Alternatives For Girls is accepting proposals from Investment firms to provide investment advisor services for a portfolio of charitable funds benefiting Alternatives For Girls. We invite your firm to submit a proposal to us by August 24, for consideration. For a full description, please see the RFP.
Alternatives For Girls Searches for Investment Advisor Services
Aug. 14 2017 |Rise N’ Shine’s Mad Scientists: Madonna University students teach campers about science, and that anything is possible
Aug. 1 2017 | Tags: Prevention, Rise N' Shine, summer camp, volunteer projects, volunteersOn July 11th, Alternatives For Girls’ Rise N’ Shine summer camp began! The free, six-week summer camp gives girls living in southwest Detroit a safe space to learn new things, improve their reading skills, make friends, and have fun. For three days each week, the campers spend the day participating in fun, educational workshops, and field trips. This summer, workshops include dance, arts and crafts, gardening, cooking, and more.
One exciting new workshop this summer is being led by six young women who are students from Madonna University. The group is teaching the campers about all the different areas of science and the many different science career paths. Each of the Madonna students is studying science and majoring in either Biology or Forensic Science. “We really want to give the girls glimpses of different areas of science – biology, geology, chemistry, forensics,” explains Bianca Hasani, one of the workshop facilitators.
So far, the group has covered the scientific method, DNA sequencing, how to use a microscope, the life cycle of a butterfly, and more. One week, the girls started their own experiment, growing a sunflower from a seed, using the scientific method. Jessica Peg, another facilitator, explained, “We did some activities, like [growing] the sunflowers, so that they could watch the progress and see them grow over just a few weeks.” Annett, a Rise N’ Shine camper in the workshop, has already learned so much, “We learned that caterpillars take three to five weeks to grow into a butterfly!” she exclaims.
When learning how to use the microscopes, the girls looked at different types of diseases and parasites. One camper told the volunteers that she had learned about parasites in school, but didn’t get to see it under a microscope. “I got to help her make the connection between that and what we were looking at. It was great,” shares Jessica.
Another goal of the workshop is to expose them to science based careers and show them that it is something they can pursue. “Since science and math are male dominated fields, we want to show them that girls can be scientists, too!” says Eunice Herman, another student. Bianca agrees, “We want to teach them that education is for everyone. We want to teach them that they can grow up to be a nurse, or whatever they want.”
Future activities will include building terrariums with succulents and some fun activities like making ice cream or slime. “I want to learn more about Forensic Science,” Annett smiles. For the young women leading the workshop, the best part is seeing the campers getting interested in science. Bianca explains, “My favorite part of teaching the girls is that I’m a role model for them. I’m getting them excited about science!”
Alternatives For Girls would like to thank the Madonna University students; Jessica Peg, Bianca Hasani, Eunice Herman, Kelsey Hanover, Sarah Knapp, and Nicole Carlin, as well as their Lead Professor, Veronica Riha, for spending their summer teaching the Rise N’ Shine campers all about science!
Eat Your Vegetables: AFG partners with Eat No Evil to teach girls culinary skills and the benefits to plant based eating
Aug. 1 2017 | Tags: Health & Nutrition, Homeless Youth, ShelterThis month, two young women from AFG’s Shelter worked alongside plant-based health food company Eat No Evil to learn culinary skills and the benefits of eating a plant-based diet. Eat No Evil makes and sells vegan nutrition bars at local health and wellness centers and hospitals. “Eat No Evil bars are good for your body and for the planet. The packaging is biodegradable and the bars are vegan,” shares Rachelle Nash, owner of Eat No Evil.
Jessica and Sharai have only been at AFG for a few weeks, but they are already taking big steps to work towards their goals. Both young women have secured two jobs, in addition to working part time for Eat No Evil. For Jessica, this experience solidified her desire to become a chef. “I’d like to go to school for culinary arts. I want to learn how to make all the fancy foods,” she smiles.
Since creating Eat No Evil Rachelle planned to reach out to local community organizations, like AFG, to employ its’ participants. After meeting AFG Board Member, Pam Rodgers, and being introduced to AFG, she knew it was a perfect fit. “The idea was twofold, to hire girls at AFG to help make the product and then hopefully employ them in other ways down the line,” Rachelle explains.
For two weeks, Jessica and Sharai helped Rachelle make and package 600 bars for a Rhonda Walker Foundation event held on July 30th. The small group had fun listening to music, melting chocolate, and assembling the bars right here at AFG! “I learned how to make the bars and how to melt chocolate,” Sharai reflects. Now that they’ve learned these skills, Sharai and Jessica talked about making the bars for family and friends, “Now I can trick my kids and say, ‘Here, try these brownies!’” she laughs.
As Eat No Evil grows, Rachelle hopes to add an educational component so that she can teach the community the benefits of eating a vegan diet, “I hope to show them the science behind eating plant based meals,” she shares. In addition, she hopes to become a vendor at Whole Foods and Lucky’s Market.
“I’ve had fun working with the team!” Sharai exclaims as she melts the chocolate that tops each bar. As the group works to complete the last of the 600 bars, Jessica reflects on the experience while packaging one of the Chocolate Coconut bars, “To me, it’s been a great experience.”
July Volunteer Spotlight: Angela Wisniewski
Jul. 7 2017 | Tags: Resource Center, volunteer projects, volunteersEach month, Alternatives For Girls’ Volunteer Department, highlights one volunteer who AFG staff recognize as being dedicated, passionate, and going above and beyond. This month we spotlight Angela Wisniewski, a volunteer who helps out in countless ways!
Angela has been volunteering at Alternatives For Girls for about six months and has made a big impact within the organization in that short amount of time.
After researching organizations that help women and hearing positive things about AFG, Angela decided to become a volunteer so that she could support women and be part of the community. Angela has volunteered in many ways; at the Role Model Dinner, by offering her skills and experience in photography and social media to support AFG’s programs, and consistently volunteering in the Crisis Resource Center since March.
One day, while in the Crisis Resource Center, Angela noticed a woman that was utilizing the center’s walk-in services having a difficult time finding what she needed in the clothing closet. Since that experience, Angela made it her mission to organize the clothing closet. She prepared the closet for summer and also purchased new hangers and other organizational items! Angela has made the clothing closet into a fun, easy, and positive experience for all who use it. Both staff and participants are appreciative to the time Angela invested into the closet and the impact it continues to have.
In addition to her organizational skills, Angela offers empathy and is easy to talk to. Angela is a role model for all girls and women through her independence, perseverance, and by demonstrating the importance of following one’s own path.
Thank you, Angela, for supporting Alternatives For Girls!
Interested in volunteering? Please contact our Volunteer Department at volunteering@alternativesforgirls.org to discuss the next steps to becoming a volunteer at Alternatives For Girls!
Sew Great Detroit Helps Build Confidence: One young woman’s experience learning how to sew
Jul. 5 2017 | Tags: Sew Great Detroit, Sewing, ShelterSew Great Detroit (SGD), Alternatives For Girls’ social enterprise program that teaches participants both sewing and employment skills, has been hard at work the past couple of months. This summer, they are selling their handmade goods at Ponyride Detroit’s Summer Market Series. The five members, who are also participants in other AFG programs, have created beautiful adult and children’s aprons to add to their supply of tote bags, baby items, cell phone bags, and more.
Building Confidence
Maddie, one of SGD’s newest members, joined in April. She has been a resident in AFG’s Shelter since February and before joining SGD she didn’t know how to sew. “It’s been so great!” Maddie smiles while sharing how her experience in SGD has been so far. “I like it a lot. I’ve been learning fast.”
Since April, Maddie has learned valuable sewing skills, like machine sewing and hand finishing techniques, cutting techniques, and more. “I’ve learned how to thread the needle and the bobbin on the machine, different stitches, and how to align the fabric on the sewing machine,” Maddie recalls.
For Maddie, her favorite part of being in SGD is the self-confidence she has found while learning a new skill. “I love looking at the project that I’ve finished and thinking ‘Dang, I did really good!’ It makes me feel accomplished,” she shares. After meeting specific sewing skill and job performance goals, Maddie earned her own sewing machine. The machine, which was generously donated by an AFG donor, has allowed her to practice sewing in her free time.
Dreaming of the Future
Maddie has also used her machine and new skills for practical uses. “I like sewing because it’s not expensive. If you rip a pair of jeans, you don’t have to buy another pair, you can fix it!” In the future, Maddie plans to expand her skills so she can make her own clothing. “I’d really like to start making clothing, like dresses and stuff, using patterns but choosing my own colors and fabrics,” Maddie dreams.
June Volunteer Spotlight: Marie Lowry
Jun. 8 2017 | Tags: Afterschool Program, Prevention, volunteer projects, volunteersEach month, Alternatives For Girls’ Volunteer Department, highlights one volunteer who AFG staff recognize as being dedicated, passionate, and going above and beyond. This month we spotlight Marie Lowry, a volunteer in AFG’s Prevention Program!
Marie has been a longtime supporter of Alternatives For Girls and spent the past year volunteering as a tutor for the after-school program. In recent months, she has gone above and beyond by leading a project to improve the library at AFG.
When speaking with Marie, she explained that her proudest moment as a volunteer came when she consistently tutored a young girl in the after-school program. The girl was struggling with her handwriting, which was affecting her ability to complete her homework. After a few weeks of practice, not only did the participant’s handwriting improve but so did her academic performance and confidence with her school work!
Marie takes pleasure in being part of an organization that focuses on girls and women and especially enjoys working with the younger girls of the Prevention Department. One of Marie’s strengths is her enthusiasm, which also makes her an excellent volunteer. Marie’s enthusiasm for tutoring each week demonstrates to the girls and young women in the program that she cares about them and values her time with them. Marie also spreads her passion within her own community, as she frequently shares opportunities with members of her church to support AFG and become more involved.
Thank you, Marie, for continuing to make a difference in the lives of girls and young women.
Interested in volunteering? Please contact Jenny Clement, Volunteer Services Manager, at 313-361-4000 x248 or volunteering@alternativesforgirls.org to discuss the next steps to becoming a volunteer at Alternatives For Girls!
A Graduation Story: One of AFG’s high school graduates shares her struggles and triumphs
May. 31 2017 | Tags: Afterschool Program, High School Graduation, PreventionThis spring, high school seniors everywhere will be counting the days until their graduation day. Graduating from high school is an important milestone for every young adult, but for some, the path to graduating is filled with obstacles, like homelessness or violence in their communities.
Despite these challenges, young women in AFG’s programs get the help and resources they need to walk across the stage with their peers. We are happy to report that for the 17h year in a row, 100% of the high school seniors in our Prevention Program will be doing just that! Below is a story of a young woman preparing for her next chapter, as a college freshmen.
Making the Grade
Meet Anayeli. Anayeli is 18 years old and has been a participant in AFG’s After-school Program for the past four years. “Freshmen and sophomore years were easy. Junior year and senior year were stressful! I felt like I needed a week and a half just to do my nightly homework,” Anayeli recalls.
When she needed help with her homework, Anayeli knew just where to turn. “The homework help and all of the staff and volunteers that helped, made a big difference. Right now I have a low grade in English, but I’m working on getting it to an A or B for my last report card.”
Looking Forward to the Future
AFG has also helped Anayeli decide which college to go to. “Coming to AFG helped me decide to go to college and see which ones I wanted to go to. We took field trips to visit colleges. I applied to two of those places and got accepted to one of them!”
Now that she’s almost done with high school, Anayeli says she will miss hanging out with her friends every day. But, she is looking forward to the flexibility that college will bring to her daily schedule, “I’m looking forward to not being at the same school for 8 hours a day. In college, you get more breaks!” she smiles. After she graduates next month, Anayeli plans to attend college in the fall and begin a pre-nursing program so she can become a nurse one day.
Alternatives For Girls accepting applications for AmeriCorps VISTA position
May. 23 2017 |Alternatives For Girls is currently accepting applications for an AmeriCorps VISTA position. The person in this role will support workforce readiness and vocational program coordination, host fairs and establish community partnerships.
Interested in applying? Please see the details on this form or contact Melody Moore at 313-361-4000 or mmoore@alternativesforgirls.org for more information.
Deadline to apply is May 31, 2017.
Earth Day Service Project: Girls and young women partner with volunteers to give back to the community and take care of the environment
May. 1 2017 | Tags: leadership, Prevention, volunteer projects, volunteersAlternatives For Girls participated in Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) on Saturday, April 22nd. GYSD is an annual campaign that mobilizes millions of youth to improve their communities each year through service. Celebrated in over 100 countries, GYSD is the largest service event in the world! In an effort to spread the word about this annual event, The Michigan Community Service Commission offered mini grants to organizations who were interested. Alternatives For Girls applied, and received one of these grants.
“The Prevention team and I brainstormed on project ideas. We wanted to make sure that the project would be a good overall learning experience for the young ladies,” said Jenny Clement, AFG’s Volunteer Services Manager, who helped lead the project along with AFG’s Prevention Program. They made plans to do a community clean up, plant flowers, build a bench, and build bird feeders out of recycled materials.
During the planning phase, Jenny reached out to Home Depot in Dearborn. They generously supported this effort by donating soil, mulch, bird feeders, and the materials needed to make a bench. In addition to sending the supplies, ten volunteers also came to help with the project! Over 40 people, including the girls and young women in AFG’s Prevention Program, convened to help clean up the outside of AFG and the surrounding community.
Serissa, a participant in the Prevention Program, really enjoyed her experience. “We planted flowers, pulled weeds, and helped polish the bench once it was done,” she enthusiastically explained. Serissa’s favorite activity was when she planted flowers around the AFG sign, which graces the front lawn. “It’s the first thing that people see and I wanted to make sure it looked nice!”
One goal for the project was for the young woman to learn about the importance of giving back to the community. “For this project, I picked up the trash around AFG. It made me think about my own neighborhood and how I can help keep it clean,” said Karen, another participant in the Prevention Program. It is no coincidence that GYSD took place on Earth Day, a time where we all reflect on environmental issues and take action in ways that can make the world cleaner and safer for generations to come.
The girls and young women, volunteers, and AFG staff walked away with a commitment to continue taking care of the environment year round, instead of just one day. This day of service was an extension of what is already being taught in the Prevention Program and the girls plan to continue to learn about recycling and ways to take care of the environment. In addition, Home Depot has made a commitment to come back to help maintain the projects that were started. Indeed, it was a great learning experience for all and the outcome ignited a deeper commitment for a cleaner, safer, environment!
Alternatives For Girls would like to thank Home Depot for volunteering and donating supplies for this project, as well as Attack Hunger for donating lunch for all of the young women and volunteers!
Best Expression of Ourselves: Alternatives For Girls celebrates its 30th anniversary at annual Role Model Dinner
Mar. 30 2017 | Tags: AFG's 30th Anniversary, news, Role Model Dinner, volunteersOn March 23, Alternatives For Girls held the annual Role Model Dinner at Cobo Center. The event raised over $300,000 to support our critical work!
The evening was full of fun, inspiration, and hope, as AFG celebrated its 30th anniversary of serving girls and young women! After an hour of mingling and a silent auction, the program kicked off with a live auction. Rhonda Walker, Local 4 News Morning Anchor and 2008 AFG Role Model Awardee, emceed the event. The dinner, co-chaired this year by Don Manvel and Barbara Whittaker, provided an opportunity for us to hear from many of the young women whose lives have been changed by AFG’s programs. We heard stories of struggle and triumph, and many reflections on the theme of the night, Best Expression of Ourselves. The evening closed with the thrilling “Fund the Mission,” led by auctioneer Chris Aslanian, during which event guests pledged monetary support to AFG.
The program was a time of reflection and inspiration as the young women of AFG and the 2017 Role Models shared their stories. Many shared empowering messages, like this statement from former President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation and Role Model Awardee, Carol Goss, “My life’s focus as a professional and a volunteer has been to help the most, vulnerable families and children to find a better life, jobs that pay a livable wage, quality education for their children and access to health care and adequate healthy food and housing. A life free from conflict and violence and hope for the future. It is my hope that that those of us who have been blessed with resources and role models in our lives will find a way to pay this forward to a young woman that needs it.”
We would like to thank our dinner co-chairs, Don Manvel and Barbara Whittaker, and the entire Role Model Dinner Committee, who helped make the event such an incredible success! We would also like to thank Rhonda Walker, our emcee, Chris Aslanian, our esteemed auctioneer, and all of the dedicated volunteers who helped make the event possible. Thank you to all of the young women from our programs; Tamia, Karen, Treasure, Shanyelle, and Sheria, who shared their stories and showed us the courage and determination it takes to become the best expression of ourselves.
AFG also gratefully thanks this year’s Role Model Dinner Presenting Sponsor, DTE Energy Foundation, as well as the following dinner sponsors: AVL, Ford Motor Company Fund, Madison Heights Glass, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, The Suburban Collection, UAW-General Motors Center for Human Resources, Brooks Kushman, Flagstar Bank, Ideal Group, Jim and Ann Nicholson, UAW-Ford, Argent International, BW Limited, Carole Ilitch, Comerica Bank, Corporate F.A.C.T.S., Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Home Depot, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Marathon Petroleum Company, Metro West Chapter of Credit Unions, MGM Grand Detroit, Plante Moran, The Skillman Foundation, St. John Providence, Trinity Health, Willis Towers Watson, Kerr-Russell, George Johnson & Company, Melissa Jamal, Union Ad Works, and Special D Events.
Finally, we want to thank everyone who attended the event for spending the evening with us and for showing such overwhelming support for AFG’s programs, as well as everyone who has supported Alternatives For Girls over the last 30 years. Thank you!