Category Archives: General
Shardea Gallion – her story is our story!
Follow the link below to read about Girls Inc. of Omaha alum Shardea Gallion.
http://leoadambiga.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/strong-smart-and-bold-a-girls-inc-story/
$$ for grades – good incentive or inappropriate bribe? Girls weigh in.
From girls who received checks:
“A bribe???!!! Excuse me?!! No, seriously, I can see how some people might think that but to me, it just shows that someone appreciates what I am doing. If I work hard, someone notices. I plan on saving my money.” – Zhamontee
“I like getting money but I agree you shouldn’t get bribed to do something you are supposed to do anyway, like get good grades.” – Ebony
“It is easy money, like getting paid for going to school, but it’s not a bribe. It shows you that if you work hard, you will get rewarded. If you do what you are supposed to do, you might end up with some extra money in your pocket. I might buy somes shoes since you [Girls Inc.] already save some of it for me.” – D’Ashanique
From a girl who didn’t receive a check:
“Don’t put my name down because I don’t want someone to think I am stupid if I didn’t get a check. If it is a bribe, it might just work because I am thinking ‘How can I get in on that? Like maybe I could bring my grades up. I don’t know. And anyway, do you think people would go to work if they didn’t get a paycheck. I mean even if they like their job or think they are doing a good job they like to get money because who doesn’t? For real, Ms. Roberta, don’t tell me you don’t like your paycheck. You know you love that paycheck. Payday is a good day, right?” – anonymous
The Teens Hit Coco Key
This is the first time I have been to Coco Key and I enjoyed all the waterslides and having fun with my friends. – Makayla
– We had a lot of fun telling stories and the slides gave me a rush. It was very exhausting but the hot tub was relaxing and I enjoyed it! — Zhomentee
– It was awesome! I’ve never been to Coco Key, but now that I have I want to go again. The storytelling was interesting. I had fun! – Ebony
– For my first time at Coco Key it was very interesting. – Adrianna
– I had fun eating pizza and talking with friends. — Aradia
Who Am I?
Who am I?
A Girls Club Alumni.
I remember when Girls Club was located on Lake St. At that time girls needed to be 8 years old to attend. The first day my mom tried to enroll me, I was 7 years old and was told to come back in a year. To a seven year old, that was forever and I cried for days. But I did return!
Who am I?
The mother of a Girls Inc. Alumni.
My daughter, Antiana Valentine, attended girls Inc. through high school. This was one of the best adventures I could have offered her. She is now a senior in college at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. Antiana also received a scholarship from Girls Inc. While at Girls Inc., she was paired with a mentor who sent her care packages to school, spent quality positive time with her, and is now a lifelong friend my daughter respects and views as a role model.
During the time she attended Girls Inc., our family experienced challenges like any other family. Girls Inc. was there to provide her with dreams and creativity to pursue. She received a new sewing machine that helped her explore sewing. She traveled to Washington, D.C. and while there met Barack Obama when he was still a Senator and ‘godmother of civil rights’ Dorthy Height, who is now deceased, but was a Delta. This experience really had an impact and influenced her life because Barack Obama is now President and Antiana has now pledged Delta. And the list goes on…………………………
Who am I?
A mother of a Girls Inc member.
My daughter Nautika Valentine, who is 12 years old, also attends Girls Inc. She loves all the different feild trips and activites.
Who am I?
An employee at Girls Inc.
I was affected by the current recession and lost my job. After months of searching for employment, who was there once again? My Girls Inc. family. My short employment experience with Girls Inc. has been such a blessing for me and my family. I almost feel that my working here in some way is giving back some of love Girls Inc has given my girls. Girls Inc has given Antiana love inspiration, hope and dreams and she has now passed them on to Nautika.
Who am I?
A Girls Club Alumni, Mother of a Girls Inc Alumni, A Mother of Girls Inc. Member, and now a Girls Inc. employee. Thank You Girls Inc.!
by Antonia “Ms. Nia” Valentine
Firefighters & Police Appreciation Day
It was very fun and I liked it a lot. It was cool to have my picture taken with Chief Hayes because I want to be a police officer when I grow up…maybe even Chief. – JaLeah
Why nap? Ms. Tess will tell you why.
Most of my kindergarten and 1st grade girls are at Girls Inc. from 7 or 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. That is a long day for a little girls. That’s why we have naptime. Usually all of them fall asleep for about 90 minutes. Many of them even ask, “When are we going to lie down?” They know they’re tired. They wake up right around snack time, refreshed and ready for Part 2 of the day. (And, I’d like to add that our teen helper doesn’t hate naptime either!) – Ms. Tess
Community Anti-Violence Meeting
After attending a luncheon hosted by The Optimist Club of Omaha, Ciera Hollingsworth and Makayla Bell decided to tag along to the weekly Anti-Violence meeting hosted by the North Omaha Empowerment Network and Omaha 360.
“I loved seeing a lot of important people from all walks of life coming together to support Omaha. It was very interesting and empowering. I also enjoyed attending a ‘grown up’ meeting. This is the real world.” – Ciera
“First, I want to say that all day long I’ve done things that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do without Girls Inc. I liked the luncheon with The Optimist Club and I also really enjoyed the anti-violence meeting. It was great to see the room full of people – not just one race, one gender, or one group, but pastors, senators, councilmen, police officers, and concerned citizens all working together for the common good. They were all interested in helping North Omaha. Well, all of Omaha actually. It was inspiring.” – Makayla
Nap Time
“I get tired.” Mariamo, age 5
“I like our new mats. They’re pretty.” – Jessica, age 5
“When you wake up, you wash the mat and put it away.” – Jamila, age 5
Thank you, Optimist Club!
Today, Girls Inc. of Omaha received a check for $1,000 from the Optimist Club of Omaha. Teen members Ciera Hollingsworth and Makayla Bell accompanied Executive Director, Roberta Wilhelm, to the luncheon presentation to accept the check on behalf of Girls Inc. and to speak about their experiences growing up at Girls Inc. Makayla has been a Girls Inc. member since she was seven and Ciera has been a member since the age of six.
“It was encouraging to learn about organizations like the Optimists that are working to make the community better than it is. They were all very nice and caring. My favorite part of The Optimists Creed is ‘To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.'” – Makayla
“I am used to people like the ones at Girls Inc. – mostly women – working to do good things in the community. I am not used to seeing so many men (and, is it ok for me to say “Caucasian men?”) working to make the community better. It was good for me to see this. I liked learning about service organizations and how they help agencies like Girls Inc. I definitely plan to give back to the community like this when I am a professional. Oh, yeah…and the food was good. I had two plates!” – Ciera
A poem written for our visit by Optimist Club member Alden Awerkamp:
Girls Are Special
Welcome to our meeting Roberta this day
You care for kids in a very special way
Boys and girls have different needs
Too often our girl is the one who leads
Growing up before they can be a child
Often the landscape a little too wild
Girls Inc. provides a place of good things
Shelters our girls from difficult stings
We love to support for all that you stand
Help our girls get the best from this land
Help them claim the things that are theirs
All at Girls Inc. in all of our prayers.
YOUR OPTIMIST FRIENDS
Night in White
Girls Inc. members and staff participated in Night in White at the Parkside Baptist Church yesterday. The service was hosted by the Alliance of Women Clergy, Inc. and their vision is “a multi-racial grassroots coalition of faith-based leaders on one accord commited to equality and diversity. We see clergy women coming together to weave a web in the sacred acknowledgement of God; learning and growing from that knowledge ‘to encourage and build each other up…’ (1 Thess. 5:11). The theme for the service was “Shine on me Lord!” and opened with the singing of “This Little Light of Mine.”
Girls Inc. was chosen to receive the collection donation from the service and members of the Girls Inc. step team performed during the service.
‘”It was a definitely new experience for me, having the girls perform in a church.” – Ms. Candice, Girls Inc. step team coach.
