Published: July 14, 2008
Total Grantees: 26
Total Amount Funded: $166,666
Alternatives, Inc. - $1,500
Alternatives, Inc. is a 2006 grantee. In 2008, The program is expected to serve 40 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 and will start in July 2008 and end June 2009. This programming will include components focusing on health education, exercise and sports. Component one will be for five weeks. Through games, relay races and discussions, girls will explore issues regarding nutrition, positive decision-making and communication. In component two, lasting six weeks, the participants will choose three exercise activities from the following: a variety of dance, yoga, Pilates and aerobics. For four weeks, the final component will focus on two interactive team-based sports. The GoGirlGo! curriculum will be used to support all components. Alternatives focuses on the African-American and Hispanic/Latino populations in the Uptown community.
Beloved Community Family Services - $8,000
Beloved Community Family Services is a 2007 grantee, and the GoGirlGo! component will continue to be a part of Beloved’s Little Lady D.I.V.A. program. The program is expected to serve 30 girls in 2008 between the ages of 9 and 14 and takes place September- June, coinciding with the Chicago Public Schools schedule and currently includes karate twice a week. Little Lady D.I.V.A. helps young girls become involved in positive interaction and socialization activities, leading to leadership and successful relationships. They primarily serve the African-American and Hispanic populations and are located in the Englewood Community.
Centers for New Horizons - $333.33
Centers for New Horizons is a 2006 grantee and have been implementing the GoGirlGo! program for the past three years. In 2008 the Centers plan to serve 40 girls between the ages of 8 and 18. The curriculum will be provided once weekly, supplemented by weekly or twice weekly activities. The girls will be taughtAfrican dance, yoga, tennis and volleyball throughout the year. Centers for New Horizons also plans to take the girls on several field trips that include: roller-skating, bowling and swimming. It will also have Family Fun Nights, which include attending a basketball game and a workshop demonstrating healthier alternatives to common foods. This project targets low-income African-American girls and young women living in Chicago’s Bronzeville community (Douglas, Oakland, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, North Kenwood and Washington Park).
Centro Comunitario Juan Diego - $5,000
The Centro Comunitario Juan Diego (CCJD) is a 2007 grantee. It serves around 25 girls, with plans to expand when the space is obtained. The program takes place year-round, three times per week with Turbo Kickboxing as the activity. All ages, including mothers, are invited to participate in the activity component of the GoGirlGo! program. Last summer two sisters who grew up in the after-school tutoring program worked as Youth Mentors. The mentoring program was such a success that it is planned as a permanent element of the GoGirlGo! program. Centro Comunitario primarily serves the Latino population and is located on the southeast side of Chicago.
Chicago Park District- Harrison/ Sheridan - $10,000
Harrison Sheridan is a 2007 grantee and plans to implement the GoGirlGo! program to 60 girls, September through June, meeting once a week on Fridays. Each GoGirlGo! day is from 3- 6 p.m. with the first two hours spent on an activity and the last hour focusing on the curriculum and nutrition. The girls will be paired with “buddies” during the program to mentor them and add their unique experiences to components of the GoGirlGo! curriculum. Harrison Park is unique in its Hispanic culture and that the community supports and promotes ethnic diversity and healthy lifestyles. Harrison Park's demographics include an 88% Hispanic population, and Sheridan Park's demographics include a 66% African-American population. About 30% of the families in the areas live below the poverty level. Both parks are located on the lower west side of Chicago.
Chicago Park District- Kosciuszko Park - $8,000
Kosciuszko Park is a 2007 grantee. Its 2008 program will begin in September and end in June 2009. The park plans to serve 40 girls in 2008-2009, more than doubling its girl reach from 2007. The program leader plans to teach the girls volleyball, dance, yoga, Pilates and swimming throughout the year. Having a “girl-safe space” to gather every week and having an instructor that the girls can confide in and trust will have multiple benefits; the girls will stay out of the streets, learn to be health-conscious and build confidence. Kosciuszko Park primarily serves the African-American and Hispanic/Latino population in the Logan Square/ Portage Park communities.
Chicago Park District- Sherwood Park - $7,000
Sherwood Park is a 2007 grantee and plans to serve 48 girls in 2008 between the ages of 8 and 16. Sherwood Park Primarily serves the African-American population and is a popular spot for girls in the Englewood Community. The park will implement the GoGirlGo! program September through June. The program runs three days a week, and the girls are split into two different groups with Mondays set aside specifically for nutrition and curriculum. A theatre and dance component is also planned for this year.
Chicago Park District- Trumbull Park - $9,000
Trumbull Park is a 2007 grantee that plans to serve 50 girls in 2008 between the ages of 9 and 13. The program takes place September through June, two days a week, for two hours per session. The girls will participate in a variety of physical activities that will be new and fun for them as well as help create healthy habits. The activities will create a balance for their minds and bodies. The three components are yoga, martial arts and double dutch. The girls will also participate in “Fun with Food,” which will teach them the importance of following a healthy meal plan on a daily basis in order to fuel their bodies properly for their daily activities. The program primarily serves the African-American population and is located in the Jeffrey Manor community.
Community Extension Project - $7,000
The Community Extension Project (CEP) is a 2007 grantee that plans to serve 25 girls in 2008 between the ages of 14 and 18. This year CEP will introduce the girls to volleyball, salsa dancing, yoga and power walking. The program takes place year-round. The Girl Group program has been around since 1998 in response to an identified need to educate teenage girls and allow for all-female peer discussions of relevant topics of interest. CEP Youth Leadership primarily serves the African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian population, located in the La Grange community.
Family Matters - $5,000
Family Matters plans to implement the GoGirlGo! program for the first time this year. The program is expected to serve 24 girls in 2008 between the ages of 11 and 18 and will take place October 2008 through August 2008 and will teach the girls martial arts, yoga and dance. Family Matters “SOS/SIU GoGirlGo!” primarily serves the African-American population and is located in the Rogers Park community.
Friends of the Round Lake Area Park District - $8,000
Round Lake Area Park District (RLAPD)is a 2007 grantee, and was also funded in 2006. The program is expected to serve 160 girls between the ages of 8 and 13 in 2008, doubling its projected girl reach from 2007. The program takes place July through May, and RLAPD plans to implement a very broad range of activities. The list of sports includes soccer, volleyball, football, track, climbing, basketball and softball. Non-traditional sports like pickle-ball, badminton, ultimate Frisbee, orienteering, team handball, dodge ball, kickball and waffle-ball are also included. It primarily serves the African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Caucasian and biracial populations and are located in the Round Lake Beach community.
Girls on the Run- Chicago - $333.33
Girls on the Run plans to implement the GoGirlGo! program for the first time this year, serving 75 girls between the ages of 13 and 15. Girls on the Run plans to pilot its approach with seven new schools, incorporating an evaluation component that will inform future expansion and criterion for selection and targeting of new sites. All ethnicities throughout the Chicago area will be served.
Girl Scouts- Fox Valley Council - $4,000
Girl Scouts- Fox Valley Council plans to implement the GoGirlGo! program for the first time this year in its after-school programming and also during there many summer camps. The program is expected to reach 830 girls between the ages of 8 and 14. Girl Scouts- Fox Valley Council is located in Aurora Illinois and will serve a broad range of communities and ethnicities through the program.
Girl Scouts- Illinois Crossroads Council - $7,000
Fit To Be Me! Girl Scouts- Illinois Crossroads Council’s sports, health and fitness program piloted in 2005 and are 2007 grantees. The program is expected to serve 125 girls in 2008 between the ages of 8 and 17 and takes place for a full year and includes six eight-week sessions. The girls will be introduced to salsa aerobics and hoola hoops this year. The program is designed to teach girls how to lead healthier lives through exercise, improved nutritional choices, and positive body image. They primarily serve the African-American, Hispanic and Caucasian populations in the Vernon Hills community.
Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association - $10,000
The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) has been funded for the past three years. It is the only organization in our network that serves the unmet need for adaptive sports and recreation programs for physically or visually disabled individuals. The program has three components: Ongoing Adaptive General Sports Programs available through the year, GoGirlGo! monthly sports days and the annual GoGirlGo! Day. Ninety-five girls between the ages of 8-18 will participate in some aspect of the GoGirlGo! programming. Sessions begin with a 30-minute curriculum presentation and discussion. An introduction of the athletic skill and use and demonstration of the adaptive equipment follows. The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association recruits within the entire physically disabled community, which is not restricted by ethnicity or geography in the Chicago area.
Hegewisch Community Committee - $10,000
Hegewisch’s Girls’ Sports Buffet GoGirlGo! Program is a 2007 and 2006 grantee. Hegewisch provides girls with the opportunity to engage in a healthier lifestyle both physically and mentally. The Girls’ Sports Buffet will consist of a biweekly program that will introduce girls ages 10 to 14 to a different sport every month. In addition to meeting twice weekly, for the sport of the month, kickboxing will also be offered every Wednesday after school. The program will run from September 2008 until June 2009. An estimated 270 girls will participate in the Girls’ Sports Buffet. The program will be run as an after-school program housed primarily at Jane Addams School. Hegewisch Community Committee primarily serves the African-American and Hispanic/Latino population.
Illinois Youth Soccer - $6,000
Illinois Youth Soccer plans to implement the GoGirlGo! program for the first time this year. The program is expected to serve 100 girls in 2008 between the ages of 5 and 16 and takes place year-round with weekly soccer practice on Saturday for one and a half hours. All coaches within the league are parents or former youth player volunteers, and Olympic Development Program coaches volunteer their time every weekend during the winter months to provide the girls with new skills and techniques. The program primarily serves the African-American, Hispanic and bi-racial populations and reaches out to the Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards and Cicero communities.
Indian Boundary YMCA - $4,000
Indian Boundary YMCA will introduce the GoGirlGo! program for the first time this year. The program is expected to serve 125 girls in 2008 between the ages of 10 and 14 and takes place year-round. Classes meet one time each week for eight weeks and include 30 minutes of interactive learning on nutrition and 60 minutes of coach-led group exercise. Through the Girlz Got Game program girls will be given the opportunities for positive social interaction and the means to learn and begin a healthy lifestyle. The Indian Boundary YMCA will transform the way it interacts with the community and Girlz Got Game participants, implementing a relationship-rich curriculum that focuses on engagement, wellness, behavior change and member-to-member connection. The program primarily serves the Latino and Caucasian populations and is located in the Downers Grove community.
Joel Hall Dance Center - $8,000
Joel Hall Dance Center was a grantee in 2005 and has continued to implement the GoGirlGo! program for the past two years. In 2008 the program is expected to serve 50 girls between the ages of 8 and 17. Physical activity in the form of dance and gymnastics is supported by the GoGirlGo! educational curriculum. During two 18-week sessions girls meet twice a week for two-hour sessions. Project Butterfly is year-round and targeted at empowering girls who are overweight, have low self-image, have confidence problems, and are economically disadvantaged or unsure of the extraordinary role they play in the enhancement of our society. Joel Hall Dance Center primarily serves the Hispanic/Latino and African-American population located in the Lincoln Square and Andersonville communities.
Little Village Community Development Corporation - $4,000
The Little Village Community Development Corporation (LVCDC) plans to incorporate the GoGirlGo! program into other existing girl-serving programs for the first time. The program is expected to serve 30 girls in 2008 between the ages of 12 and 15 and takes place year-round, twice a week from 4-8 p.m. Yoga, basketball, volleyball and soccer will be implemented for the physical activity component. Ms. ICONIC (Independent, Charismatic, Outstanding, Nurturing, Intelligent and Creative) was developed to counter things like cliquishness among girls, intimidation by boys in sports and other programs, difficulty focusing on completing tasks in spaces with boys present, and aggressive behavior of girls in sporting events with other girl teams. LVCDC primarily serves the Hispanic and bi-racial populations.
Logan Square Neighborhood Association - $5,000
Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) plans to continue the established GoGirlGo! program in 2008. The program is expected to serve 30 girls between the ages of 8 and 14 and will run throughout the school year, twice a week, for one hour each session. Once a week, the girls do a special activity such as dance, volleyball, soccer or basketball. In the short term, LSNA teaches girls the importance of living a healthy lifestyle by eating healthy, exercising and staying physically fit and active. Long-term goals for the girls are for them to turn these practices into habits that will last a lifetime. LSNA predominantly serves the African-American and Hispanic/Latino populations.
Muslim Community Center- Fulltime School - $8,500
MCC Fulltime School is a 2007 grantee. The program is expected to serve 90 girls in 2008 between the ages of 8 and 13 and takes place during the school year. It will focus on nutrition and curriculum for one hour per week and physical activity for two days a week, each for an hour. The physical education component will consist of new offerings of self-defense and aerobic classes. It will also continue building on the previously implemented volleyball, basketball, badminton and the Presidential Fitness program. It serves all ethnicities in the Muslim population and is located in the Morton Grove community.
NINA Foundation - $11,000
The NINA Foundation’s “Bright Vision” Program is a 2007 grantee. There are 33 girls ages 10-14 enrolled in the program. NINA primarily serves the African-American, Latino and bi-racial population in Bloom, Rich and Thornton townships. The program is year-round, and the girls will be introduced to dancing and horseback riding. The NINA Foundation’s mission is to improve the health, well-being and self-esteem of youth and provide them with the tools to make healthy decisions.
North Suburban Area Project - $10,000
The North Suburban Area Project (NSAP) is a 2007 grantee. The program is expected to serve 32 girls in 2008 between the ages of 8 and 17 and takes place year-round. Programming is held daily from 6-8 p.m. with weekly field trips on Fridays to expand the girls’ horizons. During the weekly sessions the first hour will be for the activity portion of the group and the second hour will be used for discussion and the implementation of the GoGirlGo! Curriculum. NSAP primarily serves the African-American and Hispanic populations and is located in the Evanston and Rogers Park communities.
Sistuh Fund Giving Circle - $5,000
Sistuh Fund Giving Circles “Girls on the Move” program will introduce the GoGirlGo! program for the first time. The year-round program is expected to serve 10-15 girls between the ages of 8 and 13. Curriculum study will take place for one hour per week and physical activity one hour per day. The program will encourage the girls to participate in activities such as basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, kick-ball, martial arts and dodge ball. “Girls on the Move” primarily serves the African-American population located in the Austin community.
Youth Organizations Umbrella, Inc. - $5,000
Youth Organizations Umbrella, Inc. (Y.O.U. Inc.) plans to implement the GoGirlGo! program for the first time this year. The program is expected to serve 24 girls between the ages of 8 and 14 and will take place October through August. Each GoGirlGo! session will last one hour, and the girls will have the opportunity to learn dance as the physical activity. The program primarily serves the African-American, Hispanic/Latino and bi-racial populations and is located in the Evanston community.