About Us...

The NM Girls Institute provides proactive direct services to girls, ages 15-18, that provides girls with a safe and supportive environment to learn about issues and develop skills that will allow them to become successful New Mexico women. 

It is no secret that New Mexico struggles in many areas regarding the status of women and girls.  In January 2007, the NM Commission on the Status of Women unveiled their new research report, The Status of Women in New Mexico Counties.  The report illustrated where New Mexico’s women faired in the areas of Political Participation, Health and Well-Being, Social and Economic Autonomy, Employment and Earnings and Reproductive Rights.  The report, while not entirely bad news, identified the counties where women are clearly struggling to maintain a healthy quality of life. 

The status of women in New Mexico will not improve if our approach is not proactive.  The high school girls the Girls Institute is targeting need services now – before they become teen mothers, before they drop out of high school, before they choose not to go to college, not to vote in elections, or not to become involved in their communities.  At current, the needs of teenage girls go unmet outside the school system and, in some respect, are unmet within the school system.  In order to have successful women, we must have a collaborative effort to encourage successful teenage girls who are empowered with knowledge, leadership skills and a sense of purpose as citizens in their community and state.

During the previous years the Commission has been asking girls throughout the state what their needs and concerns were.  What we found was that there is a real need to institutionalize a program, on a state level, that directly impacts girls in this age group.  We have forwarded the results from our surveys and town halls to other state agencies and youth organizations; we found that a different approach needs to be instituted to better meet girl’s needs. The Commission is committed to the follow-up needed for these girls not only to feel heard and valued but also to have the vital tools needed to become successful.

In addition, since 2004, the Commission has surveyed and interviewed young teenage girls about their needs at an individual and community level in order to become successful contributing New Mexico women.  The surveys and our most recent girls’ town halls clearly outline that girls want information created by girls for girls.    It was clear in our discussions that the information on teen pregnancy, depression/suicide prevention, substance abuse, dating violence and body image issues currently being distributed is not hitting the mark with the girls and, they expressly asked for more information. Also, the girls stated it was essential to have a safe and supportive environment to learn about these issues and to be heard when they face challenges and obstacles when confronted with these issues. 

The purpose of the NM Girls Institute is to:

1. •act as a stimulus of direct action among those who work for and with girls.
   

2. •collaborate with organizations to form a strong statewide support network for girls.
   

3. •make information and resources for girls both accessible and affordable.
   

4. •create safe and dynamic programs for girls to foster leadership skills and qualities that increase girls' abilities to act as social change agents in their lives.
   

5. •address issues of girls in rural areas by helping communities identify specific needs for girls and, in response to those needs, organize programs to improve the environment in which girls grow.
   

The NM Girls Institute provides girls with the following services:

1. •An annual conference on issues important to them.
   

2. •A girl-inspired quarterly publication focusing on the issues, concerns, aspirations and talent of girls.
   

3. •An interactive web site
   

4. •Town halls, technical support and guidance for rural communities working with girls to develop community programs or address issues and concerns
   

5. •Leadership in Action Institutes
   

6. •The Leadership in Action Institutes offer professional free workshops for teenage girls statewide.  The six-hour institutes can accommodate 20-50 girls.  The NM Girls Institute provides all supplies and curriculum along with promotional materials.  Leadership in Action Institutes are based on best-practices models, fun and interactive and provide hands-on experiences.
   

7. •For more information on the Leadership in Action Institutes, please visit the Leadership Institutes page.
   

Kathi Brown is the Coordinator of the NM Girls Institute. 
Click Here to Download Kathi's Full Bio..