Our Story
Originally called The Ophelia Project, GENaustin (the Girls Empowerment Network) was created in 1996 by 12 concerned mothers raising adolescent girls in Austin, Texas. These mothers met after reading Reviving Ophelia, a book by Dr. Mary Pipher, to address an increasing trend among middle school aged girls – a systematic decline and sometimes permanent loss of self-esteem. The outcome of which can be devastating: epidemic levels of anorexia/bulimia, selfmutilation, depression, low academic achievement, teen pregnancy, and drug abuse.