G . U . R . L . S . Rock: Creating Positive Images for Girls (609 hits)
Help Pretty $mart G.U.R.L.S. Pursue Charitable Dream in 21st Century Style
Nationwide -- The next generation of global leaders - girls of the San Francisco Bay Area G.U.R.LS. Rock Leadership Program have a dream to create positive change about the images of girls and women of color. Pop culture today could be called Gen X on smart mouth steroids. The problem is words can hurt, and a river of words backed by questionable visuals in rap, reality TV shows, and other public genres denigrate the female gender while finding their way into the lifestyles of young consumers worldwide.
"I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me" blazed from a sweatshirt sold by J.C. Penney. The company has since apologized for the product's insensitivity, but not before 150 young females of color attending a G.U.R.L.S. Rock Leadership Summit created their response. "It's really powerful to tell the world what we think," declared one youngster.
G.U.R.L.S. Rock, started in 2010, is the brainchild of Dr. Raye Mitchell, an attorney and award-winning humanitarian. Her nonprofit organization helps undervalued girls discover their voice, as most leadership programs do. Stepping beyond the norm, G.U.R.L.S. Rock directs talk into constructive action. In this case, positive slogans for girls' apparel resulted. The slogans make the girls, what Mitchell likes to call, SocialPreneures(TM).
Positive words, such as "G.U.R.L.S. are more than just looks," "On Nerd Status all Day," "I am the director of my destiny," and more are now found on Pretty $mart G.U.R.L.S. t-shirts. Pretty $mart G.U.R.L.S. is certainly becoming the director of its destiny and that of the G.U.R.L.S. Rock program. Net proceeds from apparel sales will either benefit the G.U.R.L.S. Rock Leadership program or go into a scholarship fund for the girls who created the items.
"Winning," said Mitchell, "would be game changing. I see this project as a huge defining moment for G.U.R.L.S. Rock Leadership. It is a chance for the world to see the positive image and creative spirit of tomorrow's leaders at work." Whatever the outcome, Mitchell will advance the marketing plan on the G.U.R.L.S. Rock websites and, if necessary, with other retailers. "This project is a true example of SocialPreneures(TM) at work," she states. "Projects like this demonstrate that G.U.R.L.S. Rock is helping girls grow confident, competent, and globally competitive."
What do the girls think? "I hope people really get our message," one teen said. She adds, "Our age and looks don't limit us; it's the negative images of girls that are the limitations." Another girl concluded, "I like having a chance to be creative and to make a difference."
ABOUT G.U.R.L.S. ROCK Founded in 2010 by practicing attorney-turned-social entrepreneur Dr. Raye Mitchell, G.U.R.L.S. Rock Leadership Program is a global leadership-training initiative of The Making a New Reality Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. As a social entrepreneur program celebrating the importance of girls and girls of color as the next generation of global leaders
ABOUT DR. RAYE MITCHELL "Dr. Raye" is a Harvard Law School graduate; graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business and Consortium for Graduate Study in Management Fellow; She is available for speaking engagements, book signings, and print and broadcast press interviews.
Please contact LaNiece Jones | LAJones@LAJonesMedia.com | 510-568-5899 or Toni Beckham | Toni@PRetCetera.com | 209-832-8020 / 408-499-3664c
