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Alternatives For Girls · June E-Newsletter
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Greetings!
"In the future, I would like to go where it is way different than here [in the US]. I want to go to places that don't use technology and don't have big skyscrapers or buildings," Lulezena dreams. Lulezena is one of the six girls who just returned from a trip to Guatemala with AFG's Adventure Club. During the trip, each girl was able to experience a different culture, find the joy in helping others, and try things outside of her comfort zone!
Read on to hear all about the trip, the teen conference held at AFG, the After-school Program's year end finale, and more.
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Six girls from AFG's Adventure Club return
from Guatemala and share their experiences
Thanks to the support of AFG's generous donors, including the Born and Raised Detroit Foundation, six girls from AFG's Adventure Club took a week-long trip to Guatemala in June! During the adventure, the group spent time volunteering at a local school and received a quick, deep dive into Guatemalan culture and history.
A Brand New Adventure
The trip lasted eight days and included two days of traveling. The group stayed at Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS) in Tecpán, Guatemala. CCS runs volunteer programs all over the world and provides a safe home base for their volunteers. Stephanie, one of girls who went on the trip, loved staying at CCS, "You could play outside! It had a basketball court; you could play soccer, basketball, and volleyball."
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Grit, Glam, and Guts
AFG hosts a statewide teen conference aimed
at helping young women tackle issues of identity
On June 11th, Alternatives For Girls hosted the Grit, Glam, and Guts Teen Conference. The conference is for teen girls ages 12-18 and is aimed at tackling social and emotional issues of identity. During the one day event, the young women heard from speakers from all over the state, participated in breakout sessions, and much more. The sessions explored healthy relationships, beauty standards, and social pressures.
We sat down with Chelsea and Shani, a couple of the AFG Peer Educators who attended the conference, to hear about their favorite speakers, activities, and how they plan to use what they learned in their everyday lives. Alternatives For Girls: What was your favorite workshop? Chelsea: My favorite workshop was the one about legacy. The topic of the workshop is what you leave behind when you're gone. It showed that anyone can do anything, no matter what background they come from.
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After-school Program Finale
AFG's Prevention Department celebrates a year
of learning, growing, and making positive choices
This month, the AFG After-school Program held its annual year end finale. Held at AFG, the event was for the family and friends of the girls in the program. The evening included dance performances, handmade ice cream from the elementary group, awards for the parents, and a celebration of the girls' achievements throughout the year.
AFG's After-school Program aims to keep girls engaged in school by supporting their academic success. The program provides homework help, educational workshops, and leadership development. It also offers chances for girls to express their creativity through activities they may not otherwise have the chance to participate in, such as dance classes, arts & crafts projects and more.
Learning to Grow
For four months, the middle school group studied Mexican Folklórico dance with America Del Real, of The Raiz Up hip-hop and cultural collective. To prepare for their finale performance, the young women dressed in traditional clothing and got their hair and makeup done by two volunteers. They performed two dances, "Las Chiapanecas" and "El Aguila Blanca". After each dance, the girls were met with a standing ovation and praises from the crowd.
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AFG's Volunteer Department spotlights a
volunteer who has gone above and beyond
Each month, the AFG Volunteer Department, highlights one volunteer who goes above and beyond to serve the girls and young women of AFG. This month, Michelle Leppek, a mentor in the Prevention Department is being spotlighted for her commitment to her mentee!
Making an Impact
Michelle started as a volunteer at AFG providing childcare for the Prevention Department. When Michelle was introduced to our mentoring program, she knew she wanted to become involved because of the influence and guidance mentors have had in her own life. Michelle's goal as a mentor is to, "be a stable and supportive adult in my mentee's life. I aim to be dependable, encouraging, and a good listener." |
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Thank you for your continued support!
Amanda (Amy) L. Good
Cheif Executive Officer
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Follow Alternatives For Girls:
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Alternatives For Girls | 903 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit MI 48208 |
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