GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS INC

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS RECOGNIZES THAT IN MANY MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES, GIRLS ARE UNDERSERVED IN THE FOUR KEY AREAS OF THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: STEM, OUTDOORS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND LIFE SKILLS. GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMS CAN OFFER A SAFE, SINGLE-GENDER ENVIRONMENT TO DEVELOP THESE IMPORTANT AREAS THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GIRL SCOUT-LED, COOPERATIVE, AND HANDS-ON. SUPPORTED BY CARING ADULT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, GIRL SCOUTS DISCOVER THEMSELVES AND THEIR VALUES, TRY NEW THINGS, TAKE HEALTHY RISKS, CONNECT WITH OTHERS TO CREATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, AND TAKE ACTION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. GSEMA IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING ACCESS TO GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMMING IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY ARE THE MOST IN NEED. ACCORDING TO GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA'S (GSUSA'S) 2017 STATE OF GIRLS REPORT, 16% OF GIRLS IN MASSACHUSETTS LIVE IN POVERTY, 33% OF MASSACHUSETTS GIRLS ARE BEING RAISED IN SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES, 26% OF GIRLS IN MASSACHUSETTS COME FROM IMMIGRANT FAMILIES, AND GIRLS FROM FAMILIES WITH LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE OF BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC/LATINA DESCENT. THROUGHOUT OUR COUNCIL FOOTPRINT OF 178 COMMUNITIES, GSEMA HAS IDENTIFIED 13 TARGET COMMUNITIES THAT DEMONSTRATE THE MOST NEED: BOSTON, BRADFORD, CAMBRIDGE, CHELSEA, EVERETT, HAVERHILL, LAWRENCE, LYNN, MALDEN, METHUEN, REVERE, SAUGUS, AND SOMERVILLE.GSEMA PROVIDES GIRL SCOUTS IN GRADES K-12 IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES A FOUNDATIONAL GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCE THROUGH TARGETED COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND HOUSING AUTHORITIES. GSEMA ALSO OFFERS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE GROWTH OF NEW TROOPS, AND DELIVER THE FULL GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCE PRIMARILY THROUGH VOLUNTEER LED GIRL SCOUT PROGRAMMING. OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM IDENTIFIES BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION, PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE, AND CREATES COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS TO BRING THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE TO THOSE WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE INTRODUCED TO GIRL SCOUTS.ALL GSEMA CURRICULA FOCUSES ON THE FOUR AREAS THAT FORM THE FOUNDATION OF A GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE: STEM, OUTDOORS, LIFE SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (INCLUDES FINANCIAL LITERACY). CURRICULA IS AGE-APPROPRIATE, UTILIZES GSUSA NATIONAL PROGRAM PORTFOLIO, AND WHENEVER POSSIBLE, IS GIRL SCOUT-LED TO FOSTER SKILLS SUCH AS COOPERATION, COMMUNICATION, STRONG WORK ETHIC, ETC.IN ADDITION TO THE VARIETY OF FUN AND CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES GIRL SCOUTS WILL EXPERIENCE IN THE AREAS OF STEM, OUTDOORS, LIFE SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, GIRL SCOUTS WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTEND GSEMA SIGNATURE EVENTS SUCH AS THE ANNUAL STEM CONFERENCE, ; SPEND THE DAY AT ONE OF GSEMA'S CAMPS DURING OUR FAMILY DAY AT CAMP; PARTICIPATE IN AN OVERNIGHT CAMP EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER GIRL SCOUTS; PLAN AND CARRY OUT SERVICE PROJECTS TO BETTER THEIR COMMUNITY AND INCLUDE GIRL SCOUT TRADITIONS IN THEIR TROOPS SUCH AS CEREMONIES AND CELEBRATING WORLD THINKING DAY. GSEMA AIMS TO ADDRESS AND MINIMIZE BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATING IN GIRL SCOUTS TO FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS IN THE TARGET COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING: -ASSISTANCE WITH MEMBERSHIP AND PROGRAM COST AS NEEDED -ACCESS TO UNIFORMS WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IF NEEDED -A SAFE, FAMILIAR, AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY LOCATION- BACKGROUND-CHECKED AND TRAINED STAFF AND/OR VOLUNTEERS -ACCESS TO SPECIAL STEM AND LEADERSHIP EVENTS, AND OUTDOOR PROGRAMS AT GIRL SCOUT PROPERTIES WITH TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE -OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT COLLEGE AND CAREER OPTIONS, FROM FEMALE MENTORS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND PROFESSIONAL FEMALES IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREERS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT ADDRESS THE GENDER GAP AND STEREOTYPES -OPTIONS TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID TO OTHER GIRL SCOUT EXPERIENCES SUCH SUMMER CAMP AND TRAVEL -FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES -TRANSLATED COMMUNICATIONS AND MATERIALS