News Archives - Page 12 of 13 - Alternatives For Girls

“I’ve seen how it’s changed peoples’ lives”

Nov. 26 2013 | Tags: juvenile justice, Know Risks, Outreach, Peer Education

“It seemed like a good opportunity to do something different,” explains Brittany. Brittany has been a part of the Know Risks Peer Education team at AFG for almost two years. But before joining the team, she didn’t always feel like she had much direction in life.

The 17-year-old high school senior has a big smile and sparking brown eyes. She speaks with pride as she describes what she does as a part of the Know Risks team. “We go to [community organizations like] Vista Maria and Starfish and do workshops on healthy relationships, HIV, and self-esteem,” she explains. “I get to teach girls new stuff that they don’t know about…I’ve seen how it’s changed peoples’ lives.”

Learning responsibility

In helping others, Brittany has also been able to strengthen herself. She says that she has become much more independent since becoming a Peer Educator. “It’s teaching us how to be responsible for when we have a real job,” she explains.

She’s been able to improve her grades from C’s to A’s and B’s. She credits this improvement to being a Peer Educator. “I got more focused on my work,” she says proudly.

Brittany recently moved from the Know Risks team to a new Peer Education team focused on juvenile justice (stay tuned for more info!). This year, she plans to graduate from high school and go on to college. She wants to first become an RN, but ultimately she would like to become a pediatrician. She wants to transfer her love of working with other youth into being able to help children.

Project Giving Tree

Oct. 28 2013 |

As you begin making out your lists for holiday gift giving, we hope that you will remember Alternatives For Girls’ (AFG) Project Giving Tree! Contributions that we received from people like you helped us to ensure a sparkling and joyous holiday season for our program participants last year, and we are hoping to make the season even brighter for them this year.

We are asking for donors to “adopt” a program participant(s) for the holiday season by being assigned a young woman’s wish list. We are asking for new gifts, placed in gift bags, in the price range of $30.00 – $50.00. If you do not have the time to make your donation in this personal way, we will gratefully accept your donation of cash or gift cards and purchase gifts on your behalf. Additionally, we look for sponsors and volunteers to assist with activities and food at each of our holiday parties. We will distribute the young women’s wish lists to you by November 1, 2013 and we have established Friday December 6, 2013 as the deadline for your generous donation to be returned.

With your help, Project Giving Tree can once again provide a holiday season to remember. If you would like to assist us in our holiday endeavors, please call or e-mail Anna Weaver at volunteering@alternativesforgirls.org or (313)361-4000 ext. 280 to coordinate and/or discuss your holiday contribution.

Blog: Rise N’ Shine

Sep. 19 2013 | Tags: leadership, Rise N' Shine, summer camp, youth leaders

Rise N’ Shine

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Rajanae and Ciara

About the bloggers: Rajane is 19 years old, and a three year Youth Leader for Rise N’ Shine. Ciara is 18 years old and a Youth Leader for AFG’s Rise N’ Shine summer camp.

Rajane: I was a member of the Rise N’ Shine summer program since I was four years old, and grew too old to attend. So I decided to join as a Youth Leader. This year was my third year as a Youth Leader. Each year gets more exciting. This year we had a ton of swimming trips, and we even went go cart racing. The classes for the girls were awesome; basketball, gardening, yoga, cooking, arts and crafts, fashion design, movie making, and a lot of other fun classes. Personally, I like that we even help the girls with their reading and writing skills while having fun. Rise N’ Shine also helps the Youth Leaders with leadership trainings, CPR, and with working on a team. Rise N’ Shine was a wonderful experience for the young ladies, youth leaders, and the facilitators. I believe we all gained something from this summer.

Ciara: Working at Alternatives For Girls was a great experience. I got the opportunity to mentor and have fun with young girls who are still discovering who they are in this world. I got the chance to make someone smile, help them take a risk, and watch them grow. I got a chance to work with my peers and grow as an individual. Taking every step with these young girls along the way and helping them feel comfortable with new obstacles was the greatest experience I had while being a youth leader at Rise N’ Shine.

For some of you,

your first day was very scary and overwhelming.

Like your first day of school, too many new people.

And every morning that you came to Rise N’ Shine you were nervous, really sleepy, and cautious.

We just wanted to show you that it’s okay to explore,

It’s okay to open up, play, laugh, and want more.

It’s okay to be afraid, and it’s okay to have fun all day.

Life will sometimes throw lemons your way,

make the best out of the bad and drink lemonade,

like you did here every day at lunch.

The smiles, laughs, cries, dances, rainy days, funny faces, field trips, games, and friendships,

will all be a part of your memory

leaving you all doesn’t seem real to me.

As you move forward onto to your school year,

remember that your never alone, even when you think you are.

Remember it’s okay to take risk and try new things.

If you continue to grow and be yourself,

Life will always bring new things.

The world is waiting on you, go explore and spread your wings.

Dream Warriors

Sep. 19 2013 |

This October, we invite you to join Alternatives For Girls as we support homeless and at-risk girls and young women who are being empowered to make positive choices and live powerful lives. During the program, you will learn more about AFG’s work, hear from the young women we serve, and learn how you can become involved. No ticket is required, though you will be invited to support our programs. Parking, hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Detroit Historical Museum

5401 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202

Registration: 5:30pm

Program: 6:00-7:00pm

An opportunity to explore the museum will follow the program.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Lauren Thomas at (313) 361-4000 ext. 223

or lthomas@alternativesforgirls.org.

2014 Role Model Awards Call For Nominations

Sep. 12 2013 |

AFG is now accepting nominations for our 2014 Role Model Awards. We invite you to nominate an extraordinary woman who you think would make an excellent AFG Role Model. Complete criteria, along with a writable nominations form, can be found on our Call for Nominations page. We welcome nominations until 5 pm on October 1, 2013.

Concert to Benefit AFG

Aug. 2 2013 |

On August 17th at the Redford Theater at 7 pm, Cecil Cosey and BlackStar Entertainment are hosting a concert featuring Robert Curry of Day 26 and many others. They are going to donate 50% of the event proceeds to AFG. Tickets are $20 in advance. For more information, visit their website.

Blog: Teen Outreach Program

Jul. 31 2013 |

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Angelique

About the blogger: Angelique is 17 years old and has been a Know Risks Peer Educator for about 17 months. She will graduate from high school in June 2014.

The Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is a community-based program created to educate teens on various topics and open them up to community service learning opportunities.

TOP is something that I will always hold on to. TOP wasn’t just a learning program that we attend two hours a week, but it was a fundamental learning experience. I can definitely say it helped me understand myself.

One lesson that stood out to me in TOP was about female leaders from the past and present. The TOP participants as a group identified the women we felt are role models for us now and who were role models for our elders. The women that were listed ranged from Rosa Parks to Michelle Obama. All the women listed possessed characteristics such as confidence, dedication and humbleness. Since women are sometimes considered inferior to men in today’s society, the activity gave us a different outlook on females. It helped us realize how valuable women are to society and how the world would change drastically without women.

As a TOP participant, we were required to complete a minimum of 20 community service learning hours. We made suggestions on places to earn our hours at, and reach the 20 hour goal. One memorable community service project was “Kitty Forts.” The Humane Society hosted this project. Its purpose was to create shelter for cats our of brown paper boxes. The TOP facilitators purchased 30 boxes and we used fabric and construction paper to decorate the boxes. We took the boxes to the Humane Society, and were able to see a tour with the animals.

Overall, TOP was a good experience, and is something that I’ll always remember and recommend to my peers. I will participate in TOP again this fall.

Blog: Adventure Therapy

Jun. 27 2013 |

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Sinita

About the blogger: Sinita Williams is a counselor in AFG’s Shelter department. She received her Masters in Social Work from Wayne State University. While completing her MSW program Sinita interned at AFG as the Curriculum Coordinator Intern. During her internship, she was hired as a Program Assistant/Residential Advisor in December 2011. After completing her MSW program she became the Interim Curriculum Coordinator. Now, she works as the Shelter and Transition to Independent Living Counselor.

The Shelter Department has just implemented a new program called adventure therapy into their Community Group. The term “adventure therapy” is a fairly new concept but has been proven effective when working with at-risk youth. Community Group is co-facilitated by me and Counseling Curriculum Coordinator Erika Fox. The group consist of experiential and activity building activities.

Before the start of every group the counselors discuss and review the expectations of the group. Following the expectations the facilitators lead the participants in a series of body stretches to reduce minor injuries. The format of the group consists of a check-in activity, two main activities, and a check-out activity. A popular check-in activity that is used during group is called “Question Ball Toss” which is tossed in a circle and when caught the participant is asked to answer the question under their left thumb. The check-in activities help the facilitators and other participants recognize where each participant is emotionally.

The two main activities consist of games that focus on healthy coping skills, teamwork, decision making, and communication skills. These activities force some participants out of their comfort zone and force other participants to recognize their leadership skills. During the main activities the facilitators observe the participants’ initiatives and only respond to the participants with thought-provoking questions. These questions force the participants to communicate and strategize effective ideas.

During the check-out activity the facilitators encourage the participants to sit in a circle and reflect on their experiences. During this time participants discuss the challenges and strengths that they encountered during the activities. The facilitators also have the participants connect lessons that they have learned to situations that they face in their daily lives. Erika and I are excited about the new format and have high hopes for the lasting impact that it will have on the shelter participants.

Blog: Why I Want to Become a Part of AFG’s Transition to Independent Living Program

Apr. 24 2013 |

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Daniella

About the blogger: Daniella is a relative newcomer to AFG’s Shelter. She wrote this blog as part of her application to AFG’s Transition to Independent Living (TIL) Program, AFG’s long-term shelter program that helps homeless young women become truly independent Since writing this, Daniella has been accepted into TIL.

My vision for an independent woman is, being able to rely on myself; having my own money, car, house and every other necessity. I’m homeless because after my father died, my mother was constantly trying to have me move in with relatives I really wasn’t close with. I was very depressed and had very low self-esteem. I had very bad grades starting in the 8th grade and it was hard for me to focus. In high school I got kicked out for 240 days and never went back. My mother and I didn’t get along once she got her new boyfriend. One day she kicked me out, but I saved $900 and moved to north California. But I was homeless there too and moved back here. Being here at Alternatives for Girls has helped me so much. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been going to school; I found a job and I have health insurance.

Participating in the TIL program will help me reach that goal by providing me a guaranteed place to stay so I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to lay my head after work. It will also help me save my money because I don’t have to pay rent. And when I’m ready to go back to California I will be prepared with enough money to buy an apartment.

Being here will also help me get a car. Catching the bus is hard, especially in the cold weather. The buses are unreliable and it can be harder trying to find work when relying on the bus. This program will help me save money for the future.

Blog: What I Think and How I Feel About New Choices

Mar. 15 2013 |

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Babydoll

About the blogger: Babydoll has been a participant in AFG’s New Choices Program for eight years. She first came into the program seeking support as survivor of severe mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. She continues to be active in the program today.

I’ve been coming to New Choices for eight years. New Choices is a great opportunity for change and growth; a place of support without judgment. Group workshops include time for goal-setting and case planning, and are always confidential. New Choices has a vast array of services: from the clothing closet, to condom packets, with daily transportation, hot lunches, and shower and laundry facilities-New Choices participants receive a lot of services!

New Choices is a place I call home when I feel lost. It’s a place that helps me find my way. New Choices helped me become more self-sufficient. The staff are beautiful women, powerful and influential, dedicated, supportive, kind, understanding, strong, and sensitive. These women make me a better person. They gave me back my will to live. I have much love to all the staff for their unyielding support and encouragement.

From my thirty-day stay in the hospital, major surgery, a horrible car accident, the sudden death of my closest brother, and many other challenges, New Choices has always been there for me, and they still are, today.

All the New Choices women are unique individuals; yet we are united in our struggles. Overcoming obstacles, we are here to help one another face adversity. We share, love, and care for one another when we’re down, and we’re always here to lift one another to new heights. We learn, grow, share, talk, laugh, and cry together. We are intelligent, understanding, loving women who continue to learn from one another when things get us down. New Choices reminds us to hold our heads up – the sky’s the limit! There is no limit!