Naeemah Afi shared on our facebook Cooperative Women and Girls Network Resource and Support Guide about Grassroots Community Foundation "Winter Wellness" workshops for middle school girls at Waterview recreation center. Glad to have learned about this wonderful organization empowering young girls with organic cooking workshops and more:
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- SuperCamp Creates A Healthy Foundation For Girls and Their Families
- SuperGirls Learn the Basics of Good Mental and Sexual Health
- Trailblazers in Justice and Business Train SuperGirls to Lead
- Grassroots Starts Sorority with Focus on Sisterhood and Service
I wanted to learn more about Grassroots Community Foundation and requested this email interview with co-founder Dr. Janice Johnson Dias. Thanks to Lisa Rediker and Almaz Crowe of Skai Blue Media i am able to share this life enhancing resource with you.
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Dr. Johnson who are the founders of Grassroots Community Foundation (GCF)?
Dr. Johnson:
I conceptualized the idea for GCF in 2010 and to garner support I reached out to my old friend and neighbor Tarik “Black Thought” Trotter. We are the two co-founders of GrassROOTS Community Foundation.
Dr. Johnson what are all the programs that you all offer in the 19144 area?
Dr. Johnson:
GCF offers out of school time wellness programs for middle school girls and their families. The majority of our programs take place after school hours at Lingelbach Elementary School. This year we have partnered with Waterview Recreation and we will be doing programs at both locations.
We also have a 10-week race training program (titled R3: Roots, Rock, Run) to prepare youth and their families to run our 5k community walk/run
Over the past 6 years GCF has also hosted Town Hall conversations on health and well-being.
In 2017 we will be partnering with the Philadelphia Health Department as well as with Councilwoman Cindy Bass and State Rep Stephen Kinsey to promote public heath and social action, focusing on women and girls
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Dr. Johnson can you tell us about SuperCamp?
Dr. Johnson: SuperCamp is our summer leadership camp for girls of African descent. We focus on developing girls’ confidence by teaching them about their history and teaching them how to become healthy and how to use their gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.
Additionally, we recognize the value of cultivating healthy bodies and a creative spirit. To foster artistic development and expression, youth participate in daily fitness including running, yoga, and dancing classes. The success of each camper depends on the support of her caregiving circle. To ensure that each camper reaches her goals, each camper and her caregiving circle completes a family assessment, which is used as the basis for their developmental plan and as the measurement tool to evaluate success. Each camp ends with a final performance where youth showcase what they have learned over the course of the camp.
Last year, Philadelphia had a 2 week pilot of SuperCamp and this year, SuperCamp Philly will take place for 4 weeks. Applications will be open by February 14th. SuperCamp accepts elementary and middle school aged girls. High school and college children can apply for internship and counsel positions.
Dr. Johnson how do you involve families?
Dr. Johnson:
Families are a critical part of our work. In each of our programs caregivers are required to engage and support youth. Youth cannot succeed without loving and resourceful caregivers.
At the SuperCamp Philadelphia finale, caregivers had to write and read aloud a note to their SuperGirl. This note highlighted the key areas of strength and beauty in each girl.
Dr. Johnson how do you recruit girls?
Dr. Johnson:
We have an open recruitment process. We use a variety of recruitment methods including but not limited tosocial media, word of mouth, newspapers, and our listserve.
Dr. Johnson do you have upcoming events that we can share with our readers?
Dr. Johnson:
Our program for middle school girls at Lingelbach will begin on January 14th from 3:30-5pm, Monday thru Friday.
Our program for middle school girls at Waterview Recreation Center begins on January 21st from 10-2 Saturdays. Our programs are free.
Our 10-week race training program will begin on March 4thand conclude with a 5k community walk/run on the morning of The Roots Picnic
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