Girls Inc. of Chattanooga

Don’t miss a great article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press highlighting Girls Inc.’s Frame It Girl Spring Break Photography Camp! Read it here:

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/mar/24/girls-inc-camp-participants-learn-lessons-through-/

(photo from Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Teen girls participating in Girls Inc.’s Women’s History Project have selected this year’s UnBought & UnBossed honorees.

Before reviewing nominations sent in from the community, the girls spent several weeks learning about women’s history - including about Shirley Chisholm, who first coined the phrase “UnBought and UnBossed” during her run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972.

This year’s honorees are:

Marie Daly,Founding Executive Director, Ivy Academy

Anita Ebersole, Deputy Mayor, City of Chattanooga

Donna Kelley, Human Resources Administrator, Cityof Chattanooga

Kathleen Lane, Director of Recruiting, Decosimo Recruiting and Staffing

Karen McReynolds, Program Director, The Next Door

Sonya Kay Nelson, Owner, Faulkner, Nelson & Associates

Dana Perry, President & Managing Partner, Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel

Anjelika Riano, ESOL Coach, Hamilton County Schools

Sandy Smith, Lead Teacher in Exceptional Education, Hamilton County Department of Education

Uneva Shaw, Director of Total Health Management, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

The honorees will be presented their awards by the girls who chose to honor them: Chasity Edwards, Daphne Merrell, Tiana Roberts, Alexis Eaton, Alana Moore, Kierra Toney, Camisha Tapscott, Breaunna Conner, Kristen Harris and Janelle Tonge.

 This year, in honor of Girls Inc. of Chattanooga’s 50th Anniversary, Girls Inc. national President & CEO, Judy Vredenburgh will be the keynote speaker.

Tables of 8 are $400, individual tickets are $50 and program ads are on sale now at www.unboughtandunbossed.net. Ticket prices increase after April 20.

On March 1, the Girls Inc. Founder’s House was packed with overflowing crowds of donors, current and former board members, Girls Inc. members, alumnae and other community members who came to celebrate with us and learn about Girls Inc. of Chattanooga’s history and current programs from Girls Inc. girls.

We so appreciate the support of all who were present. The Open House is one of several events planned this year in honor of our 50th anniversary.

This spring, Girls Inc. is offering FREE Saturday health workshops for Latina mothers and their daughters ages 11-18. The workshops are designed to teach families how to discuss sensitive topics such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual health and STDs. Sessions are in Spanish and English. Lunch, transportation and childcare are also provided at no charge. The upcoming workshops are held at the St. Andrew’s Center and are on April 16, May 21 and June 18 are from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

These workshops are provided by generous funding from the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. To register, call (423) 624-4757.

Girls Inc. of Chattanooga introduces a new series of workshops for teen girls and their parents emphasizing the importance of getting a high school diploma and going to college. The workshops are being developed by Girls Inc. teens with funding they received from America’s Promise Alliance. The workshops are:

Workshop #1 “Why Graduate?” – Participants will learn the importance of graduation for a successful future. Saturday, April 9, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Workshop #2 “Building a Network of Support” – Participants will learn how parents, teachers and friends can help students graduate from high school. Saturday, April 23, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Workshop #3 “Getting into College” – Participants will partake in a discussion with local organizations and educators about what we can do as a community to raise Chattanooga’s graduation rates.  Saturday, May 7, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Graduate Chattanooga Celebration – Participants who attend all three workshops will be eligible for this exciting and entertaining celebration.  Saturday, May 21, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All workshops and the celebration will be held at Brainerd High School.  Transportation available.  Child care can be arranged.  Workshops are free of charge.

Spaces limited!  Register by Tuesday, April 5 at  www.girlsincofchatt.org/events or call 423-624-4757.

Girls Inc. is rolling out two more 50th anniversary events just in time for spring:



1st Annual Girl Walk: Stepping Stones for the Future: May 21, walk or run to commemorate Girls Inc. of Chattanooga’s 50th anniversary and learn about stepping stones to a future of success for girls; Stroller stride for dads. To register, visit www.girlsincofchatt.org/events.



1st Annual Girls Inc. Golf Open: May 24, at Lookout Mountain Golf Club. To register, visit www.girlsincofchatt.org/events.

Girls Inc. of Chattanooga celebrated 50 years of providing research and outcome-based curricula on February 15, 2011. What began as Girls Club in 1961, a center for girls to learn homemaking and other domestic skills, has grown into the current Girls Inc. affiliate which has inspired more than 23,000 Hamilton County girls to become healthy, educated and independent – - strong, smart and boldsm.

To celebrate a half-century of providing quality programming to Hamilton County’s girls, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga has planned a year-long calendar of events for all community members. The events include a March 1 open house, the 7th annual UnBought and UnBossed Awards Breakfast on April 29th, Girl Walk for the Future on May 14, a golf tournament onMay 24 at the Lookout Mountain Golf Club, and an alumnae reunion on June 18. A special anniversary gala dinner will also be held this fall in place of Girls Inc.’s annual Blast Off! event. A full list of events can be found at www.girlsincofchatt.org/events.

Check out the February 15 Times Free Press for more on Girls Inc’s history and 50th anniversary celebration events!