What is Girls Incorporated ?

In April 1990, the membership of Girls Clubs of America voted to change its name to Girls Incorporated to reflect better its serious mission, distinctive outlook and leadership in the research and development of informal educational programs for girls. Girls Incorporated's goal is to assist its affiliates in meeting the needs of girls in their communities; to help girls and young women overcome the effects of discrimination and to develop their capacity to be self-sufficient, responsible citizens; and to serve as a vigorous advocate for girls, focusing attention on their special needs.

Girls Incorporated of Alameda County

The goal of Girls Incorporated of Alameda County is, " To build girls' and young women's capacity for responsible and confident adulthood, economic independence and personal fulfillment." In addition to Operation SMART, this organization also provides the following services:

• Education Now and Babies Later (ENABL) ---helps teens say "no" to early sexual activity and "yes" to the future.
• School Age Mothers (SAM)---an accredited high school with on-site childcare for pregnant/parenting teens residing in San Leandro, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley.
• Pathways Counseling Center---works with families to improve communication and identify workable solutions to family problems, provides counseling and referral services onsite at local schools.
• Eureka Teen Achievement Program---summer camp located at Mills College in Oakland that has expanded to give 55 financially disadvantaged girls the chance to participate and excel in math, science, and sports. This program also includes year round follow-up sessions and a career development program .

Girls Incorporated has also provided a base for the activities of Females Unifying Teens Undertaking Responsible Education (FUTURE). This group of teen women has staged two interactive Teen Women's Leadership Summits to address issues such as violence, suicide and women's health. The members of FUTURE meet weekly and are working to give teen women a voice for positive change.

Operation SMART

Operation SMART is a program established by Girls Inc. in 1985 to encourage girls to persist in math and science--and stay on the track towards good jobs and satisfying lives. Operation SMART is based on research, developed in consultation with the experts in the field, and rigorously evaluated. This program provides girls with hands-on experiences and introduces them to careers in science, math and technology.

The SMART curriculum used in the Women of NASA project was developed by Bess Bendet of Girls Incorporated of Alameda County for use in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classrooms as part of their Operation SMART program. Through this program girls are given the opportunity to learn math and science in a single-sex environment. With the assistance of a SMART teacher , provided by Girls Incorporated, students are separated by gender. Girls and boys are then given the opportunity to explore math and science from a problem-solving and hands-on approach.

Operation SMART provides teacher training and support. Training includes eight hours of in- service training, in science and math, as well as gender equity training. Girls Inc. provides curriculum guides and materials for the teachers. A bi-weekly SMART support group and check-ins at the school sites is also provided as part of this program.

For more information about Girls Incorporated of Alameda County contact:

Girls Incorporated of Alameda County
13666 East 14th Street
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 357-5515

For more information about Girls Incorporated contact:

Girls Incorporated
30 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 689-3700