A Letter from our CEO, Beth Myers
Dallas, TX: March, 10, 2023 – I am always excited to talk about the incredible work of the Girls Inc. Dallas team and share the inspiring stories of the girls we serve. During Women’s History Month, we have an opportunity to amplify those messages. The month of March is a time to recognize the courage and brilliance of those who defied gender norms and broke down barriers. Everywhere we look, individuals and organizations are celebrating women and girls. There is a lot to celebrate. There are more women in leadership roles and in positions of power than ever before and we are surrounded by messages of hope and inspiration for girls.
Here at Girls Inc. Dallas, we are gaining more and more supporters. We served nearly 40% more girls in FY22 than the previous year and are on track to exceed that number in FY23. You can learn more about our program and impact in the FY22 Annual Report.
In the first few months of this calendar year, we have already held our two biggest events, the Bold Dreams Breakfast for our supporters, and the Power 2 the Girl conference for nearly 500 girls in our community. Our camps and in-school programs are in high demand and we are partnering with more schools than ever before. I am inspired by the girls who are flourishing in our programs.
But we are also facing a devastating crisis. The CDC just released the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report, and girls are suffering. The data presented is alarming. 1 in 3 high-school girls reported that they have seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 57% said they experienced “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” in the past year. The statistics for girls of color are even worse.
The CDC report also outlines what can be done to help: helping youth find belonging; making sure they have access to mental health supports; educating them about well-being and self-care. I encourage you to read the summary for even more details.
The CDC’s proposed solution is exactly what we do at Girls Inc. Unfortunately, our current limited resources allow us to only reach a fraction of the girls in Dallas County who need our help. This is why we are constantly working to gain more support, grow our impact, and reach exponentially more girls.
I hope that the picture painted by the CDC report spotlights why it is so important that we take genuine action now, before the situation for girls becomes even worse.
Sincerely,
Beth Myers
To view our 2022 Annual Report, click here