Confidence, character, care, connections, competence, contribution. These are the key skills instilled in the lives of young girls when they join Girls on the Run of Northwest Indiana, a ten-week program with a fitness-based curriculum dedicated to inspiring girls to recognize their full potential and self-worth.
“If a girl is in our program, we want to help her think about what she values and what’s important to her, how that might be the same or different from other girls, and respecting those differences,” said Jill Schlueter-Kim, Executive Director at GOTR Northwest Indiana.
GOTR empowers young girls to become the best version of their unique selves, then encourages them to empower the communities around them in return.
“We emphasize giving back because we want girls to recognize that they can have an impact on the world,” Schlueter-Kim said. “They are each unique and can use their strengths to benefit others.”
“The first thing we do is help the girls really think about what communities they are a part of - schools, neighborhoods, churches, towns, et cetera,” Schlueter-Kim continued. “Then, we talk about how they play an important part in that community and that they can have an influence on it, even when they are 8 years old.”
These lessons of influence and making a difference culminate in a team community outreach project completed at the end of the season. Girls discuss project options, suggesting helping out their school, a community member going through a hard time, or a local nonprofit. The ideas are then put to a vote, and teams set out on their elected mission for good.
“They get very creative and have a lot of fun doing it,” Schlueter-Kim said. “Animal shelters are a popular option! They’ve done things like collect donations for an animal shelter and then bring them in, pick up trash in their school yard or plant something there, and make blankets or care packages for those who need them.”
During the fall 2019 season, GOTR teams across the Region took part in community outreach projects ranging from collecting food and clothing donations to cleaning up local running trails during practice.
“Our community service project was to clean up the litter we saw on the Erie Lackawanna Trail during our time running,” said Kristina Taylor, teacher and GOTR of Northwest Indiana Coach. “We walked up and down about 3/4 of a mile of the trail, and ended up filling four small bags with garbage!”
Girls draw inspiration from their GOTR coaches, who volunteer to lead each team and help put together the celebratory end of season 5k. Kim Drapac, teacher and GOTR of Northwest Indiana coach at Fieler Elementary School in Merrillville, is a prime example of the lessons girls take from their volunteer leaders.
“Drapac and her team created a phrase called a ‘Rainbow Moment’ – when you help someone turn negative self-talk into more positive self-talk,” said Diane Arias, Community Coordinator for GOTR Northwest Indiana. “The girls not only used that phrase at practices, but also extended it to their classmates, creating ‘Rainbow Moments’ in the hallways as they helped someone change their negative self-talk.”
“We hope that the girls see the time, love, and energy that their coaches and other volunteers put in to create a great experience for them,” Schlueter-Kim added. “We hope their coaches inspire them to want to be that person who makes an impact in the lives of others.”
One project at a time, local GOTR teams are learning to create positive self-identity through giving back and seeing that one small collective effort can lead to big ripples within their communities.
“Our hope is that these activities serve as an introduction to a lifetime of volunteering and philanthropy,” Schlueter-Kim said. “It's a great way for them to think beyond themselves, their families, and their friends, and really see what's going on in their world.”