We’re thrilled to be featured in the following article by Hattie Bernstein in The Boston Globe! The story details how Fashion Focus and our Powerhouse Program help children build self-confidence, resilience and inner strength.
(This article originally appeared on Saturday, September 8, 2018).
Looks matter. Perfection is possible. And she who gets the most likes on her Instagram photo is a better person than you will ever be
“These are tools to empower girls, challenge the status quo,” said the 54-year-old mother of three young-adult children.
Five years ago, Fashion Focus was adopted by the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, which hired Wood to teach “Fashionably Fearless,” a class related to several badges. The next year, the program was rebranded as “Confident in Your Own Skin” and included more classes related to badges Girl Scouts could earn: Social Butterfly for Juniors; Making Friends for Brownies; and Business Etiquette for Cadettes.
“The parents were just blown away,” said Lu-Ann Souza, manager of program partnerships and member benefits for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, who told Wood she felt that boys also could benefit.
But the basics are the same, no matter the class: Define. Strengthen. Own.
► Define what makes you who you are.
► Strengthen those characteristics. Are you athletic? Creative? Develop what’s inside of you.
This month, she’ll be returning to volunteer at the second program.
“The timing is perfect with back to school,” said LaPierre, a former middle school liaison who investigates domestic violence and sexual assaults for the police department.
Souza, the Girl Scout council manager, said she initially balked at the idea of bringing Fashion Focus to the council, which serves 32,000 girls in 178 cities and towns across the state.
“I’m not the type of person interested in fashion. But I have a firm policy of looking at girls’ diverse interests, and this is how we get hidden gems all the time,” Souza said.
Her appreciation for Wood’s program has only grown.
“This is a program every girl should have to go through,” she said.
For Trapilo, who runs the Norwell Athletic Club, Fashion Focus and the new Powerhouse program are a lifeline for teens growing up in a world where the illusion of perfection is everywhere.
“Life for kids is one big contest. [Maria] teaches them confidence,” she said. “How you hold yourself. How you react to other people. You can’t control how others act. You can control how you react.”
Hattie Bernstein can be reached at hbernstein04@icloud.com.
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