New Girls Inc. Research Study!

Girls Inc. Girls Shape the Future Study: Early Predictors of Girls' Adolescent Sexual Activity

The Girls Shape the Future study, conducted in collaboration with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR), from 2001 to 2006, surveyed more than 800 adolescent girls over a three-year period from approximately sixth through ninth grades. The data presented here focus on sexual behavior and attitudes and challenge common perceptions about girls whose futures are considered at risk because of factors over which they have no control, such as their race, their family configuration, or their family’s economic status. The report also sheds important new light on risk and protective factors for girls’ early sexual activity.

To view this study, visit the About Girls Inc. section of http://www.girlsinc.org/ or link directy to a PDF summary at

http://www.girlsinc.org/downloads/Girls_Shape_the_Future_Summary.pdf

ELMS training in INDIANAPOLIS!

Indianapolis--What a great city!

And what a great organization Girls Inc. is too!

Girls Inc. NSV got the opportunity to spend a week in this awesome city at the Girls Inc. National Resource Center (NRC) for Executive Leadership and Management Seminar (ELMS) training...

and what a whirlwind week it was!

The week included an intensive course in Girls Inc. history, impact, and future goals. We also had plenty of time to meet other affiliates, learn from their experiences, and work toward innovative ideas as a whole group. Everyone could feel the power of collective women and girls!

ELMS Class of 2010

The NRC building in Downtown Indianapolis is an incredible testiment to the good work Girls Inc. National has been doing since 1864 and full of useful resources for local affiliates, like Girls Inc. NSV.

The Girls Inc. NRC Library houses the largest collection of youth and girl focused literature in the US...and has some pretty powerful girl-focused materials on display throughout the building. It is hard not to feel like a part of something HUGELY IMPORTANT.

Thank you to Girls Inc. and all who attended for an inspiring and enlightening week!

Now it is time to look forward to Girls Inc. National Conference in Washington, DC April 2010...

Challenge Days!

Girls Inc. NSV participated in the 2010 Red Bluff High School Challenge Days this week and what an amazing experience it was for all involved!

Over 150 students and adult facilitators gathered to experience the power of hugs and positive praise, learn from each other, and celebrate differences.

The Challenge Day organization's mission is very similar to that of Girls Inc.:

"To provide youth and their communities with experiential programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth, and full expression."

It was an esspecially incredible opportunity as adulst to show our support for every child living in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated!

For more information about the Challenge Day organization, visit http://www.challengeday.org/

Thank You's!

We have many people to thank for the success of our February 12th movie night!

- Thank you to the State Theatre here in Red Bluff for allowing Girls Inc. NSV to be a part of this "Magic of Movies" series!

- A very special thank you needs to be said to Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson for their generous donation to the theatre and to our local nonprofit organizations.

- Thank you to the Girls Inc. NSV board members and Wal-Mart volunteers who worked early and stayed late to be sure everything ran smoothly:)

- And thank you to the 80 community members who showed up on Friday night to support Girls Inc. NSV!

Here are some pictures of our great night:

our baseball hats and t's

box office success!

Heidi, Girls Inc. NSV board member and movie night committee chair

the amazing theatre!

FREEBEES!

Wal-Mart volunteers before start

TONIGHT in Girls Inc. NSV News:)

Don't forget...

Come support Girls Inc. NSV and be a part of our raffle too!

Doors open at 6pm and movie starts at 7pm

We hope to see you all there!

Movie Night!

Girls Incorporated of the Northern Sacramento Valley and the State Theatre present...

The Magic of Movies series!

Join us on Friday, February 12th for

"A League of Their Own"

(This screening made possible by Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson)

Doors open at 6pm and the film will start at 7pm.

Tickets are $6 per person or $4 per person with groups or teams of 5 or more.

We will have Girls Inc. hats, baseball t's, and mugs for sale, as well as Girls Inc. give-aways and a raffle door prize, so don't miss out!

This is a great idea for date night...and a way to show support for Girls Inc. in our efforts to inspire

STRONG, SMART, & BOLD

young women in our communities!

Bring the whole family to this fun and informational event!

To purchase tickets or for more information contact Emily Westphal at girlsincnsv@yahoo.com or visit http://www.statetheatreredbluff.com/

Doing our part...

We recieved an email last week from April Osajima, the Public Policy Director of Girls Inc., with an interested request.

Our Girls Inc. Washington, DC cohorts have been working diligently to get First Lady Michelle Obama to become our 2010 Honorary Chair, meeting with her staff and constantly sending letters. There have been a number of First Ladies in this position in the past, but this appointment in particular is exciting because of the visibility Girls Inc. would get as a result.

In response to affiliates who wanted to help, April decided to ask all of us to engage our secret weapon

—and the most powerful force in the universe to some—

the Girls Inc. girls!

Of course, Girls Inc. NSV could not pass up an opportunity like this one, so we got 50 of our girls from

Red Bluff High School and Salisbury's REACH program to make postcards with a simple request:

"Dear Mrs. Obama, Please be the Honorary Chair for Girls Inc."

(They also included their first name, age, and hometown.)

I am heading to the mailbox today with this impressive number of postcards and am so glad our girls can be a part of this easy yet powerful nationwide effort!

Keep your fingers crossed that Girls Inc. can get the support of First Lady Michelle Obama and the recognition of the country in 2010.