GENaustin Launches Successful Expansion

 

 We are proud to announce that clubGEN, GENaustin's flagship program, has successfully expanded to 37 clubs at 17 AISD middle schools, an increase from 9 middle schools last year.  This expansion has allowed GENaustin to reach more girls than ever before!

 

clubGEN is an after school program for middle school girls that utilizes employed high school girls to facilitate a new research-based curriculum proven to prevent teen girls from high risk behaviors which lead to juvenile delinquency and teen pregnancy.  The curriculum is one of the only girl-specific research-based curricula in existence.

 

Additionally, clubGEN's new model allows high school girls to undergo a workforce development component that is new to GENaustin - empowering girls through earning potential.

 

Program director, Rachel Ladov stated:
"As the clubs got started in September, it was moving to see the high-school girls become passionate about the success of the middle school girls in the clubs they facilitate."

 

For more information about clubGEN, please visit our website at: http://www.genaustin.org

My Name is Ana

My name is Ana.  I am a 7th grader and I am in clubGEN. 

Some high school girls came to my cafeteria at lunch and invited me to sign up to be in clubGEN.  I didn't want to at first because I don't usually fit into clubs.  I told them I would not fit in, but they really asked me to go, so I did.

My friends are mostly boys, but I don't like some of the things they do.  I used to have a best friend but she started to hate me and told other girls to stay away from me.  I had to eat lunch by myself for a long time.  One day they threw rocks at me when I was walking by them.  They called me ugly and fat.  Sometimes I think I am those things and I can't help but cry. 

I told one of the clubGEN high schools girls about my ex best friend, and she said she had the same thing happen to her when she was in middle school.  She said that it happens to a lot of girls and that we can talk about that in clubGEN, and about other things too, like peer pressure.

One of the girls in clubGEN asked me to eat lunch with her after our first club meeting.  So we sit together now, and two other girls from the club sit with us sometimes.     

 GENaustin Equips High School Girls with Workforce Development Skills

GENaustin now hires high school girls to provide after school programming to middle school girls at 17 middle schools in AISD.  We are proud to provide high-school girls with the opportunity to develop vital workforce development skills such as:

• Financial literacy, budgeting, planning, and savings
• Opening and managing a bank account
• Group facilitation
• Career planning, goal setting, and job search skills
• Public speaking
• Teamwork
• Pre-employment skills (such as how to dress professionally, professional etiquette, timeliness, decision making, etc.)
• Job search process
• Career goal setting 

We have twenty-seven high school girls who are facilitators for clubGEN and work as GENaustin employees and facilitate up to four clubs per week.  We also have a few volunteer facilitators who facilitate one or two clubs per week.  Every week the girls meet in teams to plan for the upcoming week of curriculum and undergo a workforce development activity for their own futures.

GENaustin's high school facilitators get paid $8 an hour and work up to ten hours per week.  They undergo an intense two-day training that helps them to prepare for group dynamics, professional behavior, peer mentorship, and accountability.  

Many of the girls who have been hired by GENaustin are low-income and seeking opportunities to help contribute to their family's income.  Others are opening savings accounts for college.

Through a partnership with WorkSource, GENaustin is able to provide a stellar opportunity for these high school girls who would otherwise seek lower paying jobs in the community.  Julia Cuba, Executive Director says, "This is meaningful employment that gives these girls a glimpse at their future earning potential.  They are getting paid well, and you can see their eyes light up when it hits home for them that they are someone's role model, and that GENaustin, AISD and the community values that."

If you know a high school girl in AISD who would like to apply for a position with GENaustin, please visit www.genaustin.org.   

Girl Talk Schedule 

Fall 2007

This series provides up-to-date, relevant information about developmental, parenting, and cultural issues affecting adolescent girls by bringing together professionals and role models to talk to youth and families on such diverse subjects as self esteem, sexuality, parent-daughter communication, dating, careers, and education.

Girl Talk has also expanded into every AISD middle school and a few schools in neighboring districts.  GENaustin provides up to 25 presentations a year.  Confirmed presentations for the 07-08 school year include:

• Thurs. 27th Sept. 1:30- 2:30 PM -He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not- Murchison, hosted by Randy Randolph
• Tues. 2nd Oct. 7:45 - 8:40 AM -Mother/Daughter-Canyon Vista, hosted by Julia Cuba
• Thurs. 11th Oct.  9:55 - 10:40 AM -Straight Talk from Teen Parents- Burnet, hosted by teen parents
• Mon. 15th Oct. time tbd- One is the Lonliest Number- Bedichek
• Thurs. 25th Oct. 11:30 -12:30 PM -Yoga for Girls- Remdeemer Lutheran 
• Wed. 7th Nov. 11:00 -11:45 AM -Mean Girls- Matthews Elementary, presented by Suzanne Fanger
• Wed. 14th Nov. 11:40 - 1:00 PM -Mean Girls- Paredes, presented by Suzanne Fanger

GENaustin Open House on October 23rd, 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Please join GENaustin to celebrate our new headquarters at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. 

When:  Tuesday, October 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30 PM

Where:  2206 Prather Lane, Austin, Texas 78704 in the GENaustin portable on Victory Drive next to the Band Hall

What:  GENaustin Open House, featuring our most popular Girl Talk presentation Mean Girls

Join us to learn about our programs, our expansion, employment opportunities for youth and see our most talked about Girl Talk topic, Mean Girls.  This open house is for parents, teachers and girls, so joins us for a little food and fun!

We have free Whish boutique gift certificates for all who join us.  See you there!