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OUR HISTORY

Girls Inc. of SE Wisconsin is an affiliate of the national Girls Incorporated organization, a recognized authority on girls’ issues with a history dating back to 1864. Girls Inc. was founded in 1864 to serve girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War. Across the decades, we adapted to meet the specific environmental challenges facing girls and young women, always working in partnership with schools and communities, and guided by our founders’ fundamental belief in the inherent potential of each girl. Woven into those early girls’ clubs are the same core values of Girls Inc. today: the importance of creating a safe gathering place for girls to learn and to share in a sisterhood, and a strong premise that each girl can develop her own capacities, self- confidence, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent.

LOCAL AFFILIATE HISTORY

Since 2007, Girls Incorporated of SE Wisconsin has advocated for and worked to improve the lives of under-served girls ages 5 to 18 in Southeast Wisconsin. We achieve this mission by providing gender-based academic enrichment and lifestyle development programs. Our commitment is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold!

Under the guidance of Chief Executive Officer, Jeanette Brown, Girls Inc. of SE Wisconsin provides a research-based curriculum to hundreds of underserved girls. Every day, our trained professionals administer the Girls Inc. Experience, which equips girls to achieve academically; lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Girls Inc. Bill of rights

Although the times and programs have changed, Girls Inc. always has been, and always will be, all about the girls. With a continued commitment and dedication to making a measurable and lasting difference, Girls Inc. is a strong advocate for girls and honors the Girls Inc. Girls Bill of Rights.

View Bill of Rights PDF

These advocacy statements, first created over a quarter of a century ago and adopted by the entirety of Girls Incorporated, are at once the expression of our values and the guiding principles of our social engagement. An articulation of our convictions, they are the framework within which we pursue our mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, and our vision of empowered girls and women in an equitable society.

The Girls’ Bill of Rights comes from the Girls Incorporated Advocacy Statements

1

Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist stereotypes.

2

Girls have the right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.

3

Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success.

4

Girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies.

5

Girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world.

6

Girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence.

I struggled internally for a long time, but through Girls Inc. I learned that my body is a resource, not an object. I began to love and embrace my body.

Briseida