Strong Women, Strong Girls expands to serve local girls of all ages by joining national Girls, Inc.

Strong Women, Strong Girls has long been a place where professional women from the Pittsburgh area mentor college-age women, sharing all kinds of encouragement and advice. Those college-age women then repay the favor by mentoring elementary school-age girls.

This work will continue and also expand, now that Strong Women, Strong Girls has merged with the national organization Girls, Inc. The merger brings ongoing support for current programs, plus access to even more programming and curriculum, says Marissa Escajeda, CEO of Girls, Inc., of Greater Pittsburgh.

“Girls Inc, really serves the whole girl. They are focused on following the girl from her elementary youth age up until after high school,” Escajeda tells Kidsburgh. “Although we believe that our elementary school program was phenomenal, we’ve always wanted to start serving girls by following them into middle school and high school, and past that. We’re going to have that opportunity now.”

Though the expanded programming is still in the design stages, Escajeda says, “eventually, girls will be in our program, ideally from the age of 5, up until they graduate high school.”

Next steps will include designing middle school programming in communities where Girls, Inc. of Greater Pittsburgh already serves elementary schoolers.

“Through STEM and literacy programs, social media safety, violence prevention, career exploration, and outdoor activities, we’re guiding them toward various pathways for their future,” Escajeda says about current programs for elementary schoolers. “We also believe it’s never too early to start learning about finances and non-traditional career opportunities, which they will continue to explore in our programs. With all these diverse components each week, the girls will consistently gain something new from the experience.”

You can learn more about Girls, Inc. of Greater Pittsburgh right here. Discover current programming here. Elementary schools currently hosting after-school sessions include:

Brashear Association
Carlow Lab School
Pittsburgh Miller Elementary
Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy
ACH Clear Pathways
Arlington PreK-8
Liberty Elementary
Arsenal PreK-5
Barrett Elementary
BJWL Homewood North
BJWL Prospect Terrace
Carmalt PreK-8
Concord Elementary
Dilworth Elementary
Faison K-5
Elroy Elementary
Greenfield Elementary
Park Elementary
Propel Hazelwood
Propel Homestead
Roosevelt PreK-5
Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy
Pittsburgh Woolslair
Brookline PreK-8
Spring Hill Elementary
Sto-Rox Elementary
Pittsburgh Sunnyside PreK-8
Pittsburgh Weil Early Childhood Center
Wesley Center
Pittsburgh Westwood Elementary
Linden Elementary
Phillips K-5
MYDC
Aliquippa Elementary
BJWL Groveton
Montour Elementary
Propel Northside
BJWL East Hills
BJWL Meyers Ridge
Environmental Charter

If you don’t see your child’s school on that list, contact Girls, Inc. to discuss connecting them with your school. Or reach out to a teacher or administrator at your school, sharing this article about Girls, Inc., with them.

Girls have been registering this month for spring afterschool groups that run until the beginning of May. But Escajeda says girls are welcome to join in the coming weeks, even if the group at their school is already under way.