ESSAY WINNERS FROM FIVE STATES ADDRESS GIRLS FUTURE AT PRESS CONFERENCE

ESSAY WINNERS FROM FIVE STATES ADDRESS GIRLS' FUTURE AT PRESS CONFERENCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 23, 2000

Six girls from Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, and Tennessee will speak at a Girls Incorporated press conference on March 23 in New York City to launch the organization's Girls' Rights Campaign. The girls were selected to participate through a national essay contest sponsored by Girls Inc. The contest asked girls to write about their experiences with the rights outlined in the Girls' Bill of Rights.

“We sought out essays from girls that brought the power of our Girls' Bill of Rights to life,” said Isabel Carter Stewart, Girls Inc. National Executive Director. “These girls speak with a confident voice on behalf of all girls, asking adults to take notice of girls' abilities and strengths.”

The girls will be available to speak with journalists after the press conference. EBONIE HOPKINS, 12, of SYRACUSE, NY Girls' right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence: “One of my goals is to be a GREAT singer. Ever since I was five, I've always enjoyed music, especially gospel, R&B, and rap. In my eyes I see strong women who encourage us young adults. This support from these strong women helped me understand that women have the strength to do whatever they want.”

MORGAN LEQUIRE, 12, of KINGSPORT, TN Girls' right to accept and appreciate their bodies: “I think one main problem overweight girls my age have is BOYS. Boys will make fun and hurt your feelings more than anybody, because they have this vision in their heads of what a girl should look like.”

NANCY TAYLOR, 17, of SHELBYVILLE, IN Girls' right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success: “I was born in April 1982, and was diagnosed with a mild case of cerebral palsy. My parents were told that I would not lead a normal life, and that I probably wouldn't even walk. They were there to witness me taking my first steps as a toddler, becoming a walking contradiction of the plans the doctors made for me.”

GWENDOLYN SPIKES, 16, of COLUMBUS, GA Girls' right to be themselves and resist gender stereotypes “If being African-American isn't hard enough to establish a place in this society, I had to be a woman too. At first it really bothered me, because I struggled to figure out how I would change the world. I am relieved that someone was willing to encourage me to succeed, and had faith in me also.”

CHARLEEN NEGRON, 14, of LOWELL, MA Girls' right to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm: “Today there have been many times when girls have spoken their minds and talked about their opinions. Although many of these times people, especially boys, have criticized them in the worst way. This is one of the reasons I chose this right, because I think girls should have a chance to let out all that they feel inside.”

FEI XU, 9, of LOWELL, MA Girls' right to have confidence in themselves and to be safe in the world: “Some of (the girls) tease me just because I am a Chinese girl, but I just don't listen to them. I know who I am and I will follow my path to my future.”

At the press event, hosted by Jane Fonda, Girls Incorporated will unveil the findings of a poll it carried out in partnership with Harris Interactive. The poll surveyed more than 2,000 girls and boys nationwide about girls' rights. The release of this poll launches Girls Incorporated's two-year public education campaign to help girls understand, value, and assert their basic rights.