the wake of COVID-19. I have learned how to be strong and not afraid, which has helped me to stay positive through this pandemic. I value the confidence I gained from these experiences the most.”

“I’m grateful to be able to stay involved through virtual programs, which helped me complete my Gold Award and create a steady schedule to ensure my health is mentally, physically, and emotionally stable.”

- Megan, Age 14

- Lily, Age 16

STAYING CONNECTED AT HOME Thanks to your support, Girl Scouts GCNWI quickly pivoted from in-person activities to an all-virtual platform. Crossfunctional teams aligned themed programming using online activity guides, webinars, and Zoom meetings. Girls and their families jumped into this new programming format (some examples are highlighted to the right) to enhance online schooling and to fill the void left without extracurricular activities. In order to make sure participants have meaningful experiences at home, the council has developed free program supplies and activity guides to supplement virtual events in an effort to break down the digital divide.

MINDFUL MONDAYS Presented by the Girl Space Community Engagement team, this free video series teaches skills and routines to help girls and families of all ages practice mindfulness and positive mental health from home.

CAREER CONVERSATIONS Each week, adults from a specified career field share their insights and career paths with Girl Scouts and yield questions via Zoom. Experts consist of Girl Scout volunteers, partners, and members of the Associate Board.

BY THE NUMBERS • 129,500 people viewed GCNWI content through our videos, webinars, and social media channels.

• 89,239 people received and opened an email about Girl Scouts at Home programming.

• Approximately 2,500 girls participated in virtual programming during the first month of quarantine, including GSUSA science, technology, engineering, and math webinars GCNWI was selected to pilot.

• On average, 2,245 people downloaded a free, at-home activity resource each month from April to June.

VIRTUAL TROOPS In order to support all girls and attract new members, we have launched virtual troops that cater to specific grade-levels and special interests. Staff lead weekly meetings that incorporate virtual and offline activity elements. @girlscoutsgcnwi

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A TIME FOR ACTION Our mission challenges us “to make the world a better place.” And we pledge to “help people at all times.” Those words carry great weight and responsibility and inspire us with strength as we denounce institutional racism, violence, injustice, and inequity.

As a girl-led organization, we support our Girl Scouts’ passion and desire to make a difference within their own communities.

Our Girl Scout curriculum inherently focuses on respecting diversity, advocating and taking action on important issues, and how to be a good citizen. But we also recognize that we will need to provide more specific resources and activities.

To that end, our council has launched a digital Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) toolkit, which provides growing resources for girls and families to

take action, reflect, and learn. Internally, we have formed a DEIA task force comprised of staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders to assess and improve our mission delivery to ALL girls. In the coming months, we will be rolling out social justice and anti-racist patch programs that elevate our current curriculum to include community expertise.

We will continue to spark and lead conversations within our membership, and the Girl Scout Movement, to listen, learn, and leverage our resources to be anti-racist, and inspire our girls to help shape a more equitable, just world. That’s our promise.

SILVER AWARD SPOTLIGHT Girl Scouts from Troop 40681 are no exception. For their Silver Award, the girls decided to step up and advocate for the very pressing issue of racism in the United States.

To do this, they took on the task of speaking to community leaders and educating themselves in order to create an “action resource guide,” including steps on how to call for racial justice on the individual level. The girls then hosted a Black Lives Matter demonstration in their community, featuring speakers, performers, and a moment of silence in honor of George Floyd’s life, which was unjustly ended on May 25, 2020.

Girl Scout Kailey Lopez, when speaking to the Chicago

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Tribune, noted: “Black Lives Matter is an issue for everyone. It’s not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It’s not a partisan issue. It’s a human issue.”