Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Letter From
Girl Talks
Founder
Dear Girls,
At the age of fifteen, I had a dream that every middle school girl would have a place
she could go to just let her hair down and be free to express who she truly is. Today,
one girl at a time, my dream is becoming a reality.
As you read this Handbook, my hope is that you will feel a desire to inspire
teenage girls, just as Girl Talk will inspire you. Girl Talks purpose is to give girls a
place to go to openly talk about issues they face daily and as a result, get much
needed advice from Leaders like you! For me, I found it easiest to give advice from
my own personal experiences. With your help, I believe together we can create a
solid foundation for young teenagers everywhere. Your participation will not only
make a difference in middle school girls lives, but in your life as well.
I want to truly thank you for wanting to be a part of Girl Talk. Its Leaders like you that
make this program successful. Know that we at Girl Talk are here to help you. Our
website is full of resources to ensure your programs success.
Lastly, Id like to leave you with some Beauty Tips that Audrey Hepburn highly
recommended for every girl!
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in
people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a
friend run her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that
you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed,
revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever
need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow
older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the
other for helping others.
Haley Kilpatrick
Table Of Contents
Section One
About Girl Talk
What Is Girl Talk?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
History of Girl Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Section Two
Getting Started
Get Organized
Section Three
Get TO KNOW GIRL TALK
Glossary of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Timeout for Testimonials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Girl Talk Scholarships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Section One
Mission Statement
Reaching more than 30,000 girls in forty-three states and six countries, Girl Talk is a 501(c)3 national nonprofit
organization that establishes positive weekly peer-to-peer mentoring programs for middle school girls, which are led by
high school girls. We exist to help young teenage girls build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and recognize the value
of community service.
Girl Talk is a nationally recognized mentoring program that offers fun, positive weekly meetings, community service
projects and friendship-building activities for middle school girls.
Girl Talk Chapters are led by high school girls (Leaders) who serve as mentors, and in turn, Girl Talk Leaders develop
leadership skills that they will carry with them throughout life. Girl Talk Chapters help young teenage girls build selfesteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value of community service.
Girl Talk is free to any high school girl who wants to make a difference in her community by Starting a Girl Talk
Chapter (Visit www.desiretoinspire.org and click Start a Chapter). All Girl Talk materials are available on our website.
Our online community (Leader Login Section) provides you with all of the Leader Resources you will need to ensure
your Chapters success (i.e. Leader Lessons, scholarship applications, Girl Talk Blog, Leader and Advisor discussion
boards, upload pictures of your Chapter, download graphics to design flyers, etc.).
Girl Talk is designed to reach ALL middle school girls. Therefore, we welcome non-traditional Chapters (home school,
athletic teams, youth groups, churches, neighborhood clubs, etc.) as well. We encourage high school girls to think
outside the box if their school is unable to host Girl Talk meetings before or after school. Everything you need to know
about Starting a Chapter is on our website (www.desiretoinspire.org).
10
leader expectations
Girl Talk Leaders must be female high school students (grades 9-12). They are expected to be strong role
models and community leaders. The following requirements have been set for Girl Talk Leaders.
1. A Leader must demonstrate a strong commitment to Girl Talk and should be proactive and creative in
encouraging new girls to join the group.
2. She must abide by the rules and regulations of the Girl Talk Handbook, and must sign and make a personal
commitment to honoring her Leadership Contract.
3. She must commit to leading one weekly meeting with middle school girls as well as spend at least one
hour of preparation each week with the other Girl Talk Leader(s).
4. She is expected to complete at least 10 hours of community service each semester OUTSIDE of serving as a
Girl Talk Leader. This can be done alone, with other Leaders, or with the Chapter as a whole.
5. A Leader is responsible for keeping her Chapters adult sponsor fully informed about events, her community service hours and any ideas or changes shed like to make in her weekly meetings.
6. She must agree to mail or email Girl Talk a simple Monthly Report about her Girl Talk program no later
than the 15th of the following month.
7. She must work hard to create sustainability for her Chapter before she graduates by training younger
peers to be Girl Talk Leaders. (Some Chapters may need to use a Girl Talk Leader application to select
successor Leaders.)
8. A Girl Talk Leader is expected to want to be there for her middle school girls. She should try to send
encouraging notes, attend events that are important to them, and call or email to let them know she
cares. Her role as a mentor and friend is very important to them, and a Girl Talk Leader should take that
responsibility seriously.
9. A Girl Talk Leader should learn to delegate tasks to other Leaders and Advisors, and work hard to manage
her Chapter in a way that is effective and inclusive.
10. She must strive to be a positive role model and a community leader at all times. She must hold herself up
to the highest standards. She must understand that as a Girl Talk Leader, any bad decisions she makes will
not only affect her, but her role as a mentor and the reputation of Girl Talk as well.
12
Email Address (both Leader and Advisor): Double check to make sure you enter emails correctly. This is the
address your Chapter Confirmation Code will be sent to and this will also be your username
to access the Leader Login section of the website
Copies of Leader and Advisor Photo ID (drivers license, school ID, etc.): This is for your protection. When
working with minors we are required by law to ensure that you are who you say you are.
Once you have completed the online portion of the application process, you will be emailed a Chapter Confirmation
Code which must be included in the contracts you submit. Once you receive this code, you may either mail or scan
and email your contracts and IDs to Girl Talk at the addresses listed on the contract. When all information is received
and approved, you will receive notification that you have been successfully activated in our system, and you will have
access to the Leader Login portion of the website where you will find all the materials you need for your
Chapter meetings.
13
Contract Commitment
The purpose of the Leader & Advisor Contracts is to give you an overview of your commitments to Girl Talk and the
girls you will be working with. Your Advisor is a key part of your Chapters success, so choose a person who believes
in your Girl Talk Chapter as much as you do. Read the contract carefully and make a commitment to your Advisor, the
girls you will be helping, and yourself as a representative of Girl Talk. Once you have both read over your contracts,
you and your Advisor should sign them and make copies for each of your binders. Mail or scan and email the original
contracts to Girl Talk (along with a copy of your photo IDs), keep a copy for yourself, and exchange a copy with your
Advisor for your records.
*Tip: Use a binder to keep all of your important Girl Talk information. This will help you stay organized and will allow
you to pass it down to future Leaders when you graduate.
14
Leadership Contract
I will be on time for meetings, which will be held once a week for approximately one hour. I realize that my Chapter cannot
meet without a Leader and an Advisor present. In order to properly plan meetings, I will let my Advisor know in advance if I
cannot attend an upcoming meeting.
I agree to always set a good example for each middle school girl who attends Girl Talk. I realize the girls look up to me and they
value my opinion. Therefore, in addition to walking the walk and talking the talk in person, I will make responsible choices
when posting pictures, comments, and status updates online.
I will lend a helping hand, listen, and offer wholesome advice to those who seek it. Each semester, I commit to making my
community a better place by volunteering a minimum of 10 hours of community service outside of Girl Talk. I realize that I can
do my community service project by myself, with my Leaders, or with the involvement of my entire Chapter.
I commit to completing a Girl Talk Monthly Report in the Leader Login section of the website no later than the 15th of the
following month. What is said in Girl Talk stays in Girl Talk. This is the golden rule. The only time this rule may be broken is if
someone has been hurt or might get hurt if information is not passed on to my Chapter Advisor.
I have an Advisor who believes in me and the middle school girls we will be reaching through Girl Talk. We agree to work
together and maintain a constant line of communication regarding our Chapter. Together we will take advantage of the
resources available through Girl Talks Leader Login site. We will download Lessons & Worksheets, share suggestions, upload
pictures, add new users, ask questions when needed, and use the tips and resources made available to us to help ensure our
Chapters success.
Most importantly, I am excited to be a Girl Talk Leader and am doing this to positively impact young lives.
You and your Advisor(s) need to make a copy of your drivers license/school ID to submit with your Contracts. Please scan and
email all documents to maryashley@desiretoinspire.org or mail to: Girl Talk, 3490 Piedmont Rd NE Suite 1104, Atlanta, GA
30305.
Advisor Contract
I will be on time for meetings, which will be held once a week for approximately one hour. I realize that my Chapter cannot
meet without a Leader and an Advisor present. In order to properly plan meetings, I will let my Leader(s) know in advance if I
cannot attend an upcoming meeting so they can find an approved adult volunteer or cancel that weeks meeting.
I agree to always set a good example for each girl who attends Girl Talk. I realize my Leader(s) look up to me as an adult
mentor and they value my opinion. I will hold my Leader(s) accountable to high moral standards, keep track of their 10 hours
of community service each semester, and remind them to submit their Monthly Reports no later than the 15th of the following
month. It is my job to encourage and support my Leader(s) to create a Girl Talk Chapter that will be successful and sustainable
for years to come.
I realize that my Leader(s) have been told to come to me immediately with a situation they are not prepared to handle. In this
rare circumstance, I promise to help those who seek my assistance to the best of my ability. I know that what is said in Girl Talk
stays in Girl Talk. The only time this rule may be broken is if someone has been hurt or might get hurt if the information is not
passed on to me.
If we need to meet for community service projects, create posters, plan future meetings, etc., I will do my best to arrange my
schedule to be there for my Leader(s). I have these girls best interest at heart and want to support them. I can confirm that I
have not been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that would prevent me from being an appropriate Chapter Advisor.
I have Leader(s) who believe in Girl Talk and the middle school girls we will be reaching. We agree to work together and
maintain a constant line of communication regarding our Chapter. Together we will take advantage of the resources available
through Girl Talks Leader Login site. We will download Lessons & Worksheets, share suggestions, upload pictures, add new
users, ask questions when needed and use the tips and resources made available to us to help ensure our Chapters success.
Most importantly, I am excited to be a Girl Talk Chapter Advisor and am committing to this role in the hopes of positively
impacting young lives.
You and your Leaders(s) need to make a copy of your drivers license/school ID to submit with your Contracts. Please scan and
email all documents to maryashley@desiretoinspire.org or mail to: Girl Talk, 3490 Piedmont Rd NE Suite 1104, Atlanta, GA
30305.
oo
I have received an email with my Chapter Confirmation Code and I have written it in the top right corner of my
Leadership and Advisor Contracts
oo
I have read, signed and mailed or emailed my Leader and Advisor Contracts to Girl Talk c/o Chapter Application,
3490 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 1104, Atlanta, GA 30305
oo
I have given a signed copy of my Leader Contract to my Advisor and I have a copy of my Advisors Contract
oo
My Advisor and I both have signed copies of our own Contracts to keep for our records
oo
I have received an email notifying me that my Chapter has been approved and my access to
Leader Login has been activated
17
18
Leader Login
After youve completed your application to become our newest Girl Talk Chapter and
mailed or emailed your required documents, you will receive an email that your Chapter
has been approved. You and your Advisor can now access Girl Talks Leader Login
section where you will find all of the necessary materials to run your Girl Talk meetings.
Your username is your email address and your password is the password you assigned
yourself. Girl Talk cannot see your password, so if you forget your password, please click
Forgot Password so you can reset it. Once you are logged in, you will find much more
than just Chapter Resources. Here you can apply for scholarships, upload photos, ideas
or questions, read our Girl Talk Blog for inspiration and exciting event news and even
download Girl Talk graphics to create your own Chapter promotional materials! There
is a library of documents for you to use in spreading the word, soliciting support, and
organizing activities. This section is also where you will submit your Monthly Reports (no
later than the 15th of the following month). Please do not forget to do this and know that it
takes no more than five minutes.
IMPORTANT! Please know that as you add Leaders and Advisors, it is very important
that you register them as users in Leader Login. You simply login and click Add Leaders
and Advisors and follow the steps to allow your new Chapter leaders to obtain access all
of the materials. It is critical that we have their contact information so that we can share
all of Girl Talks news and opportunities with them, too.
We are always adding new materials and information, and we welcome your thoughts
and suggestions!
19
Girl Talk has more than 100 Lesson/Worksheets for you to choose from.
The curriculum includes topics such as gossip, bullying, body image, community service, friendship, and talking to your
parents. Each Lesson opens with a fun icebreaker, is then broken into five steps (Share, Show, Know, Grow and Go), and
concludes with a weekly challenge pertaining to that weeks topic.
The Lessons are designed to be completed in an hour and help the Leader initiate conversation and share specific
stories with the girls. Girl Talk Leaders and Advisors access these Lessons via Leader Login using their username and
password. (Leader Login View Leader Resources All Lessons & Worksheets)
Each Girl Talk Lesson has a Middle School Girl Worksheet that corresponds with each topic. The worksheets have room
for your Girl Talk Girls to take notes, write questions they may have and/or write things that you shared with them to use
later for inspiration. Encourage Girls to use a separate binder or folder to keep their worksheets in throughout the year.
Please take a close look, on the following page, at our complete list of all the Girl Talk Leader Lessons & Worksheets
which are all available for download through Leader Login once your Chapter is approved.
20
Lesson Topics
Beautiful Body Image
Girlfriends
Being Nice
Diversity
How to Choose Good Friends
The New Girl
T.H.I.N.K.
You Can Do It!
Being a Friend
10 Characteristics of a Friend
How to be a Good Friend
Intervention
True Friends
What Being a Friend Means
Girls Growing Up
College
Entrepreneurship
Finding Your Talent
What Do I Want to Be?
You-nique!
Life Lessons
Courage
Embarrassing Moments
Forgiveness
Gratitude
Hope
Life Skills
Managing Your Money
Priorities
Setting Goals
Social Secrets
Response-Ability
Time Management
Parents
Avoid Avoidance
Dealing with Divorce
How to Talk to Your Parents
Open up to Your Parents
Quit Quitting
21
Personal Creativity
Anonymous Question Box
Being Creative
Get Organized!
Meeting New People
Uplifting Posters
Personality Traits
Becoming a Team Player
Humility
Looking at the Glass Half Full
Solution Oriented
Staying Motivated
Purpose
Community Service
Getting Involved
Its Not About Me
Random Acts of Kindness
Take and Give
Self Health
Healthy Eating
Hello Hygiene!
Learning to Let Go
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Stress and How to Handle It
Serious Topics
Being Lonely
Depression
Plagiarism
Sticky Situations
Teen Pregnancy
Teen Partying
Party Girl
The Wrong Crowd
Tough Decisions
Underage Drinking
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22
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Talk on
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See what is new (we are always adding new resources to help you)
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Download graphics to create your own posters, fliers, stationary, Girl Talk Leader business cards, etc.
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Raise funds so your Chapter can order from Tees & More, a Girl Talk Store (30% goes to help Girl Talk grow)
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Add any new Leaders or Advisors to your Chapter (via Leader Login) so they can access everything & we
know how to communicate important Girl Talk information with them
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How? Login and click Add New User and follow the steps
Update your contact information (email, mailing address, phone number, etc.) if it changes
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If your email address is not current, we have no way of getting in touch with you
The girls are more likely to get involved if they are excited and interested in what you are talking about
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One of Girl Talks lessons explains how and why to use an Anonymous Question Box. You can create a box and
leave it in a central location where girls can anonymously leave questions about things theyd like to discuss in
meetings. You will have a better understanding of the issues your girls are facing and can incorporate that into
your meetings; they will have a safe way to let you know what they need help with and how you can make Girl
Talk even more impactful for them.
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Be sure to include ideas for us, Leader Lessons you would like to see, what works for your
Chapter, what doesnt work, etc.
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Go where the middle school girls are (post fliers in their halls, lunch, sports activities, carpool line, etc.)
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Advertise to their parents; getting encouragement at home and support for making time and arrangements
to attend can be a big help
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If your Advisor doesnt seem excited about Girl Talk, we encourage you to talk with your administrators to
find a replacement or simply add another Advisor who believes in you and what you are doing.
Collect your Girls key contact information names, phone numbers, emails so you can
stay in touch
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Send a weekly email reminder to the girls who attend (give them a sneak peek of next weeks meeting!)
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Encourage them to invite friends (maybe even offer a prize to the Girl who brings the most new attendees)
Girl Talk will email you important information (not often, but when we do it is important) about events, prizes,
opportunities, scholarships, partnerships, etc.
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In the spring of each year, identify the 8th graders who regularly attend Girl Talk
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Let them know that you think they would be a great Girl Talk Leader next year & start training & allowing
them to shadow you (so next year, they are ready to step in)
Create a Girl Talk Blog for your Chapter, keep the Girls up to date
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Blog about what you talked about in your last meeting, what is coming up, cool speakers you are
trying to bring in, etc.
Plan Girl Talk events outside of your weekly meetings (slumber parties, bowling, movie trips, etc.);
this is a great time to bond and really get to know your Girls
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Section Two
GetTING
ORGANIZED
RUNNING YOUR
CHAPTER
Work to get to know middle school girls and encourage them to come, educate parents about Girl Talk at
PTA/Open Houses, charge of promoting any Girl Talk related event.
Email reminders, post flyers, keep track of girls email addresses/contact info, celebrate birthdays, etc.
Help plan the community service project for the semester if middle school girls want to participate and work
with Chapter & Leaders to help raise funds for Girl Talk through Fuel for Inspiration.
Senior Leader(s) in charge of submit Monthly Reports and lead weekly lessons
Advisor in charge of refreshments
If you dont have any other Leaders yet, thats okay! Think about getting some other girls you know involved in
helping you over time, and try to involve girls from other grades so that they can step into your role when you
graduate. Plenty of very successful Chapters have only one Leader at a time, and others have dozens! Do what
works for you and the Girls in your group. Get others involved as you grow, and remember that being a part of
Girl Talk is a gift to both the Girls and the Leaders dont be afraid to invite a friend to help; shell probably thank
you for it later!
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Wall Posters
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Sample Schedule
3:15
Girls arrive & eat snacks brought in by a different volunteer each week and socialize for
3:30
Begin Lesson for the week. Meetings open by playing a fun game known as an Icebreaker.
3:40
The Leader usually opens with a topic (usually one addressed through the Anonymous
3:45
Discuss the topic, always including the girls comments and asking them for their input.
3:55
Divide up into groups to discuss what was learned that day. A Leader is assigned to every
10 15 minutes.
This allows the girls to laugh and get excited about the days Lesson.
Question Box), and then she shares a personal story reflecting that issue.
Together everyone comes to a solution on how to handle a challenging situation. For example, if someone is spreading a rumor about you...how should you react?
group to lead discussion. The older girls in the group are encouraged to also participate
and begin taking on a leadership role.
4:10
The Leaders give the girls a challenge for the week and the next week they are encouraged to tell their stories of how they carried out the challenge. Then girls are dismissed
until next week!
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Introduce Yourself
Hey Girls,
My name is ____________ and I am your Girl Talk Leader! We are going to have a lot of fun this year. If you need to
talk to me outside of Girl Talk, do not hesitate to contact me. I have included both my phone number and e-mail address for you to have. I cant wait to get to know you better!
Truly Inspired,
Phone Number: __________________________
E-mail Address: ___________________________
Feel free to change this note to best suit you. This is just a starting point. You can make it longer and add as much
information as you would like your Girls to know about you. If you feel inspired, please post your sample letters on the
Leader Forum in the Leader Login section of the website to share your ideas with other Girl Talk Leaders.
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Arrive early and be ready to great the girls with a smile. They are looking forward to seeing YOU!
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Remember it is up to you to make your Chapter a success. We always encourage you to spice things up by
putting reminders on the girls lockers or in the halls, meeting outside, having a fun, completely interactive lesson, writing cards to people at nursing homes, making inspirational signs for the school walls or having a guest
speaker. We encourage you to have fun with it and be creative!
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Make sure that your meetings allow plenty of time and encouragement for the Girls to speak up. Help to move
the conversation along by sharing your own experiences, but make sure to LISTEN when they speak and create
an environment where they feel safe to do so. One way to do this is to make sure the Girls understand one of the
most important rules of Girl Talk: What is said at Girl Talk stays at Girl Talk.
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Have your leaders spread out and sit in different parts of the circle or group when you are talking about a Lesson
or topic. It can be intimidating to the Girls for all the leaders to sit or stand in the front.
Birthday Calendar
This is a very fun activity! This is a huge wall calendar made by Girl Talk Leaders. Supplies needed are paper, glitter,
glue, tape and markers. Have the calendar up and ready to write on when the Girls came in for their first meeting, and
have the Girls write their birthdays on the calendar. Every month, a different mom brings a cake to a meeting, and
everyone sings Happy Birthday to all of the Middle School Girls that have a birthday that month. (This is just an idea
that you might like to try! It really makes the Girls feel special.)
Wall Posters
Wall posters are something fun that you can do with the girls right before a break, during exams, or at a time when
things at school are getting hectic. All you need is some posterboard, markers, and a list of inspirational quotes. You
can pull quotes from the internet, books, song lyrics, and even various Girl Talk material! You can give them quotes
you have selected or let them pick quotes that they like. Help the girls with their posters, or make some yourself with
other Leaders. When the posters are done, hang them in places where they will inspire others. Take lots of pictures
and send them our way!
Be Creative
Part of what makes Girl Talk a success is that Leaders try to make everything as fun as possible for the Girls that are
involved. There are so many different ways that you, as a Leader, can make the Girls in your Chapter want to come
to Girl Talk every week. You can do something as simple as making flyers or attending one of their sports activities to
show you care. You are the key to the success of your Girl Talk Chapter. Remember that you should not feel limited
to these activities; they are merely a starting point. If you find activities that work and you would like us to know about
them, please inspire other Chapters by posting your ideas in Leader Login.
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You can complete your community service hours on an individual basis, Girl Talk Leaders can do a project together,
or you can get your whole Chapter involved. Whatever you do, dont forget to talk about your experience as a
volunteer in your next Chapter meeting. Your Girls will be so inspired!
Be sure to turn in your hours to your Chapter Advisor; wed also love for you to post your pictures on the Leader
Login page at www.desiretoinspire.org. We would love to see all that you are doing to make a positive impact on your
community!
Report Back to Us
The Girl Talk Monthly Report is easy to fill out and gives Girl Talk a way to stay informed about how great your Chapter
is doing!
All reports are due by the 15th of the following month
www.desiretoinspire.org Leader Login Submit my Monthly Report
This is one of your Leader Requirements and if not submitted on time and regularly, you will not be eligible for Girl
Talk Scholarships.
*Tip: Because Girl Talk is free, we need your help to keep it growing. Learn more about how you can help Girl Talk by
getting your community service hours sponsored through our Girl Talk Gives Back campaign. Read more in Leader Login!
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Section Three
Get to Know
Girl Talk
A Leader is any high school girl in grades 9-12 who has completed the Chapter
Application Process and whose local Girl Talk Chapter has been approved. A Girl Talk Leader hosts weekly Girl Talk
meetings for one hour and uses her own creativity, as well as Girl Talk resources, to be an effective mentor to middle
school girls. She must also complete 10 hours of community service outside of Girl Talk each semester to be eligible
for Girl Talk Scholarships.
An adult female who is committed to supporting Girl Talk Leaders by being present at
all Girl Talk events, helping to coordinate when needed and encouraging her Leaders. A Girl Talk Adult Advisor also
holds the Leaders accountable the Girl Talk Leader Contract and community service requirements.
approved. The contract is a document that shows their level of commitment to bettering the lives of middle school
girls in their community, as well as holding each Leader accountable to high standards that are fit for a role model.
Each Leader is required to send a signed copy to Girl Talk along with a copy of a photo ID.
Advisor Contract:
A contract that is signed by all Girl Talk Adult Advisors before their Chapter can be
approved. The contract is a document that shows their level of commitment to Girl Talk and to supporting their Girl
Talk Leader(s). In addition to supporting Girl Talk, the Advisor agrees that she has not been convicted of a felony and
has the girls best interest at heart. Each Advisor is required to send a signed copy to Girl Talk along with a copy of a
photo ID.
Leader Login:
This section of the Girl Talk website is for approved Chapters Girl Talk Leaders and Advisors
only. This site can be accessed by clicking Leader Login on the pink buttons on the right side of every page on
our website.
Through our Leader Login section, Leaders and Advisors access and download their weekly Leader Lessons and
Worksheets, apply for scholarships, post ideas and ask questions with other Girl Talk Chapters across the country.
Girls can also upload Chapter photos, submit their Monthly Reports and download Girl Talk graphics to design their
own flyers, stationery, Girl Talk Leader business cards, t-shirts, etc. Girl Talk is able to operate cost efficiently because
all of our materials and resources are downloadable online.
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Leader Lessons:
Girl Talk has more than 100 Lessons for our Leaders to choose from. The Lessons
include topics such as Gossip, Community Service, Being Nice, Healthy Eating, etc. Each Lesson opens with a
fun icebreaker and is then broken into five steps (Share, Show, Know, Grow and Go) and concludes with a weekly
challenge pertaining to that weeks Lesson. The Lessons are designed to be completed in an hour and help the
Leader initiate conversation and share specific stories with the girls. Girl Talk Leaders and Advisors access these
Lessons via Leader Login using their username and password. (Leader Login View Leader Resources All
Lessons & Worksheets)
Lesson Worksheets:
Each Girl Talk Lesson has a Middle School Girl Worksheet that corresponds with
each topic. The worksheets have room for your Girl Talk Girls to take notes, write questions they may have and/or
write things that you shared with them to use later for inspiration. Encourage your Girls to use a separate binder or
folder to keep their worksheets in. (Leader Login View Leader Resources All Lessons and Worksheets)
*Tip: Maybe offer a special surprise to the Girl who has the most worksheets at the end of the year.
This will help them stay organized, encourage regular attendance and also inspire them to reference
their worksheets in times of need.
with all of our Leader Lessons and corresponding Worksheets. The book is high quality, printed in color, tabbed and
bound. Through rapid growth in various school systems, we found that some school districts would rather purchase a
tangible book instead of downloading the Lessons each week. Each book is $450 and is tax deductible. To purchase
our complete Curriculum Book, please click Have a Question? Contact Us at the bottom right hand corner of our
Web site and include how many books you need, your shipping address and method of payment (check or credit
card). After payment is received, someone will contact you within 72 hours to confirm shipment. Please note that all of
these resources are available online at no cost.
The Girl Talk handbook is a guide for Girl Talk Leaders on how to start a Chapter
in her community. It explains the level of commitment necessary, and how to create and run a successful Chapter.
We encourage the girls to print the Girl Talk Handbook from their computers. A high quality, color copy, bound version
is available for purchase at $75 each. The purchase is tax deductible and can be purchased by clicking Have a
Question? Contact Us at the bottom right hand corner of our Web site and include how many handbooks you need,
your shipping address and method of payment (check or credit card). After payment is received, someone will contact
you within 72 hours to confirm shipment. Please note that the Handbook is available online at no cost.
Start A Chapter:
If you are interested in starting a Girl Talk Chapter in your community you should
encourage a high school girl to become a Girl Talk Leader. She then would log on to our website and follow the
instructions for starting a Girl Talk Chapter. You can help by downloading and printing the Girl Talk Handbook for her
to gain a clear understanding of what being a part of Girl Talk is all about.
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In the News:
This is the section where we get to fill you in on any recent television shows, newspaper articles,
or magazine articles that Girl Talk is featured in. Make sure to check it out. You can watch clips of our Today Show
Appearance, CNN, CosmoGirl! Magazine, etc.
These are Girl Talk Leaders, Girl Talk Girls and Girl Talk
Advisors.
with Girl Talks logo and graphics on it. Your requests were heard and we are proud to have a store where you can
purchase all things Girl Talk! The best part is that 30% of all sales go back to Girl Talk. So have fun shopping and
while you do, know that you are making a difference in the lives of young girls all over the country.
Girl Talk hosts a week long summer day camp for middle school girls (Girl Talk
Leaders serve as Counselors to complete community service hour requirements) in select cities. Project Inside Out
is open to any middle school girl (doesnt have to attend Girl Talk) and focuses on leadership, positive self-image and
community service. The girls listen to key-note speakers and attend three Impact Sessions each day, which are
led by high school girls who focus on topics related to the mission of the camp. Girl Talk can bring the camp to your
community with a commitment of a minimum of 50 girls and donated space. To learn more about the camp, please
click Have a Question? Contact Us and leave your contact information, noting that it pertains to Project Inside Out.
Someone will contact you within 72 hours.
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Kara Friedman, MS, EdS, NCC, LPS, Girl Talk Advisor & Advisory Board Member
Girl Talk has proven itself to be a highly effective program with both our Middle and Upper School girls.
It provides the older girls with a positive and organized way to be leaders while providing the younger
girls with tools to help them grow into healthy independent woman. There is no doubt in my mind that our
students will look back and remember the advice they were given and experiences they had with their Girl
Talk leaders and peers. It is a powerful, fun, and exciting addition to our school day!
meredith head, Girl Talk Leader & Teen Advisory Board Member
I am a Girl Talk Leader and have been for the past two years. Middle school was so hard for me and
when I heard about Girl Talk, I instantly knew I could give back and help middle school girls not go
through what I did. What I didnt know was that being a Girl Talk Leader would open so many doors for
me as a community leader. I love being greeted with hugs by middle school girls I see around town, but
most importantly I am proud of the difference this program has allowed me to make in my community. I
am truly a better person because of it and look forward to this school year and becoming even better. Let
me know if I can help any new Leaders. Thank you Girl Talk!
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betty siegel, Founder, Siegel Institute For Leadership, Kennesaw State University
Your work in establishing a mentoring program for middle school girls is an inspiration to other young
women who want to make a difference in their school and community.
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Kerry Grogin,
2009 Co-National Leader of the Year
At the end of my sophomore year in high-school, I started
drifting away from good friends and good decisions. Instead
of saying No to peer-pressure, I gave into it. By the end of my junior
year, I was on the verge of being kicked out of my high school. During the summer, I did some serious soul-searching and found myself.
I decided to devote my senior year to a project that helped young girls
avoid peer-pressure and bad-decision making. After a couple of weeks
of researching different organizations, I found Girl Talk and saw that it
was exactly what I was looking for! I contacted different administrators
in my school and proposed my ideas. After several meetings during the
summer, my Academic Dean and Non-Academic Administrator agreed
to incorporate Girl Talk into Westminster. Over the next two months, I
diligently prepared for the coming school year.
Although some students and teachers were unsure if my change was
genuine, I have proved to them and to myself that people can change
and make a difference. The Westminster Academy Chapter includes all
112 middle school girls and 35 high school Leaders. Over the course of
the school year, I have planned and participated in several community
service projects. In October, I helped plan The Walk for Life 2008, a
fundraiser and walk-a-thon aimed at preventing abortions and promoting life. In November of 2008, I found a wonderful organization Called
Broward Childrens Center, a home for mentally and physically challenged children and teenagers. Since November, our Girl Talk Leaders
and I have volunteered on a weekly basis at the center, playing and
working with the kids. In December, I organized a gift drive for the Childrens Center. We collected several boxes of toys and games. Some
of the Girl Talk Girls and I went to the Childrens Center and handed
out the gifts. We spent hours playing with the kids and their new toys!
In April, my Advisors, several Girl Talk Leaders and I planned a special
slumber party for all the middle school girls. It was a fun-filled night with
dancing and games.
Girl Talk has changed my life in so many ways. It has been a great
outlet for me and I have every intention of working with Girl Talk in the
years to come. I told myself when I started my Chapter, if I could help
one girl avoid the mistakes I made when I was younger, everything I
went through would be worth it. My dreams have come true this year
and I am so thankful for the continued encouragement and opportunities Girl Talk has provided me with.
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Ariel Henley,
2009 Co-National Leader of the Year
I was inspired to start a Girl Talk Chapter after seeing all of the tragedy at my school. There were girls getting pregnant, girls in clinics for eating disorders, girls addicted to drugs or alcohol and even one girl who committed suicide,
because of her personal body image.
Growing up with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare, life threatening disease where the bones in the head dont grow, I was
well aware of the struggles and cruelty kids at the middle and high school level displayed. I knew what these girls
were going through, but it still upset me and I felt helpless. These were girls I knew, girls I had been friends with. I
knew I had to be different, and not let them bring me down.
Through starting and leading a Girl Talk Chapter, I have grown as a person and truly become a better person. I am
much wiser, independent and have developed leadership skills. Throughout this experience, I have learned that if you
want something to change, YOU have to do it. If you wait around for things just to become different over night, youre
wasting time. Change starts with one person, and I have realized that person can be me.
I now know that anything is possible, and Girl Talk has shown me that. I always thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but
after becoming a Girl Talk Leader, I have discovered that my passion is working with students in middle school. I am
now planning to go to school to become an 8th grade middle school English and history teacher. I plan to start more
Chapters of Girl Talk while I am away at school, and even when I begin working as a teacher. Girl Talk has changed
my life, and I want to help so that it changes other girls lives as well.
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Qualifications
Must be a 12th Grade (senior) Girl Talk Leader
Must be a Leader who has been involved in her community through service projects
and run a successful Chapter that will continue to grow because of her leadership.
Available on the Leader Login section of our Web site. Log in and click Awards/
Scholarships to apply.
This can be from a fellow Leader, Girl Talk Advisor, teacher, counselor, social worker,
school administrator, community leader, a middle school girl or parent (whose life you
This can be of you in action, doing community service with your other Leaders/Advi
All applications must be submitted by March 15th to be considered. Dont miss out on getting your hard work as a Girl Talk Leader recognized!
Be sure to check out our site frequently because we are always working on additional
scholarships to honor amazing Girl Talk Leaders.
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2012 Girl Talk, Inc., Girl Talk, the Girl Talk logo and Desire to Inspire are trademarks of Girl Talk, Inc.