Cincinnati A Program of Vermont Works for Women

2 What is Rosie’s Girls ® ? Three-week summer day camp for 6 th -8 th grade girls aged years Primary focus is to expose girls to careers in construction – trades, engineering, IT, architect, etc. Challenges girls to push past their own limits. Combines hands-on instruction in skilled trades with expressive arts activities.

3 What is Rosie’s Girls ® ? Started in Vermont in 2000 Replicated in California, South Carolina and Ohio (Cleveland) Over 1100 girls have participated to date 66 Cincinnati girls since 2008

4 Why is Rosie’s Girls ® Needed? Workforce Development - Invest in future construction workforce to meet demand for skilled labor, i.e., increase the flow of diverse individuals into the industry. Economic Empowerment - Provide role models for girls in good paying, non-traditional fields to widen their career opportunity horizons. Education - Build confidence and self-esteem in young girls (learning by doing) to enable them to challenge traditional societal expectations for the rest of their lives.

5 Rosie’s Girls ® 2010 Content Carpentry –Tool boxes, lamps, two full sized picnic tables Electric –Lamps, receptacles, switches Plumbing –Toilet Repair, Pipeline to Your Future Welding –Lawn Art Arts –Painting lamps, toolboxes, tile-art picture frames, camp song Physical Challenges –Karate, team building activities Self-Esteem Building –Writing/Journaling, personal collages, Wall of Fame/Shame Bike Repair Computer programming and repair Field trip to urban waterway for water testing

A Rosie’s Girl’s Typical Day 8:45 Bus Arrives, Light Breakfast 9:00 Karate/Character Development 10:00 Plumbing 11:00 Dreams to Careers 11:30 Lunch/Free Time 12:15 Carpentry/Art 1:30 Art/Carpentry 2:45 Snack/Debrief 3:00 Bus Departs 3:30 Staff Meeting

7 Images from Rosie’s Girls ® 2010

8 Results from Rosie’s Girls ® girls attended, ages % of campers’ families were at or below the federal poverty income level ($1069 per month for family of 4) Thirteen communities and nineteen different schools were represented 100% of the girls received financial aid to attend the camp

9 The girls said… “I believe I can do anything I wish to do” “I can do things that I didn’t think that I could” “I have the ability to do more jobs” “I feel more confident in myself” “I have learned that women can do anything they set their mind to and be anything they want even if it is a man’s job.”  “I changed what I think about careers by knowing”

10 The parents said… 100% of the parents and girls would recommend the Rosie’s Girls camp to others. 100% of parents reported they discussed what they learned at camp. 79% of parents reported that Rosie’s Girls improved their relationship with their daughter.

11 The parents said… “The Rosie’s Girls program opened the eyes of young ladies and showed them there is a variety of careers and hobbies they can do other than run the streets” “It taught my daughter how to be a team player” “Rosie’s Girls definitely reinforced what I’ve tried to show and tell her over the years.”

12 Rosie’s Girls ® Past Supporters Denier SOLICA CONSTRUCTION

13 The plan for 2011 Hold the camp at Woodward HS again to build on the relationships established in 2008, 2009 and Fundraise for a camp in a rural community “Greening” our curriculum

Keys to Success YWCA/NAWIC partnership Year-round fundraising/awareness Spirit of Construction support STRONG links to Cincinnati Public Schools Expertise in running camps and working with youth 14

Steps for Success Engaging community businesses to donate the funds, materials and volunteers. Utilizing the research based Rosie's Girls curriculum designed by Vermont Works for Women Applying lessons learned from previous camps Engaging parents through mandatory parent meetings Hiring experienced camp staff and trades instructors Fully training camp staff, instructors and volunteers on adolescent development and classroom management Providing a safe, comfortable camp atmosphere that allows girls to work with tools and projects beyond their imagination Celebrating the "aha" moments and recognizing girls for their accomplishments 15

Contact Information Vermont Works For Women Liz Shayne YWCA of Greater Cincinnati Rhonda Lindon-Hammon ywcacincinnati.org/rosiesgirls