| Anyone who reads a newspaper or tunes into television is well aware of the challenges facing our girls: cliques of “mean girls,” the alarming sexual activities of middle school students, and the difficulty of developing and maintaining a healthy body image in a culture awash in both junk food and unrealistic ideals of physical perfection.
HGNA is a volunteer organization dedicated to empowering adolescent girls to achieve their fullest potential through education, advocacy and community collaboration. Our organization is intent on making a positive difference in our community by providing resources, mentorship and quality information to adolescent girls and their families.
HGNA grew out of parent workshops on girl bullying and adolescent development in 2004 and 2005. Co-founders Mary Ellen Young and Cathy Fisher recognized the need for an organization that could challenge the negative images and information bombarding girls today, while offering support and education to their parents. Before long, their enthusiasm convinced others throughout the community to help make HGNA a reality for Downers Grove and DuPage County.
Specific Objectives and Purposes
Sponsor relevant programs which empower adolescent girls to positively enhance their lives and the lives of others;
Sponsor programs where parents and other concerned adults can build their knowledge and skills, and share opinions and ideas with the guidance of experts and facilitators;
Provide mentoring and other programs for adolescent girls to enhance their abilities to think critically, set goals, and achieve success;
Be a resource for parents, educators, and community members for accurate research and information about adolescent girls;
Work cooperatively with other girls’ organizations to maximize each other’s goals and opportunities;
Raise public awareness of issues specific to adolescent girls including declines in academic interest and performance, lowered self-esteem, and increases in risky behavior.
Our Core Beliefs
Every girl is unique and special.
Every girl has the right to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment where she can develop a healthy self concept.
Girls need a positive support system to counter negative, sexual, and toxic media and cultural messages.
Parents need a support system to navigate the responsibility and challenge of raising adolescent girls.
Girls benefit greatly from the support of a caring community as they navigate the profound physical, emotional, and social challenges of adolescence.
Building supportive, healthy relationships, particularly with parents and peers, is a learned skill that contributes greatly to quality of life.
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