Girls Inc. holding sessions for new college volunteers

Advocate for Community Engagement and senior Ashley Flora took her passion for art to another level by inspiring young girls at the local Girls Inc. organization to be “strong, smart and bold.”

She said she loves working with the girls and encouraging them to use art as a way to think about other issues and explore ideas.

Along with Rachel Dotson, director of program services for Girls Inc., Flora is encouraging students older than 18 to volunteer at Girls Inc.

The organization provides after-school activities and programs for Monroe County’s girls  aged 5 to 18 from 2:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The organization provides programs such as Sporting Chance and Theater and Drama.

The organization needs more volunteers to supervise the 60 to 65 girls who come in for the after-school program, organizers said.

“We encourage men and women to volunteer,” Flora said.

She said when the girls see college-aged women volunteering while in school, it encourages them to believe that anything is possible in life.

Students can volunteer for the sake of volunteering or for college credit, Flora said. The center asks that each volunteer commit at least two hours every week so he or she establishes a strong bond with the girls.

In addition, more help is needed with the sports program in areas such as operating the scoreboard and working concessions. Dotson said in an e-mail that nearly 200 girls participate in  the group’s volleyball league.

Graduate student Lauren Weiner plans to help tutor the girls with math and science.
“I want to help other girls with math because I love it,” she said. “I want to make that connection with them.”

There are also opportunities to tutor the girls in literacy.

Although the programs are led by adults, the staff arranges them in a way that makes the girls feel a sense of ownership with the center, Dotson said.

One of the girls, who is now 16, has been going there since she was 6. Dotson said it was rewarding to see her develop empathy and take on a leadership role.

“You see girls develop confidence over time,” Dotson said.