July 15, 2014 marked the 1st Annual World Youth Skills Day, started by international organizations WorldSkills and the United Nations. This holiday is meant to bring an awareness and dialogue to the significance of technical skills in the workforce and its lead to economic security for youth.
YWCA believes in the power of education and community as a driving force in the success of youth. Through our GirlsFirst program, we strive to instill academic skills in the STEAM fields for girls of color, as well as develop a sense of leadership and confidence.
I spoke with Charlie Mercer, the Program Manager for GirlsFirst, to learn more about the program. Mercer began her position with YWCA in March of this year as the next step in her teaching career. She has a Master’s Degree in English as a Second Language and is excited for the change in environment from a school.
"I recognized my privilege as a white woman and got into education to do my part to create equity. Education is our most powerful tool." - Charlie Mercer
What is GirlsFirst and what are its goals?
GirlsFirst is a no-cost STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics] education program for rising 9th graders at Alvirita Little Center in Seattle. We work on refining skills while developing strength to be confident in communities and in the participants’ lives. This is a safe space to learn and grow and have a support network that’s broader than their communities.
What are the benefits for girls involved in the program?
Development of:
- Critical thinking in an intersectional worldview
- Communication
- Empathy
- Advocacy
- Understanding of social justice
- Family
Who can join the program?
Female-identifies students of color are recruited from Franklin High School, Cleveland High School, Rainier Beach High School, and Garfield High School to join a year-round or summer camp program.
What does a day in the program look like?
Summer camp: Rising 9th grade girls walk into music and food to hangout until check in. They share their highs and lows and a feeling word to practice articulation. We go over the schedule for the day and move into an activity that relates to the theme of the day. Some of these activities include:
- Leadership style and other personality quizzes
- Berry picking
- Making lunch
- Picnic in a park
- Daily discussion
- Activity and/or craft project
- Learning how to write resumes and cover letters
- Mock interviews
- Engineering challenges in teams
The year-round program is three 10-week after school sessions once a week at rotating schools.
What can the girls expect after they complete the program?
The girls receive interviews for paid internships at local companies. There are approximately 10 internships secured at companies like the Seattle Art Museum, Swedish Medical Center, and YWCA.
What is the role of the mentors?
The mentorship aspect of the program is something we are ready to reintroduce this year. We are looking to line up female identified POC (people of color) mentors.
Are there any moments from the program you consider noteworthy?
I am excited to see how the girls have grown by the end of the program. We have a popcorn appreciation where the girls can acknowledge the other girls who all have become family. Girls who participate in 70% of the program get to go on session-ending trips. Our last session ended with a trip to flying circus and Ethiopian food.
GirlsFirst is a safe space where we can have daily discussions that dig deep into being a minority girl in high school and society. They are able to understand and deconstruct society to argue for social justice.
Is there anything else you would like to say about GirlsFirst?
We are very actively looking for partnerships with different organizations to bring more opportunities and activities to our girls.
Current GirlsFirst member and YWCA IT Intern Betty Gebrehawaria says, “It’s the highlight of my Monday. I am always looking forward to it!”
I want to thank Charlie Mercer for giving her time to speak about this amazing program. To connect with GirlsFirst, please visit the GirlsFirst Facebook Page.
We encourage female-identified community members to participate in this program by reaching out to Volunteer Services to become a mentor.
Girls can learn more about joining this program by visiting the GirlsFirst program page.
Kendyl Hardy is the Volunteer Services Coordinator at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. As an avid volunteer herself, Kendyl finds volunteering is a way to grow personally and as a community. Kendyl graduated with a degree in Public Relations with a concentration in nonprofit management. Throughout her college career, she worked to highlight the importance of civic service to sustain society and feature dialogue about issues affecting our communities.
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