Ambitious Girls
MAGIC: MENTORING
Tiffany Metoyer
TO INSPIRE CHANGE
The League year is in full force, and so is MAGIC (Men-
and we allow them to share any great or exciting news
toring Ambitious Girls to Inspire Change)! MAGIC is a won-
they may have. This year Junior League volunteers have
derful partnership between the Junior League of Shreve-
joined together with the coordinator of the VOA Teen Club
port-Bossier and Volunteers of America (VOA) Lighthouse
to discuss how we would approach various topics and what
Teen Club. The program focuses on positive engagement
would be best suited for this group of girls. In doing so, we
and personal development, and provides the young women
have covered topics such as “It Starts with Why,” personal
a safe space after school.
hygiene, and body positivity. We were afforded one face-
MAGIC is a wonderful placement for women who enjoy
to-face gathering for our holiday party in December where
building relationships with others and working together to
we played games, shared snacks, and volunteers and girls
be positive influences in the lives of young girls, as a men-
got to meet—in some cases, for the first time. It was a very
tor. Creating a safe space for the
Other topics that we
feelings and opinions, laugh,
have coming up for the remain-
play games, and learn new
der of the year include etiquette
things is the greatest reward.
training and self-care/wellness.
At the end of a long day, it often
This is my fourth year
feels as freeing to us as volun-
in MAGIC, and what a wonder-
teers as it is to the girls.
ful year it has been so far. It has
MAGIC
20
special night for us.
girls to open up and share their
sec-
been such an honor to serve as
ond and fourth Monday of each
meets
Head Volunteer and share this
month,
through
League year with some amazing
April. Volunteers share presen-
women. Naina Bouchereau-Lal
tations with the VOA girls about
serves as Assistant Head Vol-
a variety of topics such as so-
unteer; Stacy Chiasson, Fele-
cial media presence, self-care,
cia Gipson, Devon Leon, Allison
journaling, and healthy lifestyle
Washington, Katherine String-
September
the
choices. This year, due to the pandemic, we have hosted
er-Davis, Sara Patronella Wolfe, and Amanda Cacapava
our session virtually in conjunction with the CDC recom-
serve as MAGIC volunteers and mentors to the VOA girls
mendations for safe gathering and social events. We have
throughout the year.
placed a special emphasis in our sessions on the girls
We look forward to continuing a wonderful MAGIC
sharing their feelings and navigating through these ever-
year! While meeting virtually has its challenges, we posi-
changing times as a high-schooler.
tively take them all in stride to create the best experience
During our virtual zoom sessions, we take time in the
for the girls and ourselves. The relationships formed are
beginning of the session to just check-in with the girls and
truly life changing for us all and we are grateful for the
see how life is going, how their day has gone at school,
experience.
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