Girl Scouts in high school to learn from women in leadership positions
BEDFORD, NH – High school-age Girl Scouts will soon gather at the Global Leadership Conference, a weekend that brings Girl Scouts from several New England states to discuss topics like social justice, human trafficking, personal growth, financial literacy, and other global issues while having an opportunity to engage with women who are changing the world and interact with like-minded peers.
The conference takes place at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, March 17-19, and has been a Girl Scout tradition for 36 years.
New this year is a partnership with Kikori, a community-driven platform that delivers “experiential social emotional learning content” to schools, nonprofits and other organizations. Kikori puts the heart into learning with an easy-to-navigate platform boasting hundreds of activities and resources, including weekly planners, monthly calendars, themed webinars, hundreds of printables, and more. They will offer a workshop and activities throughout the conference.
“With all of the social pressures being faced by female teens today, I think the Girl Scout Global Leadership Conference is needed more than ever,” said Kendra Bostick, CEO of Kikori. “The Girl Scouts provides a space for girls to truly connect, both with peers and wonderful mentors - and the female changemakers at the conference will inspire and empower. We at Kikori are thrilled to be able to support the Girl Scouts’ efforts by bringing play and reflection to the conference through experiential team-building activities.”
Kikori will provide engaging activities, designed to build meaningful connections throughout the Global Leadership Conference. These experiential Social Emotional Learning activities will support Girl Scout teens and troop leaders in building meaningful relationships, reflecting on their experiences and envisioning how they can take what they learned from Girl Scout Changemakers into the real world.
Keynote speakers this year are:
Kyleen Hashim, “Leading Through Listening: Working Towards Social Justice Change Together" - Hashim is a lifelong Girl Scout, Gold Award recipient, and alum of the Global Leadership Conference. She grew up in public housing, and later graduated summa cum laude from both Boston University and the Harvard Kennedy School, with her master’s degree in public policy. She now works in Washington, D.C., as the Deputy Director for Choice Neighborhoods at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, focusing on improving the lives of families living in high poverty neighborhoods.
Terry Castillo, “A Change Will Do You Good—Space Collabs Outmatch Going It Alone” - Castillo is a lifelong Girl Scout, a Gold Award recipient, and a Global Leadership Conference alum. She received an interdisciplinary bachelor of science and arts in mathematics and architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. She is currently the Gateway Integrated Safety Review Panel chair at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
Roxanne James, “The Growing Impact of Cultural Knowledge in STEM” - James is a lifelong Girl Scout, Gold Award recipient, and Global Leadership Conference alum. She received her master’s degree in public health and is currently an environmental epidemiologist and environmental scientist with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Returning this year will be students from the Rhode Island for Community and Justice Youth Empowerment program. These participants are primarily Black students from Providence who developing advocacy and activism skills and teaching them to other students. Their experience at last year’s Global Leadership Conference received rave reviews.
The Girl Scout Global Leadership Conference has always provided a safe space for teens to discuss challenging topics with accomplished female leaders. Leadership development, advocacy and activism are central to engaging teens in complex global and local issues which engage their curiosity and passion. In order to maximize the possibilities for positive outcomes, it is important to continue to increase the diversity of participants and consultants. Girl Scouts have always provided financial assistance to participants, and the conference has also welcomed American Field Service Scholarship Exchange Students from all over the world.
The Global Leadership Conference would not be possible without the support of Salve Regina University. Learn more about Kikori and their experiential SEL offerings at: www.kikoriapp.com.
To see more, visit https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/en/activities/global-leadership-conference.html.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont through volunteer-run troops, events, and virtual programs. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org to learn more.
