“font-family: Verdana;”>“These girls grow up before your eyes, and that is one of the benefits of being here,” said Victoria E. Nelson, executive director of Girls, Inc.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Our hope when they come through these doors is that they learn more about who they are and that we help them on the path of who they want to become.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As they look forward to celebrating 30 years of serving the St. Louis community, Girls, Inc., a United Way-supported organization, has grown up alongside the girls.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We started out as a small afterschool program. Now we serve 12,000 kids through outreach and central-based care,” Nelson said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Parents have come to rely on us as partners to help them raise their children and keep them safe after school.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>One such child was Kacie Starr Triplett.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“It is a safe place for your seed to grow, and they took the time to develop those seeds into flower,” said Triplett, now the 6th Ward alderman. “They nurture you.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>More specifically, she said, “I learned golf and I worked on my first computer there.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>When Triplett first became affiliated with the organization, it was called Girls Club. The organization had two locations – one in South City and one in North City – and she was on a long waiting list to join.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“Every week my mother would go and see if I had moved up on the list,” Triplett said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Serving young girls ages 5-18, Girls Inc. offers personal education, artistic cultivation, sports and health through classes and sessions year round. During the summer, girls are allowed to make their own curriculum, choosing five areas of study out of 15 options.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We want to help the girls become well rounded,” Nelson said. “From our education to our cultural cultivation and leadership development, inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold is our goal.”
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>A Girls Inc. opportunity led Triplett into politics. She was one of six girls selected for The Washington Experience, which allowed members to visit Washington, D.C. and Capitol Hill for three days and get an intimate experience of America’s political system. They met with congressmen and senators in addition to sight-seeing.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Her grandfather, the late John was a politician. “But it was through that experience it became something tangible that I felt like I could achieve,” Triplett said.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As they have made the milestone of 30 years, Girls Inc. is excited to celebrate Triplett and other success stories on Friday.
“font-size: 9pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We want to encourage our alumnae and those who have supported us to come out for a good, old-fashioned party,” Nelson said. “You’ve been a part of our success, so come and help us celebrate. I want to have a lot of ladies who want to come back and have some memories with their friends.”
Girls,
Inc. Through The Years Celebration will take place at 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 9, St. Louis Hilton at the Ballpark’s Archview
Ballroom. Tickets are $30. For more information, call 314-385-8088
or e-mail info@girlsincstl.org.
