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GSSEM Releases First-Ever Green Paper Calling for Greater Investment in Women Leaders
Our council has released a green paper demonstrating the need to invest in innovative programs that support girls and young women.
March 14, 2024
Women in leadership improve business, encourage team collaboration, and dismantle harmful stereotypes. Despite the many benefits, women remain underrepresented in positions of power. While women make up just over half of the population and workforce of the United States, women CEOS run only 10% of Fortune 500 companies and hold just over a quarter (28%) of seats in the United States Congress. These disparities become larger when looking at the experiences of BIPOC women, with only four Black women in history leading Fortune 500 companies.
That’s why Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM) goes beyond the cookie box to offer programming that helps girls gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors, and values that support them in becoming leaders. Seeking to dive deeper into the gender and race disparities present in leadership and the workplace, and what can be done to help girls overcome these barriers, GSSEM has published a green paper titled From Girlhood to Leadership: Transforming Pathways to Equality and Inclusion.
"When organizations and society keep women from leadership positions, we lose out on the opportunity to harness the skills, talents, and insights of a diverse and important part of our community," said GSSEM CEO Monica Woodson. "In Southeastern Michigan we have witnessed the significant impact of women, from the important civil rights movements of women like Rev. Dr. JoAnn Watson to the work of Ruth Ellis. At GSSEM, we’re committed to providing access to the skills, training, connection, mentoring, and experiences that girls need to be the next generation of positive change makers and leaders in their communities."
GSSEM is at the forefront of helping girls identify and develop their passions and use them to create a better world and more holistic communities. According to a 2017 study, girls who participate in Girl Scouts experience a stronger sense of self and hold strong positive values as important to them, expressing that it is important to them to act ethically, honestly, and responsibly. With the help of dedicated volunteers and community partners, GSSEM offers Girl Scouts a diverse range of programming, exciting adventure opportunities, and hands-on experiences. These include S.T.E.A.M. programs to teach girls how to participate in the world of technology and the Gold Award which requires Girl Scouts to research, organize, and develop sustainable solutions to a community issue or problem.
"Girl Scouts is an incredible community of [girls] and mentors committed to connecting and engaging with the community," said Nisha Singhi, former Girl Scout and 2023 Young Woman of Distinction. "For the past eleven years, whether it was ziplining, kayaking, backpacking, or throwing out the first pitch of a Detroit Tigers game, Girl Scouts has challenged me to go out of my comfort zone; it has taught me to say "yes," eagerly to new adventures. Participating in events like Democracy and Me Day or visiting the Oakland County Airport to learn about aviation, Girl Scouts has inspired us all to forge new paths in unfamiliar industries. Girl Scouts has changed my life, and I am so honored to continue to be involved with this amazing organization."
To read the green paper and learn more about Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan, please visit www.gssem.org.
