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Girl power

Young local Latinas team up to create big social change for neighborhoods, world

Empowerment. Vision. Education.

For several young Valley women, these words are embraced every day through a program that not only teaches social change, but shows participants how to live and breathe it.

Known as Girls For A Change (GFC), this program educates lower-income middle and high school girls to be social change agents, leaders and innovators.

And this national program is making a local impact.

With its first pilot program held in Maricopa County in the spring of 2006, the first full year of programming launched this fall and will run through May of 2007. During GFC's pilot program (a five-month version of the one-year program) there were 10 Girl Action Teams, made up of 100 girls and 20 coaches. This year, that number has more than doubled with 22 Action Teams and 44 coaches in schools, community centers and group homes across Maricopa County.

The program's executive director is proud of these results.

"That's more than 300 lower-income girls and girls of color who will be empowered to design, lead and implement social change projects that tackle problems they face in their neighborhoods," says Alexandra Zavala, Executive Director of GFC Phoenix.

Zavala previously managed the first-ever Hispanic Outreach Program for Planned Parenthood of Central and Northern Arizona, and co-founded the Hispanic Outreach Alliance - a network of more than 100 outreach professionals in the Phoenix area.

Serving as the organization's executive director since August, Zavala says that when she learned about the work GFC does to empower girls to find their own voice, she knew that she had to get involved.

And with 22 teams working at transforming their communities this year, these young women share a common vision.

This vision was recently shared at the annual GFC Change the World Reception in November. This event welcomed community sponsors and members who support the organization's goal of empowering girls to become change agents and equalize the leadership gender gap in the community.

The reception also welcomed GFC program participants.

"The most important thing that GFC has given us girls is the opportunity to share our beliefs," says 22-year-old Karla Bocardo, a recent participant of the GFC steering committee at Gateway Early College High School. "Because of my participation in GFC, I am now more confident about myself and can speak my mind about anything."

All GFC events and programs are free to girls, and the organization relies on the monetary support of foundations, corporations and community members. Currently with a site in the Phoenix metro area and one in Silicon Valley, GFC has been recognized nationally as one of the most innovative change organizations.

Zavala couldn't agree more.

"Imagine what our world would look like when every year 10,000 urban girls find and use their voices to better their neighborhoods," she says.

"In 10 years, our communities would be that much healthier. In 20 years, there would be more than 100,000 women ready to sit at the global decision-making table. In 30 years this could literally be a different world we live in."

GIRLS FOR A CHANGE PROGRAMS

. Girl Action Teams: Starting in October, women volunteers called coaches guide a team of five to 10 girls through the creation of a social change project. This group of girls and two coaches are called a Girl Action Team.

. Girl Steering Committee: A leadership body of 15-20 girls participate in all levels of decision-making with the organization each year. Girls are members of organizational committees or the GFC Advisory Board.

New Girls Network: GFC connects girls to a network of professional men and women so that they have the resources they need to complete their project. This network builds a bridge between girls and the opportunities of a larger community.

To donate to Girls For A Change, visit www.girlsforachange.org or contact GFC at (602) 677-9428. Visit the Girls For A Change blog -InHer City at www.hercity.org .