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AUSTIN, Texas, September 23, 2002 -- GENaustin announced today the official launch of its Speaker Series, which includes more than 45 presentations from local and national experts designed to help adolescent girls develop and maintain healthy self-esteem. The presentations cover a broad range of topics, including "The Rollercoaster Ride of Middle School Years," "WHATEVER! Successful Communication for Parents and Teens," and "Girls as Friends, Girls as Foes" and are offered at 17 different schools and locations in Austin and the surrounding area.
The majority of events are free, open to the public, and include speeches and discussions on issues including media and its impact on young girls, body image and career paths.
GENaustin will also kick off its new clubGEN after school program in seven area middle schools in October. The premier program for middle and high school girls is based on a peer-leadership model. Designed and led by trained high school teens and an adult middle school sponsor, clubGEN creates a safe place for girls to exchange ideas, experiences and opinions regarding social, emotional, educational and health issues. The clubGEN program will benefit approximately 180 middle school girls, and 90 high school girls. The schools currently scheduled to participate include:
- Bailey Middle School & Bowie High School
- Chisholm Trail Middle School & Round Rock High School
- Lamar Middle School & McCallum High School
- O.Henry Middle School & Austin High School
- Paredes Middle School & Akins High School
- Pflugerville Middle School & Pflugerville High
School
- Porter Middle School & Crocket High School
- West Ridge Middle School & Westlake High School
Kim Soechting, GENaustin board member and co-chair of clubGEN said, “We are all still girls at heart, whether we're 35, or 12 years old. These programs provide girls an opportunity to openly discuss issues they face in their daily lives. We want to instill in the girls a sense of self-esteem and the belief that they can excel at any age.”
The clubs will meet once a week after school. The curriculum was developed over the past year and contains exercises related to issues adolescent girls face during the transition from pre-teen to teen. These topics include friendship, family, dealing with stress, relational aggression, and confidence building. Funding for clubGEN is partially provided by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.
The clubGEN expansion comes on the heels of last year's successful pilot program in three schools. GENaustin is increasing the number of clubs in response to the overwhelming positive response to the program and a growing interest from local school leaders.
Miranda Oropeza, a teen leader who now attends Southwest Texas State University and is a graduate of the first clubGEN said, “This program offered me the opportunity to talk with younger girls about the tough issues I faced at that age, and to help them understand the challenges they face. It was amazing to watch the growth in self-esteem in the girls by the end of the program."
About GENaustin
GENaustin is a local non-profit organization committed to helping girls grow into healthy, confident women. GENaustin works with other local organizations to foster the emotional well being of adolescent girls as the local community and American cultures affect them. Inspired by the book, ‘Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls,’ the organization was formed in 1996 in Austin. GENaustin is 90 percent run by the efforts of volunteers and is funded by grants and donations. For more information on the speaker series schedule or clubGEN, please visit www.genaustin.org or call 414-0472.
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