Advocate of the Month: How Caroline Crawford’s Decade of Dedication Powers Girls Empowerment Network

Caroline Crawford has been a cornerstone of Girls Empowerment Network for over a decade, transitioning from Program Director to Chief Program Officer and now a dedicated volunteer and advocate. During a pivotal leadership transition at GEN, Caroline’s expertise in coaching and consulting provided invaluable guidance to our team. She also led a transformative workshop on the Enneagram, equipping staff with tools to strengthen communication and collaboration. From her strategic insights to her radiant energy as our Radiant G Conference emcee, Caroline embodies what it means to empower girls.

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Advocate of the Month 🌟 Erin Nemons, MS, LPC

At the Girls Empowerment Network, we believe in the power of partnerships to create lasting change, especially for youth impacted by the juvenile justice system. This month, we’re proud to spotlight Erin Nemons, MS, LPC, Manager of Institutional Clinical Services at McLennan County Juvenile Facility. Erin has been a vital advocate for empowering young people through our self-efficacy-building curriculum.

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Ana Juarez
Girls Empowerment Network is a Polling Place: Empowering Changemakers at Our Austin Location for the Upcoming Presidential Election!

Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) is proud to announce that our Austin office will serve as an official polling location for Election Day 2024. This initiative aligns with GEN’s mission of advocacy and civic engagement, inspired by our commitment to “Changemaking,” the newest addition to our Seven Cs of Self-Efficacy. Discover how this idea sparked in a team meeting and led to GEN partnering with Travis County to support our local community in this historic election.

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AdvocacyAna Juarez
Empowering Leaders and Families: How Girls Empowerment Network Thrives with a Parent-Friendly Culture

This spring, the Girls Empowerment Network celebrates a significant milestone: over half of our leadership team now consists of parents with young children. We’re proud to foster an environment that supports our team members as whole, authentic people, balancing their roles as leaders and parents. From our comprehensive parental leave policy to flexible scheduling, we’re committed to empowering not just the youth we serve, but also the dedicated individuals who make our mission possible. This blog reflects on our journey and the powerful impact of creating a family-friendly culture within our organization.

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Girls Empowerment Network Board Votes in New Executive Director, Ami Kane and Deputy Director, Kameryn Sampson, After Six Months in Their Role as Interim Leaders

Girls Empowerment Network’s Board of Directors conducted their vote on June 24th to officially confirm Ami Kane as Executive Director of Girls Empowerment Network and Kameryn Sampson as Deputy Director. Ami Kane and Kameryn Sampson served in their Interim roles for 6 months after former CEO, Julia Cuba Lewis, transitioned from the organization last December.  

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Ring the BellAna Juarez
Girls Empowerment Network Leans on Community Input to Craft a Theory of Change 

In January 2022, Girls Empowerment Network embarked on a mission to update our organizational Theory of Change, informed by extensive community feedback. Through listening groups, we identified key challenges for girls today, including post-pandemic social navigation, academic pressure, and mental health issues. We learned the critical importance of skills like self-confidence, goal setting, relationship-building, and coping mechanisms. Our findings highlighted the necessity for brave spaces, relatable role models, and empowering youth to use their voices, all of which are pivotal for our future programs and advocacy efforts.

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Discovering My Inner Power as a Leader – 3 Takeaways from New Strategies Program at Georgetown University's Business for Impact 

Kameryn Sampson, Interim Deputy Director at Girls Empowerment Network, reflects on her participation in the Georgetown University's Business for Impact program. She shares how she discovered her inner power as a leader and learned how to embrace her strengths as Interim Deputy Director working towards helping girls across Texas ignite their own power.

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Businesses We Love in Central Texas, Houston, and Dallas: Celebrating Black History Month

Our Girls Empowerment Network staff is thrilled to share this carefully curated list of our favorite Black-owned businesses across Dallas, Houston, and Central Texas. These hidden gems, often cherished as best-kept secrets, showcase the incredible talent and entrepreneurial spirit within the Black community. In celebration of Black History Month, we are thrilled to share this collection and encourage everyone to join us in supporting and uplifting these remarkable individuals and their businesses!

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Ana Juarez
Impact Highlights: Reflecting on Impactful Moments for Girls Empowerment Network's 2022-2023 School Year

At Girls Empowerment Network, each year marks a celebration of our impact, a moment we call 'Ring the Bell.' This year, our journey with 4,889 girls through workshops, camps, and conferences was a testament to our commitment to empowering young minds. This journey isn't just about numbers; it's about the growth we witness in every girl, empowering them to express, create, and envision possibilities. Join us in igniting the power in girls and making a lasting difference in their lives.

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Girls Empowerment Network Celebrates our 2023 Volunteers of the Year!

We are thrilled to introduce the remarkable individuals who have been selected as the Girls Empowerment Network Volunteers of the Year by our dedicated staff. These exceptional volunteers have gone above and beyond in their commitment to empowering and uplifting girls and young women in our community. Whether serving as board members, providing invaluable guidance and strategic vision, engaging Power Chat, or supporting with direct service, these volunteers have made a profound impact on the lives of our participants. Their passion, dedication, and unwavering support have made a profound impact on our organiztiond, and we are truly grateful for their outstanding contributions. Join us in celebrating and honoring these incredible volunteers for their outstanding commitment to the Girls Empowerment Network's mission!

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Ana Juarez
Girls Empowerment Network Presents: Our Inspiring Conferences Return!

Girls Empowerment Network is thrilled to share exciting news with our supporters, partners, Texas girls, and the people who care about them. After a challenging hiatus caused by the pandemic, we are overjoyed for the return of our signature self-efficacy building conference. Adding to the excitement of the anticipated comeback, we are proud to unveil that our event has also undergone a significant transformation, formerly known as the We Are Girls Conference, the all-new ‘Radiant G Conference’ is back in Austin this November 4th.

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WAG, ConferenceAna Juarez
Pride Month Doesn't End June 30th: Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community Year-Round

Pride month doesn’t have to end on June 30th. With the 88th Texas Legislative Session and the US Supreme Court presenting relentless attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community, it is more important than ever that we as a community vocally support and stand with the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, not just during June. Whatever you were doing during Pride month to celebrate and uplift the queer community, carry that energy into the other 11 months of the year. Girls Empowerment Network brings you a curated list of organizations to kick into action in your community.

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July Volunteer of the Month - Mili Patel

We are so excited to honor and celebrate our July Volunteer of the Month: Mili Patel. Mili began volunteering with Girls Empowerment Network in 2019 and has been a phenomenal champion and supporter of our work since then! Mili consistently engages in our Volunteer Nights and Power Chats, and was a huge source of support during COVID when we launched Spark Kits.

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