COLLEGE STUDENTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOUTHEAST SCHOOLS - By Angela Richardson

Congress Heights on the Rise is pleased to present our very first READER CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE! Hopefully this will be the first of many more articles to come! Would love to post many more community crafted items - especially from local students. Many thanks to ANGELA RICHARDSON the contributor of this wonderful article! To submit an item for posting please email congressheightsontherise@gmail.com.

Since 2002, collegiate women from the surrounding universities such as Howard, Georgetown, American, Trinity, and University of Maryland, have been making a difference in young girls’ lives through the Young Leaders Program.

The Young Leaders Program, established through the Girls Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital, connects college students from local universities with girls who attend schools within the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County.

Taking part in the Young Leaders Program is junior public relations major Ashley Tannehill. Tannehill is a girl scout troop leader at Orr Elementary School located on Minnesota Avenue in Southeast DC. Trained as troop leader, Tannehill has constructed Girl Scout meetings at Orr over the course of the past six weeks. In this six-week sampler, according to the Girl Scout mission statement, the Daisies, girls in kindergarten and first grade, experienced “Girl Scouting and learned traditions, built courage, confidence and character” through a series of activities that led them to receive badges.

“The Daisies have earned three badges,” says Tannehill. “They have earned the Girl Scouts Ways badge, the Dancerize badge, and the My Body badge. Each of these badges consisted of activities which allowed the girls to share their hidden talents, gain knowledge, and ultimately have fun!”

The goal of the six-week sampler program is to form long-term troops at the local public schools.

“I enjoyed interacting with the girls,” Tannehill adds. “I feel as though I am making a change not only within the girls’ lives but within the community as well. I look forward to coming back in January and continuing the meetings with my troop.”

After the six-week sampler, the girls at Orr Elementary are to have an investiture ceremony that will make them official Girl Scouts. The ceremony, which will consist of the newly inducted Girl Scouts reciting the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law as well as receiving their badges and Girl Scout pins, will welcome all new members/girls into the Girl Scout family.

Keonte Oglesby, Young Leaders Program coordinator, will help Tannehill as well as other young leaders set up and assemble their ceremonies. Through the Young Leaders Program, Oglesby has been recruiting college students to become Girl Scout troop leaders since 2007.

“We look for college women who are highly motivated and are natural-born leaders,” says Oglesby. “We want young leaders who can be role models to girls who need them the most – girls in low-income, challenged communities in DC and Prince George’s County.”

Other Southeast schools that are a part of the Young Leaders Program are Birney Elementary School, Edison Friendship Public Charter School, Kipp Academy, Malcolm X Elementary School, Randle Highlands Elementary School, Simon Elementary School, and Tyler Elementary School. Each of these schools has a Girl Scout troop leader that was recruited through the Young Leaders Program.

After January, these schools will no longer be considered six-week sampler programmed schools. They will continue to have regular Girl Scout meetings as a troop with the same young leader.

“Our leaders are truly making a difference in our communities. They are not only role models and mentors to young girls they interact with but they are more like big sisters.”

How do I find a troop for my daughter?
To find a troop for your daughter, go to http://www.gscnc.org/girls/join/ and complete the online Girl Placement form.

How do I start a troop at my school?
To start a troop at your school, call or email Alexa Thomas at 202-237-1670 x 577, athomas@gscnc.org. She will discuss the opportunities for programs at your school and direct to you to the appropriate staff representative at Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital.