 At last week’s summit, Marcie Munoz, left, and Megan Quinlisk flank Judy Prothro, LAHS’ advisor for Girls For a Change. |
The Girls For a Change team from Los Altos High School reported last week that the organization’s summit Nov. 3 was a great success.
More than 1,300 Bay Area girls converged on the San Jose Convention Center to learn about social change, body image, self confidence, respect and even hip-hop moves.
Marcie Munoz said, “GFC Rocks! I’ve never felt more heard by adults in any other experience, not even at home.”
Adult attendee Katie Watson said, “Overall, the summit was a huge success and a very impacting event for the girls and me. Where was this program when I was in high school?”
Keynote speaker Alicia Gonzales, a member of a San Jose team, joined 500 other speakers and facilitators at the event, including Olympic soccer star Brandi Chastain and NBC News anchorwoman Sandy Castelblanco. Girls For a Change seeks professional women to support urban middle and high school girls as the girls design, lead, fund and implement social change projects that tackle problems they face in their neighborhoods.
“It was amazing to see and meet the next generation of ladies that will be sitting at our decision-making tables, leading our country and our enterprises,” Watson said.
The one-day event kicked off a year of social change projects by young women who speak up and change their communities.
Last year, the Los Altos High team undertook a program they titled “Take Heart, Be Aware, All Eyes on Dating Violence.” In partnership with Next Door Solutions, they presented skits about healthy relationships and dating violence prevention. They also researched facts on dating violence and produced a point-by-point presentation that they showed fellow students during assemblies. They also held parent training sessions in English and Spanish to spread information about what makes up healthy teen relationships and what constitutes dating violence.
For more information about Girls For a Change, visit www.girlsforachange.org or www.hercity.org.
