Girl Scouts Encourages Young Latinas To Stay Connected
— reported by Hispanic Ad
About 500 Girl Scouts, family members and volunteers have joined forces to address the specific needs of young Latinas at Girl Scouts of the USA’s fifth National Latina Conference, which took place July 14 through July 17 in Uniondale, N.Y. in partnership with Girl Scouts of Nassau County. The 2005 National Latina Conference is sponsored by Bank of America and has the theme “Connect to Friends, Family and Envision the Future.â€
Some 300 Latina Girl Scouts ages 11-17 have traveled from across the U.S. and Latin America to participate in workshops that cover education, financial literacy, self-esteem, entrepreneurship and other issues. These Girl Scouts also will meet notable young Latinas, such as pop star JD Natasha, who serves as keynote speaker, and performer Kathleen Herles, the voice of TV character Dora the Explorer. And participants will celebrate the Latino spirit with fun activities ranging from Latin cooking to salsa dancing. The conference is open to any Girl Scout interested in experiencing and learning about Hispanic culture and the issues Latinas face.
Girl Scouts has seen a 21 percent increase in Latina membership over the past three years and now counts Latinas among its fastest-growing membership segments. “Our National Latina Conference provides an opportunity to share issues and concerns common to all girls but in an environment that more fully addresses the specific needs of Latinas,†said Kathy Cloninger, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “Inclusiveness and diversity are founding principles of Girl Scouts, and the National Latina Conference is one of many ways we’re working to help girls of all backgrounds grow into strong and productive adults.â€
