Incorporating pathways of learning, esteem and confidence for academic excellence: Girls with Pearls

Format

Poster Presentation

Location

Harborside Center

Strand #1

Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Family & Community

Relevance

Social and Emotional

As a member of Girls with Pearls, young ladies are encouraged to participate in open dialogue about real life issues that they are faced with both in and out of school environments. They are inspired by workshop sessions with community leaders and advocacy agencies that create partnerships with our school in efforts to track the success of organizational members. Examples of topics discussed in our power sessions include conversations on self esteem, hygiene, etiquette, peer pressure, social media safety, character, and service. Open forums are available for them as well and each ambassador doubles as a life long mentor.


Family and Community

An essential fragment of our organization is collaboration. Parents are encouraged to participate in the overall structure of our team. We are not your average committee that focuses on numbers alone, when we open our doors for membership we are seeking individuals that are seeking family bonds and loving relationships through service. We focus on giving back to the community that serves us on a daily basis by participating in mandated community service hours and at any opportunity we answer the call of those in need.

Brief Program Description

Today, more than ever before, young girls are faced with various peer pressures and social issues that can very easily make it hard for them to cope. Girls with Pearls offers an educational and experiential approach to improving decision making, developing coping resources and increasing self-esteem by creating opportunities for empowerment in young girls.

Summary

The Girls with Pearls model is designed to provide practical strategies to young girls about the importance of being different. Not in a way that seems impractical to strong personality types and natural born leaders, but for select individuals that dare to shine.

As a service based organization, members are challenged to build relationships with community organizations that will bring back the old cliché that it takes a community....

Our young ladies grow to be prosperous women that give back and break cycles of poverty, self-hate, and teen pregnancy.

By motivating our youth to do something different, we are creating platforms of excellence that have proven to have a direct effect on the academic and educational success of young students. By pushing them to exceed even their own expectations, we collaboratively create a mentality of

“I can do it tiveness” that is limitless and over time, effortless. The pearl is symbolic of sophistication and class even in its rarest of form. Many of the young ladies served within our school come from backgrounds that are not so great, but have the potential to promote greatness to our world. They have the passion to overcome the many obstacles they are faced with on a daily basis and participation in our organization is a high achievement within our school walls. Typically waitlisted based on limitations to space and conflict with other organizational duties, Girls with Pearls is a force to be reckoned with. Providing a solution to some of the harsh realities facing our youth today, Girls with Pearls is one solution to creating an atmosphere of hope.

Evidence

The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development (PYD), tests developmental contextual ideas linking PYD, youth contributions, and participation in community youth development (YD) programs, representing a key ecological asset.

It states that children that choose to participate in community organizations or groups are more likely to thrive in areas of academia and leadership amongst their peers.

According to statistical data provided under the research of Title I there is a direct relationship to the academic success in our students and the collaboration of parents, school administrators and ambassadors, community leaders and advocacy groups.

There is clearly a need for organizations such as these to eliminate the possibility of idle hands and minds of our youth. Participation is critical to their success and societal well being.

Biographical Sketch

Mrs. Brown-Mattox received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Information Technology (Management) from Macon State College, and she received her Master of Science degree in School Counseling Education from Fort Valley State University. She works with students in the domains of personal/social, academic and career development. She also serves as the 4H ambassador for her school.

Mrs. Jaquetta Dawkins works in the office of Family Engagement as a supplement for Title I. She works diligently to advocate for students and families in areas of poverty, academia, and disability. She received her EMBA in International Business Management and is currently in pursuit of a DBA in Organizational Business Leadership. She also serves as an ambassador for Girls with Pearls.

Ms. Violetta Hudson is the founder of Girls with Pearls. She recognized the need for mentorship within her community and decided to create a platform for excellence for young girls with a heart of service and stewardship.

Keyword Descriptors

Leadership, activism, collaboration, stewardship, community, youth development, academic success

Presentation Year

2016

Start Date

3-8-2016 4:00 PM

End Date

3-8-2016 5:30 PM

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Mar 8th, 4:00 PM Mar 8th, 5:30 PM

Incorporating pathways of learning, esteem and confidence for academic excellence: Girls with Pearls

Harborside Center

Today, more than ever before, young girls are faced with various peer pressures and social issues that can very easily make it hard for them to cope. Girls with Pearls offers an educational and experiential approach to improving decision making, developing coping resources and increasing self-esteem by creating opportunities for empowerment in young girls.