Keeping up with Ladies of East Aurora 2022

Fall 2022

The girls are in full swing at East Aurora High School.

From selecting accountability partners to sharing common challenges, our young ladies are enjoying their time together. They also created a "Cutie Closet" as a means to give back to young ladies in need of stylish clothing to build their confidence.

Take a look at our trust building bonding activity. The purpose of this activity is to choose someone you trust to guide you through those times of darkness and uncertainty. We learned about sisterhood, building a fortress of protection around one another, and being intentional with our leadership.

The "Cutie Closet" is pictured below.

About Us

Our purpose and goals

Girls Run The World addresses topics effecting our youth, such as:

teen dating violence
bullying/cyberbullying
self esteem and confidence issues
social emotional development
building and maintaining healthy relationships,
learning personal strengths and passions
proper physical self care

Our goal is to cultivate leaders and change agents

A group of people wearing Girls Run The World shirts

Our Staff

Meet our amazing team

First Row (Left to Right) David Smith, Dominique Scott Second Row (Left to Right) Mary Clark, Rosey Dominquez, Jenn Reyes, Officer Skyy Calice-McDowell, Maria Courtney, Officer Starr Pirela

History

Additional Information

Girls Run the World (GRTW) is a girls empowerment program ran by Officer Skyy Calice-McDowell, Officer Edwina Starr Pirela, and members of the Fox Valley community. GRTW services three high schools in Aurora; Metea Valley High, East Aurora High, and West Aurora High and one Yorkville High School in Yorkville, IL.

In 2016, Officer Calice-McDowell and Jennifer Reyes developed Girls Run the World Aurora, a girls empowerment program featuring the women of the Aurora Police Department and local school officials in a professional development relationship with teenage girls. It has amassed a slew of recognition and opportunities for the group participants, built a social media groundswell, and served as a blueprint for youth empowerment groups. The goal of the program was to provide preventative methods for the high school students due to the rising crime rates involving young women, as both victims and contributors. Rather than become complacent, we used the data as a catalyst to create an infrastructure to support, encourage, and uplift the young ladies in their personal and professional endeavors.

Team members, along with various school staff members, worked with affected young ladies to shift their energy into positive activities and reaching realistic goals. Over time, the group spread to all young ladies in need of guidance.

GRTW’s weekly meetings consisted of addressing topics such as teen dating violence, cyberbullying, confidence building, coping skills, maintaining healthy relationships, conflict resolution skills, financial literacy, workplace preparedness, leadership development, voluntarism, and proper self care.

In 2018, GRTW hosted the Inaugural Girls Run The World 5k Walk, Run, and Party in the Park. The event served as a fundraiser to aid in the expansion of the mentoring program and provided a platform for the girls to show their true selves to the community. Our fundraising efforts allowed us to give college scholarships to graduating seniors. Approximately 300 people took part in the event, bringing the Aurora community together for a most worthy cause. This event has continued over the years, remotely throughout the pandemic.

In 2019, Wamecca Rodriguez, The Yorkville Middle School Library Media Specialist and Yorkville High School/Middle School Step coach, inquired about starting a Girls Run The World Chapter in Yorkville, IL. Wamecca hit the ground running and has changed the lives of many young women. The Yorkville Chapter services Oswego and Montgomery, IL as well. Check out their tab!

As we continue to build and navigate through the pandemic, we'd love for you join us on this journey.