Leadership Institute, Powered by Girl Scouts of Greater New York, Cohort 2022

Powered by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York

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What is Leadership Institute?

The Leadership Institute is Girl Scouts of Greater New York’s capstone leadership program, which provides a unique and essential opportunity for NYC-based girls in grades 6-12 to build their confidence as leaders and shape their views about their own potential.

The program is designed to foster a generation of Girl Scouts who take action and drive systemic change in their communities and the world. Participants will gain opportunities to power up their leadership skills and connect with successful women role models, attend subject-specific seminars, work on peer committees, academic transition workshops, internships, panels, scholarships, and more!

The Leadership Institute Program is a fully funded Girl Scouts of Greater New York signature program that is provided with no cost to accepted applicants.

Goals of the Leadership Institute In this program, participants will: • Learn to navigate transition as they prepare to enter high school, college, and the workforce.

• Develop the skills, attitudes, and behaviors necessary for professional success, • Increase interest, exposure, and practice in specific fields, • Feel encouraged to deepen their knowledge of Business & Entrepreneurship, STEM, Advocacy, and the Environment.

• Feel inspired to become powerful agents of change, well-equipped to take action in the real world.

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Who can Join?

The Leadership Institute is open to 6th- 12th grade students who reside in the five boroughs of New York.

Prior Girl Scouting experience is not required. Girls can participate in this program each year until they graduate High School.

History Launched in 2013, the Leadership Institute supports Girl Scouts in building the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to become leaders.

“ The most meaningful experience was getting to work with girls who were just as motivated as me to make change.”

After welcoming 250 Girl Scouts in its first 5 years, the program re-launched in 2019 with a new structure that now provides an intensive, year-long experience with a focus on 21st-century leadership skills. In addition, Girl Scouts have the option to choose a specific focus area in order to gain deeper, subject-specific knowledge.

–CADETTE

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Bank of America Partnership The Leadership Institute is made possible in part by a partnership launched in March 2021, with longtime GSGNY supporter Bank of America.

Bank of America’s generous $250,000 grant will enable the expansion of GSGNY’s Business & Entrepreneurship programming and create a pipeline for women leaders in business.

GSGNY will relaunch the Leadership Institute Business & Entrepreneurship Track, Powered by Bank of America, for the 2022 program cohort. In partnership with Bank of America, GSGNY will develop age-specific curricula to provide intensive leadership and career development support to Girl Scouts participating in the program’s Business & Entrepreneurship Track, in addition to reinforcing Business & Entrepreneurship concepts through the other tracks, providing more learning opportunities for all program participants.

Other learning opportunities supported by the grant will include: • Opportunities to learn directly from Bank of America mentors, who will work with us to provide ongoing one-on-one coaching sessions • Business & Entrepreneurship Girl Scout Badge Curriculum led by Bank of America’s Small Business team • A summer job shadowing program providing a window into the diverse career pathways available at Bank of America; and • G.I.R.L.s Like Me series, featuring women from diverse backgrounds working in different leadership roles at Bank of America.

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Powered by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York

Change Agents Edition Reshaping the World Using Your Voice

Program Highlights We have so many exciting programs and fun in store for our Cohort 2022 participants this year!

This year the Leadership Institute will be returning in a hybrid model. We will have virtual, recorded, and in-person programming. This will aid in participants’ experience so that they have a flexible schedule and still continue to get the most out of the program.

A number of great program models will return this year, like our in-person G.I.R.L.’s Guide to Taking Action Seminars where girls will deepen their knowledge of focus areas and develop a capstone project.

In conjunction with our seminars, we are excited to have our Business & Entrepreneurship track return in a new capacity, in partnership with Bank of America.

Furthermore, we will be continuing our focus on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion through our Call-toAction Workshops. As well as letting our participants take the lead by joining a Peer Committee.

Through the program participants will: •

Feel empowered to use their voices and lead in their communities, workplaces, and the world.

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Explore professions within industries relevant to their chosen subject area and beyond.

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Learn how to navigate transitions to high school, college, and beyond.

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Meet leaders in their fields of interest and learn from experts in their chosen tracks.

Put their new skills to use planning and implementing a capstone project designed to make the world a better place.

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Build knowledge and confidence as leaders who actively drive systemic change.

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Explore what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean and discuss the gaps they see in the world around them.

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Develop leadership skills like public speaking, conflict resolution, negotiation, and problem solving.

Program Components

G.I.R.L.’s Guide to Taking Action * IN PERSON Over Five Saturdays, participants will participate in day-long seminars to deepen their knowledge of subject-specific topics through project-based learning. These seminars are led by expert program partners and trained facilitators. Girl Scouts will work in small groups to develop a capstone project presentation.

Dates: January 29, February 5, February 12, February 19, March 5 Location: St Francis College Bus transportation will be provided from a designated point in each borough.

Choose Your Track!

There are three areas of focus available for Leadership Institute Cohort 2022 participants to choose from:

Business & Entrepreneurship In Partnership with Bank of America The Entrepreneurship track will teach Girl Scouts how to think like an entrepreneur!

From taking initiative to seizing the right opportunity – Girl Scouts can use these skills to stand out in any academic or professional path.

Through learning about entrepreneurial mindset, participants will explore what it takes to start their own business.

Think like an entrepreneur and learn how to work with a team and create a business that tackles a challenge or issue you care about.

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STEM for Social Good The STEM track will introduce Cybersecurity basics and the importance of being a conscious digital citizen.

Environmental Changemakers The Environmental track will explore Environmental Justice locally and globally.

Girl Scouts will explore concepts such as social justice and social media through the lens of cybersecurity, while also learning about issues such as ethical hacking.

Girl Scouts will learn about food and land sovereignty, environmental racism, gentrification and displacement, and poverty and natural disasters.

After analyzing case studies, participants will dive into a real-life cybersecurity topic they care about to develop their own “Cyber Action Plan” that addresses what they would do when faced with a cybersecurity concern.

Participants will work in peer-led groups to investigate these issues and will develop a Callto-Action project that takes steps to make real change and inspire others to take action.

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Leadership in Action Sharpen your leadership & communication skills by joining a Peer Leaders Committee!

Each committee will take the lead in brainstorming, designing, and facilitating monthly Peer Leaders Events and activities.

High school age participants are invited to join the Community Conversations Committee or Academic Transitions Committee, and middle school age participants are invited to join the Middle School committee.

Community Conversations Committee Create an event that provides a brave and supportive space to engage in conversation with peers on topics that are important to YOU. Together, shed light on new ways of thinking and seeing the world, and brainstorm ways to be agents of change.

Academic Transition Committee Create an event designed to help peers prepare for their next phase of life. For example, what is high school like? Or how do I prepare for college?

The event will provide engaging and fun opportunities to learn from experienced Girl Scouts.

Special Committee Addition

iddle School Committee M Collaborate with the High School committees to create fun and engaging ice breakers and activities for their events.

We will be adding the new Leadership Institute Cohort 2022 Celebration Committee which will be open to participants to join based on interest.

Accepted program participants will have the opportunity to apply to join a Peer Leader Committee. All committee members will be eligible for the Peer Leader Academic Scholarship.

Leadership Institute Cohort 2022 Celebration Committee Collaborate with staff to create a fun and engaging event to celebrate Cohort 2022’s accomplishments! This includes leading different portions of the event and more!

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Call to Action Workshops

Career Readiness

Participants will learn how to drive systemic change in their communities through workshops on topics such as Community Building, Mental Health, support to earn their Highest Awards, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Participants will have access to mentoring opportunities, the GIRLs Like Me: Career Talk Series, video content created by GSGNY’s Leadership Advisory Board, and virtual workplace visits, all of which will help expose Girl Scouts to the professional world and the personal journeys of women in leadership.

Academic Success Participants will attend grade-specific workshops, seminars, and activities focused on middle school success, transitioning to high school, or transitioning to college. Topics include socioemotional and academic preparedness.

Digital Learning Through our Thinkific platform Girl Scouts will have access to materials they need, including skills for success content, whenever it’s most convenient for them! The Leadership Institute utilizes online learning platforms and video content to make learning flexible and fun.

“They [Leadership Institute staff ] want to push us outside our comfort zone and see us be the best that we can be.”

–SENIOR

Program Benefits & Incentives Incentives: •

Opportunities to Earn Girl Scout Badges

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Special Opportunities: Speaking opportunities, special events and more!

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Academic Scholarships • Capstone Project Scholarship • Peer Leaders Committee Scholarship

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Support with Silver Award Project

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Gold Award Grant *For High School Participants

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Paid Summer Internship *For High School Participants

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Application & Selection Process How to Apply Acceptance into the Leadership Institute is based on an online digital application which includes short responses and a thoughtful essay. We are looking to accept 200 participants into Cohort 2022.

There is no application fee.

Application Highlights • The application must be completed in ONE SITTING. — Application does not save information.

• We recommend looking over the application and answering all short and long essay questions in a separate document first.

• Ask a friend or family member to look it over before submitting.

• Double and triple check your responses for clarity, spelling and punctuation.

• A digital photo will need to be submitted with your application.

APPLY HERE

https://tinyurl.com/LICohort2022 Application Deadline: Sunday, November 21st

Selection Process Selection Status Email Notification: Monday, November 29th to Friday, December 3rd.

Successful applicants will be notified by email if they have been invited to join the Leadership Institute within the selection status email notification process.

If you’re new to Girl Scouting or you do not have an up-to-date membership, you will have to pay a $25 Girl Scout Membership Fee for the FY 21-22 Girl Scouting year if you are accepted into the program. *Financial assistance is available.

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Save the Dates!

Commitment Orientation Tuesday, December 7th at 6:00 pm Commitment Orientation for all accepted applicants and Parents & Caregivers. Attendance is mandatory.

Leadership Institute Program Kick Off Wednesday, December 15th at 5:00 pm GIRLs Guide to Taking Action January 29th, Feb. 5, 12, 19, March 5th

Questions?

Contact Raziyah Eure reure@girlscoutsnyc.org

Camp Kaufmann trip – May 2022

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girlscoutsnyc.org Girl Scouts of Greater New York 40 Wall Street, Suite 708, New York, NY 10005 212.645.4000