March 2007
Girls Inc. event ignites imaginations at Sunnyside School

Girls Inc. sponsored Family Night at a Sunnyside School on March 8th to introduce the local community to Girls Inc. and the Girls Inc. Media Literacy® program. We invited speakers who would inform and inspire our guests about the media profession. After a spirited introduction by Pam Cornell of the Star Acadeny, Pat Wallace, Board Chair, opened the program with an introduction of Girls Inc. and its programs. Pictured above is Ellen Hezlep, Community Outreach Committee Chair, addressing the attendees.

Mario Celis, production director and DJ at La Raza described the creative aspects of production and the differences between getting your message across on the radio as opposed to television. He has an extensive career in radio and has thoroughly enjoyed the many opportunities to meet interesting people and connect with the community. His passion for his work was obvious and easily conveyed to those attending Family Night. Mario closed with an invitation to the nearly 45 students and parents attendingto visit the station for a tour through the various aspects of production.

Bonnie Henry, columnist in the Accent section of the Arizona Daily Star and author of “Tucson Memories”, described starting out as a writer and the need to build up your writing clips. She also emphasized the need to be dependable and the ability to work under deadline pressure. Her wonderfully circuitous route to where she is today sent her on many adventures and introduced her to people and experiences she may never have come across had she not endeavored to make a career out of writing.

Ernesto Portillo, whose column is in the Tucson and Region section of the Arizona Daily Star grabbed the attention of the audience by exclaiming “WORDS!”. Mr. Portillo declared that we are all writers and encouraged the students to put those words on paper. He knows the struggle with insecurities, the inner critic and writer’s block and shared his struggle to get where he is today. Persistence is key and he encouraged students to ask for help from those in their community. He was especially thankful for teachers along the way who supported him and opened the world of writing to him.

Volunteer Cynthia Flores-Ybarra led an interactive discussion on the subject of empowering girls and using your “critical eye” when meeting the endless media messages of today. The students participated in a discussion about gender stereotypes in media and were given a small taste of what the Media Literacy program with Girls Inc. of SoAz has to offer. The message of the evening was “You can do anything” and we had some wonderful speakers there to prove it!

A big hand to Ellen Hezlep, the Community Outreach Committee Chair, for coordinating this event! Thank you Ellen!

January 2007
Family Arts Event

On Sunday Jan. 14, volunteers and board members of Girls Inc. of Southern Arizona joined in the 7th annual Family Arts Festival at La Placita Village.

Though the air was cold the warmth of the arts and craft activity provided by our organization kept everyone smiling. The many children who stopped by our table to make scrapbooks wowed us with their creativity and imagination.

We were very pleased to be part of the interactive, multicultural and multidisciplinary arts experience in the heart of downtown.

We look forward to participating in more activities like this in the near future.