Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM), the region’s premier leadership organization for girls, recently announced AMIGAS: A Leadership Experience for Girls. AMIGAS is GSSEM’s local Hispanic outreach initiative, and is part of Girl Scouts of the USA’s (GSUSA) national effort to engage the Hispanic community.

“The Hispanic community remains the fastest growing of our population,” said Denise Dalrymple.  “With the community’s rapid growth and influence here in Southeastern Michigan and the great leadership development opportunities Girl Scouts offers, it just makes sense for GSSEM to engage at the local level.”

Dalrymple said that with the merging of several area Girl Scout councils nearly three years ago, GSSEM wants to restore relationships within the Hispanic community, previously maintained by the former Metro Detroit Girl Scouts Council.

“More than 40% of Michigan’s Hispanic population resides in Southeastern Michigan, and the population is expected to increase.  This local initiative is in keeping with the Girl Scout mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.  That means every girl who wants to be a Girl Scout.”

GSSEM kicks off its initiative by recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, which includes an outdoor campaign with billboards located in Pontiac and Southwest Detroit.  The Council is also encouraging current Girl Scouts to earn the Delores Huerta patch.  The patch honors the Latina civil rights leader and any Girl Scout is eligible to earn the patch.

“We offer a girl-centered, girl-led leadership experience, and Hispanic girls will benefit greatly from becoming Girl Scouts,” said Gabriela Ramirez Darris, GSSEM Hispanic Initiative Coordinator.  “Girls have opportunities to learn about themselves, build and maintain relationships that are important to their futures, and take action to make a difference in their community.”

The local Council has built strong relationships within the Hispanic community.  GSSEM has established partnerships with Hispanic community serving organizations including LASED, Vista Nuevas, and El Centro Multicultural-La Familia in Pontiac to spread the word about Girl Scouting and to recruit Hispanic girl and adult members.

“Girl Scout programs enhance self-esteem, build leadership skills and the sense of community.  Our girls are empowered to take active roles in improving the environment,” said Teresa Penman, Social Services Specialist at Vista Nuevas Headstart.

“Many of our Latino families are isolated and being a part of this organization creates a sense of family in a large community.  By partnering with Girl Scouts, we can provide to our families, particularly to our Latino moms, experiences that they ordinarily would not discover, if not given the opportunity to become leaders,” she said.

GSSEM also has available recruitment and promotional brochures, flyers and other promotional items, and training materials for volunteers available in Spanish.

AMIGAS: A Leadership Experience for Girls is the local initiative facilitated by Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan to engage the region’s Hispanic population.  Its purpose is to broaden participation in Girl Scouting and to encourage Hispanic girls to participate in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Girl Scouts is open to any girl in grades kindergarten through 12.  Its mission is to build girls of courage, character and confidence who make the world a better place.

To join Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, or get more information on program offerings or volunteering, visit www.gssem.org.

Also, like GSSEM on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/gssem, or follow on Twitter @GSSEM.