Creighton Youth Sports Camp
Creighton Camp was a very fun and adventurous experience for the Girls Inc. members. Everyday was packed full of activities, workshops and skill building.
The girls enjoyed learning how to play new sports and getting tips from actual coaches and players. The girls played volleyball, basketball, softball, football, soccer and of course went swimming. At the end of camp ceremony Girls Inc. ladies received various awards for “Most Improved”, “Best Attitude” “Miss Congeniality” and “MVP.” I was very impressed with our ladies during Creighton camp and I was glad to see them so engaged and eager to learn!” – Ms. Desiree
The Big Garden Sharing
The girls have been working in our gardens with interns Matt and Megan from The Big Garden. The event they attended was a time for the interns to share what they have been working on and to share the fruits of their labor. – Ms. Kate
I liked when I saw our picture on display. I learned we can havce a spa day and we can have fun planting vegetables. – Ebone
I learned a lot about all the other things you can plant besides flowers. The food was delicious! – Robin
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
Teens Visit to York Prison
On July 15, 2010 Girls Inc. teens went to York’s Women prison [Nebraska Correctional Center for Women]. We got to interview two of the inmates to see what it’s like to be in a prison. One inmate was in for 2nd degree murder and one was in for assaulting a security guard. They would wake up, and then eat breakfast, some would go to work and some would go to school. They would usually room with 2-4 people. You would only have a bunk bed and a toilet. If women had a baby, the baby could stay in the nursery or they could live with a relative. They could also go to a store at the prison call the canteen. They could buy different things like snacks, clothes, etc. During their free time they could go to the yard or check out games. They could also go to the gym to lift weights. Overall you really didn’t have any freedom. York’s women prison is not where you want to go. – Kanesha
The trip to the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women in York was very interesting. At first I was a little nervous visiting a prison solely because of the stereotypes that I’ve heard about them. I guess I kind of expected violent women in jumpsuits fighting and resisting their guards’ orders. I was visioning murderers, rapists, and drug dealers walking around but although that was true, in reality they seemed like normal people. Although we didn’t get to tour the prison, we did get to speak with two prisoners. They told us about themselves like why they where here, how their lives were before, and what they planned on doing when they got out. One lady was about 32 and serving a 25-50 year sentence for 2nd degree murder. The other was only 19 and serving a 3-5 year sentence for assault. They answered our questions about life in prison and how the average day goes. The most unexpected thing I learned was that they can have their babies live with them in prison if they are pregnant. Also, that they kids up to age 11 can visit overnight with them. Their stories were eye-opening as to how choices you make can impact your life forever. The biggest thing that I learned is that I’m never going back! – Denai
MOUSE PAINT
“The girls read the book Mouse Paint, a personal favorites from my childhood, and then they painted their own artwork, mixing and blending the paint just like the mouse in the book.” Ms. Tess
“I picked a flower for my picture because flowers are beautiful.” – Destiny
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
Holding a real alligator? Awesome!
Girls attended a Wildlife Encounter program at the South Omaha Library where they were able to see and touch all manner of creatures. Chloe actually held an alligator.
“When I held the alligator, it was scary at first because a guy asked me to close my eyes and hold out my hands. Then he brought it out and everybody screamed so I got nervous. Then he put it in my hands and told me to open my eyes and it was an alligator. I felt better after I saw his mouth taped shut and he didn’t move. It was awesome!” – Chloe
You can watch Chloe hold a for-real-live-not-stuffed-even-if-his-mouth-was-taped-shut alligator if you click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6elnq7gceK8 The video has a little of that Blair Witch Project-y thing going on but it is so worth watching! When Chloe shuts her eyes and then the other girls see that it is an alligator she will be holding and start screaming – it’s a moment! Chloe puts the bold in “strong, smart, and bold!”
Sign Language Class
The girls sign “I love Girls Inc.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw-B2DCtLSA
Volunteer Clay Artist
Jenna Gentzler, a student of ceramics at Kansas State University, taught a workshop for ten 9 to 12-year-old girls today.
“The girls did a great job. They were good listeners and paid attention to instructions. They were so eager to see my demonstration at first they they crowded too close. I had to have them move away a bit to give myself some room to work. They were especially excited to learn how to add the details to their pots once we got to that point in the project. They were good at cricitcal thinking. They had to figure out what to do if there was a problem; how to fix a weak spot or what to do if something went wrong with their design. They had to problem solve. If they rolled the clay out and it stuck to the table they had to scrape it all off and try again using Saran Wrap on the table before rolling.
The girls were very curious and had lots of questions: Is this coil big enough? Can I make a something that my dad can actually drink juice out of? What kind of paint will we use? Do I need to slip and score every piece or just the big ones? How soon can we fire these? Can I add a lid to mine? Lots of questions!
The girls learned new vocabulary – slip, score, and wedge. They learned the names of the tools we used: wooden knife and needle tools. We also used rolling pins but I am pretty sure they already knew the name for those. They learned how to make a coil from clay and how to build a pot using coils. They learned how to attach small pieces to a larger piece.
My ultimate goal is to study to become an art therapist. I really like teaching what I know and using it to develop a relationship. When you are making something -w hen you are in the act of creating something and you are engaged with that task – it is easier to have free conversation. I found that to be true with the girls today. It was very easy to talk to them and to get to know them as we worked on their pots.
I would recommend volunteering at Girls Inc. The girls were all very sweet. They need good influences and they need love. I had a great time and would love to come back.” – Jenna
Jenna leaves soon for study abroad in Namibia. Among her other experiences, she will also be teaching art to girls ages 12 through 18 while she is there. She will bring some supplies with her but will also stay flexible to see what develops, what the girls’ interests are and what is available for her to use locally. If you would like to follow her experiences (although she is not sure how often she will have computer access!), she will be blogging about her experiences at jennagentz.blogspot.com.
Thanks Jenna, for sharing your talent with Girls Inc. of Omaha. We’ll post some photos for you after the pots are glazed and fired!
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
