Girls Inc. of Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. As a proud affiliate of the National Girls Inc. organization, Girls Inc. has championed girls for 160 years, providing support and research-based programming to build self-esteem, develop life skills, achieve academic success, and become leaders in their communities. The pro-girl organization focuses on creating equitable opportunities for girls, particularly those from underserved communities, empowering them to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.
Based on ‘The City of Dreams,’ Girls Inc. of Los Angeles is aware of the rising systemic inequities that limit the resources and opportunities for girls to access the creative economy, leaving behind far too many girls of color growing up in the city. Research shows that girls begin to doubt their intelligence and abilities as early as age five, leading them to aspire to less ambitious careers than their male counterparts—a phenomenon known as the “dream gap.” To address this, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adolescent and School Health Program stated that school connectedness is a powerful protective factor. Currently, Girls Inc. of Los Angeles serves at six schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) in South Los Angeles, Watts, and Venice and will be expanding into eight schools this upcoming fall. Through expanded initiatives, the organization works with nearly 1,000 girls by building strong relationships with caring adults and creative mentors who act as positive role models during critical developmental years.
With a mission to help girls tap into their talents and strengths, Girls Inc. provides pathways for youth to access the creative economy by exposing them to a variety of industry and career opportunities. With the SNAP Foundation support, Girls Inc. has expanded its programming by adding experiential learning opportunities to its curriculum and increasing on-campus interactive workshops with creative partners through its signature afterschool programs. This includes expanding its summer programs to offer career exposure and role models to middle school girls through a five-week career field trip series.
To kick off the summer, Girls Inc. embarked on its first field trip with Citizens of Humanity. Girls experienced the behind-the-scenes process of fashion and design, visiting the Citizens of Humanity laundry facility to learn about the creation of their famous jeans while also touring the headquarters, where they engaged in conversations with women leaders and designers. Recently, Girls Inc. went on a field trip to Belasco Theater, where girls learned about all the aspects that go into producing a live concert- from security and hospitality to the technical production of the show. The remainder of their summer series will feature more opportunities to engage with industry professionals in creative fields at Summer Fridays and Fremantle.
In addition to their summer series, Girls Inc. has also partnered with professionals to bring the creative economy onto LAUSD school campuses. Entrepreneurs, such as shoe designer Angela Scott and beauty entrepreneur Nyakio Grieco, guided girls who participated in an entrepreneurship curriculum and created brands centered around fashion and music. Students at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism taught girls more about photography and social media presence while welcoming them onto campus to partake in activities at USC Annenberg’s Media Center. Most recently, Girls Inc. launched its first-ever Art + Culture workshop in memory of Simona B. Elkin, an artist and art collector who was passionate about empowering girls and women. This workshop was led by Lily Martinez, who became the first Latina Creative Director at Barbie during her time at Mattel.
Girls Inc. has proven that when girls have models of success, their mindsets shift around what's possible. Yet, to fully unlock their potential, girls must go beyond classroom walls and connect with people and real-world opportunities. Through their programs and advocacy, hundreds of thousands of girls have successfully broken barriers and positively changed the trajectory of their lives. Girls Inc. of Los Angeles opens doors to careers and possibilities they hadn't imagined, empowering them with skills and confidence to boldly pursue their dreams.
