Girls Inc. of NYC


At its very heart, Girls Inc. of NYC is about offering girls the opportunity to discover their intellectual and emotional strengths. We celebrate and empower girls!

Girls Inc. delivers life-changing programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart and boldsm.

Research-based curricula, delivered by trained professionals, equip girls to achieve academically; lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. We are a member of the network of independent Girls Inc. affiliate organizations located in 350 cities across the United States and Canada.

What we do

Challenge girls to discover and fulfill their potential
Foster gender equity in a positive way
Show girls that they can access all worlds, from the science lab to the boardroom
Inspire girls to take pride in success
Take a community-minded approach that inspires girls to “give back,” locally and globally

Our Programs

Offer a safe haven for girls aged 6 to 18
Are well researched and created by educators and experts in many fields
Are age-appropriate and include many subjects, both academic and personal
Offer invaluable lessons in essential life skills, including financial self-support
Offer non-threatening, respectful environments in which girls take risks and learn about themselves
Inspire girls to be role models for other girls
Build on girls’ strengths and help girls develop self-esteem
Inspire dedication to life-long learning

mission

The Mission of Girls Inc. of New York City is to advocate for and improve the lives of under-served girls aged 6 to18 in the five boroughs. We pursue this mission by providing gender-based educational programs in the areas of math; science; health and safety; financial literacy; and multicultural appreciation. We provide programs directly or in partnership with other organizations. As an independent affiliate of the Girls Inc. national organization, our commitment is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and boldsm!

We aim to accomplish our mission through the following goals:

Provide educational programs to underserved school-aged girls in areas where traditional curricula often fall short of encouraging girls to be their best; especially in math and science, economic literacy, and respecting and appreciating people of other cultures.
Encourage girls to attend college or obtain advanced technical training and develop skills that will afford them economic independence and future security, and to postpone childbearing until they are psychologically, economically, and physically prepared to care for children of their own.
Teach girls to identify and be discerning about both overt and subliminal negative images (ranging from a lack of leadership ability and the victim role to portraying women and girls as sex objects) that workplaces, media, and society often project on girls and women.
Help girls attain emotional and physical well being through programs that stress the importance of self confidence and inner strength; anger management and non-violent self-defense; and healthy nutritional and physical patterns of behavior.
Deliver programs directly or in partnerships with others (community based organizations, city agencies, schools and corporations) to reach as many girls as possible, to have a a positive impact on their development.

history

Girls Incorporated of New York City is an independent affiliate of Girls Inc.® , a national youth development organization. Created in 1993 to listen to and support New York City girls, we began as the Urban Girls Initiative-New York. In 1999 we gained status as a 501(c)3 and a separate, incorporated nonprofit organization.Our organization was created to bring national expertise in youth programming to urban girls aged 6 to 18, with the following objectives:

Increase the number of inner city, low-income girls who benefit from Girls Inc. programming.
Adapt Girls Inc. programs to the needs of urban girls.
Train local staff from a variety of settings in the philosophy and programming of Girls Inc.
Learn from our implementation efforts in a variety of settings, and provide technical assistance and networking opportunities to participating organizations.
Create a self-sustaining, independent affiliate, headed by an executive director working with staff and a locally appointed board.
Respond to the needs of urban girls through vigorous outreach, excellent programming and advocacy

The positive response and great success of our programs and services led us to incorporate as the separate, nonprofit corporation known as Girls Incorporated of New York City. We are proud to serve over 2,500 girls each year in collaboration with our network of partner organizations. Delivering our programs in 22 neighborhoods and over 30 different sites throughout the New York City, we continue to inspire girls to be strong, smart and boldsm.

Pamela Maraldo, PhD Executive Director
I see daily reminders of how resilient our girls are, no matter how challenging their circumstances. With just a little bit of attention, it's incredible how girls can transform into women with leadership qualities and a purpose that serve not only them well, but also all of us, and that is what Girls Inc. of New York City is all about.
pjmaraldo@aol.com

Jennifer Weidenbaum, Associate Executive Director
I am honored to work with an organization in which I can so clearly see the impact of participation in our girls’ lives and in our city. In each group meeting, the transformative process of learning with a group of peers takes hold and girls grow into stronger, smarter, bolder young leaders. It is invigorating to be a part of a team that works so diligently to empower young women and realize the Girls Inc. vision of an equitable society. jennifer@girlsincnyc.org

Odette Nemes, Program Manager
There is nothing I believe in more than inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold! Girls are bombarded with negative messages and it is incredibly important to create spaces where they can be themselves and encourage each other. I am honored to help create these spaces with the staff, the girls, and their families.
odette@girlsincnyc.org

Tiffani C., Program Specialist
We give girls the tools to think for themselves and plan for the future. Through relationships with our staff and participation in our programs, girls open their eyes to possibilities that go beyond their current socioeconomic status.
tiffani@girlsincnyc.org

Tanaya Johnson, Program Coordinator
The twinkle of determination and glimmer of hope I see in the eyes of girls, who face adversity every day, are truly inspirational and life-changing.
tanaya@girlsincnyc.org

Krystal C., Program Coordinator
I am fortunate to have an opportunity to work with such inspiring young women. On a daily basis they are dedicated to living strong, smart, and bold lives. They consistently teach me as they triumph over pressure and adversity with grace and strength. Our girls are the driving force that motivates me to promote female empowerment with every breath I take!
krystal@girlsincnyc.org

Destiney Avent, Program Specialist

I cherish my experience with Girls Inc. because it provides a daily opportunity to bear witness to the courage, strength and perseverance girls have, and will exercise, in service to themselves - their bright futures. I am inspired by their intention to grow. When I hear their self reports on Girls Inc's impact on their lives, my commitment to advocating for women is strengthened.

destiney@girlsincnyc.org

Ximena Ramirez, Program and Outreach Specialist

Working at Girls Inc. has given me the opportunity to see how being strong, smart, and bold comes to life every day with the girls we serve. I have seen first hand that being strong, smart, and bold is not just a slogan. It’s a philosophy and way of life that empowers girls and women to reach for their dreams and be their best selves. I could not be more proud to help inspire this mission with this fabulous team of women!

ximena@girlsincnyc.org

OFFICERS

Chair Ann Goodbody	Vice Chair Lisa Jacobs Blau

Secretary Angie Karna	Treasurer Amanda Tepper

BOARD MEMBERS

Terri Austin

Elaine Ball

Jasmine Khalili Barr

Bente S. Frantz

Edith Ginsberg

Stephanie Ruhle Hubbard

Carolyn M. Mason

Pam Perskie

Deborah Reda

Charmaine Slack

JUNIOR BOARD MEMBERS

Meredith L. Clair

Jessica Montoya Coggins

Carol Fleming

Sabrina Y. Hassan

Heather A. Joseph

Yannize Joshua

Quan Lateef

Christina McSwain

Ryane Boz Montañez

Lisa Quintela

Sarah Secrest

Alexandra Von Obelitz

Vicki Walcott-Edim

Jessica Webster

Ranya Youssef

64 Beaver Street Suite
121 New York, NY 10004

Phone: (212) 531-7620
Fax: (212) 531-7622

Email: info@girlsincnyc.org

Our staff is trained by nationally certified trainers in all Girls Inc. programs. In addition, we have an additional 4 hours every month of staff development training.

Odette Nemes
Program Manager

“Helping girls discover and take exciting, productive paths to success is absolutely wonderful.”

Odette Nemes, who was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in New Jersey, has always had a passion for giving back to the community. Our Program Manager and Latina Initiative leader has 9 years of experience in youth and family empowerment, including the Girls Inc. of Alameda County, California, where she was a Program Coordinator. At that affiliate, she developed a progressive national technology curriculum for girls

Odette has also worked with youth and families at the Latin American Youth Center; the National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Organization; and Homes for the Homeless.

A graduate of Duke University with a B.S. in Psychology, Odette co-founded a volunteer program while in college that provided free ESL classes to Latinas and tutoring and childcare for their children.

When not working hard to help girls, Odette relishes time with her family and playing basketball and flag football.

Joanna Patton
Former Board Member
Owner, Lotas Paton New York, Ltd.

"I believe with all my heart that the only way the whole world can get better is girl by girl by girl. Girls Inc. of NYC does its part brilliantly, nurturing, encouraging, and shining the light for some 2500 motivated but under-served girls. They will be our City's next generation of leaders. I love them and I love Girls Inc. of NYC."

Girls Inc. of New York City benefits greatly from the many perspectives and areas of expertise offered by our board members, who are involved in a rich variety of fields: finance, law, nonprofit management, marketing, advertising, and philanthropy.