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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Macy's employees presented information about Clinique products and healthy skin care to sixth-graders from Boardman during the Girl Empowerment Mentorship program's field trip on Nov. 5.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Sixth-grade girls from Boardman, along with their mentors, prepared to enter the conference room at Macy's on Nov. 5 for the Girls Empowerment Mentorship Program field trip.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Sixth-graders exited the school bus at the Boardman Macy's on Nov. 5 for the Girl Empowerment Mentorship Program field trip.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.From left, United Way representative Kathy Mock and Boardman counselor Linda Frease posed with sixth-grade girls who are part of the Girls Empowerment Mentorship Program on Nov. 5 outside of Macy's in Boardman.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Sixth-grade girls got snacks and drinks as they listened to professionals from Macy's about healthy skin care routines and confidence building on Nov. 5.
By JESSICA HARKER
jharker@vindy.com
The Girl Empowerment Mentorship program at Boardman took a field trip to Macy’s on Nov. 5.
The program was run by Mary Dulay, a Macy’s employee, who said that the goal of the trip is to encourage the girls to live healthy individual lives.
“We are doing a fashion presentation showing them what the in styles are and showing them how to create their own style,” Dulay said.
She also explained that Clinique did a presentation on healthy skin care for the girls, and gave away free samples.
“They are talking about healthy skin care, they are going to talk about fashion trends with the girls, and are just giving them that added support,” said Linda Frease, the counselor at Boardman Center.
Frease runs the Girls Empowerment Mentorship program, which is funded through the United Way.
She said that the program has been going on for five years, and this is the second year the group has traveled to Macy’s for a field trip.
“I have seen girls who have struggled last year and light up when its Monday because they know their mentors coming and they have a relationship with someone,” Frease said.
The group is made up of 15 community women who volunteer as mentors for the year.
Tweny-one girls are chosen to be part of the program by Boardman school officials as a way to offer them extra support.
Mentors meet with the students once a week every Monday and participate in various activities and lessons.
The group also takes field trips throughout the year.
“This program has been awesome for the girls because it allows them support and freedom that they may never have until this,” Frease said.
The group will visit the Butler Art Museum in January and go to a Miracle on Easy Street production in December, along with other trips.
Junior Achievement representatives will also visit and do a lesson about money skills and choosing a career.
“We are really big at Boardman center about finding where kids need extra support and hooking them up with that,” Frease said. “We look at this program as a way to give extra support for the students.”
Kathy Mock, the Director of Education and Initiatives at the United Way, said that the United Way has supported the program for five years because they see it as an important aspect to community engagement.
“It allows these girls some support, in a way they may never receive in their lives, it offers them a person they know they can trust,” Mock said.
To get involved in the Girls Empowerment Mentorship program or any other United Way program, visit www.ymvunitedway.org.