Girls Inc. helps members learn, develop life skills

Dozens of girls grab the chairs beneath them. Their bouncing ponytails and quiet humming signal eagerness at Girls Inc., as attendance is taken and announcements are made.

When the daily meeting is done, the anticipation explodes as girls dart left and right, eager to stake their claim at the craft table or begin their homework. The adults smile as they follow.

“I enjoy working with Girls Inc. because I appreciate their mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold,” said senior Ashley Flora, who works as an advocate for community engagement at Girls Inc. 

As an ACE, Flora coordinates volunteers. The ACE program acts as a liaison between agencies in Bloomington and service-learning classes at IU.

“I love working with girls and helping them explore their interests and helping them figure out what they want to do in life, regardless of stereotypes,” Flora said. “I really have gotten a chance to get to know the girls here at Girls Inc. and watch them grow up, which is fun.”

With three full-time staff members, Bloomington’s Girls Inc. serves more than 400 members total, including about 60 girls a day in its after-school programs. 

Girls who attend the after-school program are divided by age into three groups and participate in age-relative programs that rotate daily, such as nutrition, gardening, sports and art.

The girls range in age from five to 18.

This semester Girls Inc. is also running economic literacy for every age group.  
“It’s a really practical, fun program that’s into giving girls skills they need to be financially independent women, and it’s also a good opportunity to give girls a time to talk really honestly about concerns or fears they might have about money,” said Rachel Dotson, director of program services. 

Ten-year-old Sabrina has attended Girls Inc. for about five years.

“I like to come here and hang out with my friends,” she said. “We do a lot of fun activities. I do my homework here, too.” 

In addition to the after-school programs, Girls Inc. offers a day camp during the summer and an evening sports league.

With so few staff members, Girls Inc. cannot operate without volunteers.

“We really do rely on volunteers to staff our after-school programs,” Flora said.
Girls Inc. generally utilizes 50 volunteers per semester – about 40 to 45 of them are IU students. Volunteers are needed for both the after-school programs and evening sports league.

In addition to crafts and homework, the girls also form relationships with the staff.

“It allows you to get to know the girls and the girls to get to know you,” Flora said. “As you do get to know them, they’ll want to tell you all sorts of things about their lives.”