Mentor Picnic
Have you always wanted to learn more about becoming a mentor? Here is your chance!
On Saturday, June 27th, from Noon to 4:00 pm, AFG is hosting a picnic for current mentors, mentees, and those interested in becoming a mentor. Join us for food, a moonwalk, carnival games, music, and a bubble blaster!
If you would like to hear first-hand about what it's like to be a mentor, watch one of our mentors, Rasheda Williams, on YouTube!
For more information about the picnic or mentoring, contact Gail Bolden at gbolden@alternativesforgirls.org or (313)361-4000 ext. 236.
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Fighting Human Trafficking
AFG Outreach Director speaks to Zonta
The Zonta Club of Detroit I recently hosted a panel of local expert who work to empower women.
Deena Policicchio, AFG's Outreach Director, was represented on this panel as an expert on human trafficking, focusing on the sexual exploitation of girls and women. The panel focused on two areas: How to see human trafficking, and what to do about it.
A Local Problem
While many people perceive human trafficking to be an international problem, Policicchio asserts, it is actually "quite local." In fact, most of the human trafficking rings here are found in the suburbs.
"Detroit's proximity to Windsor makes it a ripe place not only for traffickers to come but also as a point of transit," Policicchio explains.
So what exactly is human trafficking, and how is it different from prostitution? While the legal definition is several pages long, it is, in a nutshell, "Defined by force, fraud, or coercion from one to the other with some monetary gain."
Self-Esteem and the Hope of Opportunities
Fortunately, there are many efforts to combat human trafficking. AFG is a local member of the Innocence Lost Task Force, a coalition of the FBI, US Department of Justice, Wayne County Police Department, and service providers. Shortly, the CBS Evening News will be directing more attention to the problem. In fact, they will be filming at AFG in the near future.
However, there is an important role that the community at large can play in preventing trafficking from occuring in the first place. Policicchio explains, "Domestically, the key to preventing human trafficking is self-esteem and the hope of opportunities." This is precisely the mission of Alternatives For Girls.
Zonta International, headquartered in Chicago, is a global organization of 33,000
business and professional women. There are 1,200 local clubs in 68 countries.
The Detroit
metro area has 15 clubs. Members seek to allow women to achieve their potential
by having access to education, health care, legal and economic resources on an
equal basis with men in an environment where women do not live in fear of
violence.
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Metamorphosis
Eat breakfast, transform lives
 It's your last chance to RSVP for this free breakfast event! Learn more about AFG and help at-risk girls and young women.
When: Wednesday, June 24th; Registration at 7:30 am, Program from 8:00 am to 9:00 am
Where: Wildlife Interpretive Gallery, Detroit Zoo
To RSVP or for more information, contact Lindsey MacDonald at (313)361-4000 ext. 230 or lmacdonald@alternativesforgirls.org
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Celebrating School Success
AFG throws party for academic growth
At the end of May, AFG celebrated the academic achievements of the girls in our Prevention Program by hosting our annual School Incentive Party.
The party featured excellent food, fun prizes, an inflatable Twister board, a Wii tournament, and, of course, recognition for the young women. It was attended by over 30 of the young women in Prevention and their families.
Positive Reinforcement
In order to attend the party, the girls in the Prevention Program had to maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average throughout the school year, or increase their G.P.A. by 0.5. Valorie Evans, AFG's Prevention Program Director, was proud to report that a whopping 35 of our 53 participants qualified!
Evans states that, " I feel that it is
important for girls to receive recognition so that they feel encouraged to
continue down the right path. Youth should feel good about the positive
things that they do because a lot of our girls are surrounded by the negative
and that becomes their norm. Our program believes in the use of positive
reinforcement as a way to motivate girls to remain on the right path."
AFG helps young women to succeed in school by providing tutoring, help on special projects, and school supplies. AFG also provides the emotional support and encouragement that are also necessary for academic success.
A Special Thank You
AFG is extremely grateful for the help of volunteers in making this party a success! The Compuware Women's Association not only donated gifts to be given to the girls for their achievements, they also volunteered by setting up, serving the food, and cleaning up. The Theta Tau Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha collected tons of gift cards, which were also given to the girls. Many, many happy squeels were heard as girls opened up their gift bags and enjoyed all of the wonderful presents inside.
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Greetings!
