1. Why does GENaustin exist?

In 1995, Dr. Mary Pipher came out with a groundbreaking book, Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. This book documented an alarming trend, as observed by many researchers, therapists and counselors, of adolescent girls struggling to conform to society's narrow definition of female - with deadly consequences. As a therapist, Dr. Pipher saw increased manifestations of girls' stress to fit in: self-mutilation, acting out, eating disorders, and other unhealthy behaviors. Reviving Ophelia served as a call to action to mobilize more research and attention on the challenges of being a girl today.

2. Who started GENaustin?

Among the millions who read the book Reviving Ophelia was Teresa Kelly, mother to a 10-year-old-daughter and a Girl Scout Troop Leader living in Austin, Texas. Alarmed by the book’s findings, she called a meeting of about a dozen other mothers in her home in April of 1996 to discuss what could be done. A series of these meetings led to “The Ophelia Project”, a non-profit group formed under the leadership of Teresa Kelly and Kim Soechting, the first board chair. Among the group’s first advisors was Renee Spencer, a local therapist, who headlined a community talk organized to discuss the book which drew an audience of more than 100. Several years later, the Ophelia Project became the Girls Empowerment Network of Austin, GENaustin.

3. How did each program start?

In the fall of 1996, the first Speakers Series on adolescent girl issues was held in a local middle school. Buoyed by the first year’s success, the Ophelia Project approached Texas Governor Ann Richards to headline a major speaker event in April of 1997. Governor Richards accepted, addressing a standing-room only crowd of 1,100 on the topic of “Girl Power”. The Speakers Series grew to include schools in multiple school districts, and each year there was a major speaker: Dr. Mary Pipher in 1998, media critic Jean Kilbourne in 1999, astronaut “Cady” Coleman in 2000, and Rachel Simmons in 2004. The Speakers Series, now called Girl Talk, continues to bring experts into schools on a monthly basis on such topics as parent-daughter communication, body image, healthy relationships and careers. Among the first mothers to get involved with The Ophelia Project was Debbie Rodell, a high school math teacher who had previously started a school-based “Girls Club” after reading Reviving Ophelia. The Ophelia Project decided to grow Debbie’s concept and completed a formal curriculum for the program, which was launched in three schools. A high school student, Miranda Oropeza, collaborated with GENaustin and introduced the concept of peer mentors, and in 2000 the program became known as clubGEN. As more and more girls were served through Speaker Series and clubGEN, GENaustin partnered with Fleishman-Hillard, a global public relations firm, to launch oriGENal voice, a program where girls develop media campaigns to promote causes they believe in. With funding from the Texas Cancer Council, this program has focused on the benefits of tobacco-free living.

4. Milestones

• 1996
  • Ophelia Education Fund becomes a 501(c)(3)
    
    
• 1997
  • Speaker Series (now Girl Talk) and Girls Clubs begin
    
    
• 1999
  • Website launched
    
    
• 2001
  • Dr. Mary Pipher attends agency fundraiser held at Texas Lt. Governor Bill Barnes's house. Attendees include Attorney Sarah Weddington, Texas Gov. Ann Richards and Austin Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Pat Forgione.
  • First e-newsletter sent
  • Ophelia Project rebrands, becoming the Girls Empowerment Network (GENaustin)
  • Girls Clubs relaunched as peer-led clubGEN program
    
    
• 2002
  • GENaustin receives national exposure in the New York Times Magazine and on ABC News' Good Morning America
    
    
• 2003
  • Rosalind Wiseman speaks at GENaustin event about her best-selling book, Queen Bees and Wannabees
  • GENaustin awarded prestigious Hogg Foundation of Texas two-year grant totaling $90,000
  • GENaustin profiled in nationally-released PBS documentary Proud to be a Girl narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Julianne Moore
    
    
• 2004
  • Rachel Simmons and GENaustin partner for community event about her book Odd Girl Speaks Out, which tells girls stories about relational aggression (girl bullying)
  • GENaustin takes the helm of the oriGENal voice program, where girls use media to promote a cause they believe in
    
    
• 2005
  • GENaustin produces oriGENal voices, a benefit CD featuring the talent of Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler, Patti Griffin, Trish Murphy, Bob Schneider and other Austin artists.
    
    
• 2006
  • GENaustin makes its highly-successful clubGEN curriculum available for girls clubs worldwide in launching the Club Leader Kit for sale online.
    
    
• 2007
  • clubGEN becomes an afterschool program at every AISD middle school.