Congratulations to our first Helga Schroeter Scholarship Recipient, Myauta Ponzo!
You may remember Myauta, the Steinmetz Career & Leadership Academy student who spoke at our last Circles of Support about her experience with Girls' Circles. We're so excited to support her as she takes her next step in her educational journey! Myauta plans to attend SCCC this fall to pursue a degree in psychology and become a therapist.
In Myauta's words. . .
"Girls' Circle has helped me in more ways than I can even express. First, it has introduced me to three amazing women in my life who have exposed me to things that I would not have had the opportunity to ...
Excerpts from the 2019 Circles of Support Celebration
There were so many wonderful speeches at the Celebration! Here are a few excerpts.
Myauta Ponzo, SCSD student and Girls' Circles participant, speaking about Girls' Circles: "It opened up so many doors. . . I'm just happy that I got to be a part of something so monumental. . . .These ladies gave me a chance, they gave us a chance to be ourselves and empowered us and gave me a sense of what self-love was."
Hemavattie Ramtahal, Roots & Wings Award recipient, muse, and workshop leader: "Our Girls' Circles. . . they do incredible things. All of these muses are women ...
Spotlight on Girls: What Girls Say About Girls’ Circles
At our Celebration Dinner, some girls chose to complete phrases to tell us more about how Girls' Circles impacted them. Here are some responses.I would recommend joining a Girls' Circle because. . .
It helps me see who my friends are and it helps me with problems I have in school!It helps open female's mindsIt's fun and motivatingIt's a good experience to see women come together to talk about our life and just communicate. Even though I am shy and stuff that they have opened me up and I have become more comfortable with talking.It's a fun and family-like group of ...
2019 Celebration Dinner Displays
The scene is always lovely at our Girls' Circle Celebration, with flowers from Kulak's Nursery and a lovely spread put together by volunteers. But some of our favorite décor are the projects that muses bring from their Girls' Circle to share with all of us. Here are few examples from this year's celebration.
If you are a Girls' Circle participant who has an image of your artwork that you'd like to share, please send it to info@wggschenectady.org or share it via our Facebook page and we'll add it here. Thank you!
Spotlight on Girls: Circles of Support Speakers
At our recent Circles of Support event, we were joined by two Schenectady High School students who have participated in our programs, Mylika Rozier (right) and Shamiah Walker (middle) from Central Park. Both girls expressed surprise at the care and support that they'd found, and they both particularly noted how impressed they were by how the adult volunteers modeled this caring and support for each other as well as the girls at events. Clearly, they'd absorbed these values, like when Mylika opened her speech announcing, "You all look amazing today." In addition, ...
Poem by Shamiah Walker
Shamiah shared this poem at our 2018 Girls' Circle Celebration and at our 2018 Circles of Support Fundraiser.
What some people call my beauty I see as flaws
my curvaceous bootie as a curse
My acne as a blessing and my intelligence as an honor because
people don't see the real you unless you make them so I take my stand
because it's time to awake 'em and show them the real me
I'm not just an hourglass
I'm someone who is smart who struggles to past
I'm someone who loves to be liked and likes to be loved
but they rather see my bottom ...
Reaching Out: Field Trips to Colleges and a Conference
Several 8th grade and high school girls visited Schenectady County Community College in April. They were welcomed by faculty, staff and students with a brief introduction to making connections and exploring possibilities. From there, they were taken on a tour and had opportunities to explore the Culinary, Biotech and Music departments. They were treated to a delicious lunch in the Van Curler Room. They learned about the importance of making great first impressions, etiquette, and the importance of getting an education. They had the opportunity to ask questions of current ...
Spotlight on Girls: Inspiration and Creativity
Words are powerful, and many of our Girls' Circle activities focus on the messages we tell ourselves and each other. We can find inspiration and wisdom from our foremothers, sacred texts, and even pop songs. Recently, some of our high schoolers visited C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios for a morning of creative expression together. Each girl created her own painting to express a message that was inspiring for her. The paintings were almost as beautiful to behold as everyone's smiles! We're so fortunate to have this terrific community resource right in downtown Schenec...
