Category: Advocacy

In a world where empowering young women and lifting their voices is paramount, Pace Center for Girls took a meaningful step forward by hosting its inaugural Girls Leadership Institute. This three-day celebration of learning, growth, and sisterhood brought together girls from 21 Pace locations across the state of Florida, fostering an environment where they could learn valuable leadership skills, address challenges, and create innovative solutions to shape the future of Pace. 

Unveiling Leadership Skills and Innovative Solutions 

Through workshops, discussions, and interactive sessions, Pace girls explored the intricacies of effective leadership, honed their communication abilities, and gained insights into problem-solving strategies. 

But it wasn’t just about theoretical knowledge. The heart of the Institute was in identifying opportunities and solutions to strengthen the Pace experience for future girls.  

“My favorite part of the institute was collaborating with other girls and bringing forward solutions to challenges — like transportation and dress code — that we all think are needed.” — Jazlyn, Junior, Pace Volusia-Flagler 

A Glimpse into History and Inspiration 

During the second day of the Institute, girls gathered at the historic Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville for a morning filled with inspiration and empowerment. Stepping into the corridors of history, they were reminded of the strength and resilience of those who came before them. The museum’s legacy served as a powerful reminder that they, too, have the potential to leave their mark on the world. 

A Conversation with Pace’s President and CEO  

“My favorite part of the experience was to come together with all the girls and have the opportunity to speak to the Executive Leadership Team about what matters to us. We were able to voice what we need at Pace.” – Ryann, Senior, Pace Jacksonville 

A highlight of the Institute was the opportunity for the girls to engage in one-on-one conversations with Mary Marx, President and CEO of Pace Center for Girls. These discussions provided a platform for the girls to share their visions for the future, seek guidance, and receive inspiration from a woman who has dedicated her career to empowering young women. 

Presenting to the Future 

“It was empowering to get together with girls from across the state and collectively unite our voices. I like that the staff gave us a chance to discuss our views and opinions.” –  Serenity, Senior, Pace Clay 

At the culmination of the retreat, the girls presented their findings to the Executive Leadership Team at Pace. This was a moment of empowerment, as they showcased their innovative solutions and ideas. The girls’ poise and confidence while presenting was a testament to the transformative impact of the Institute. 

The Girls Leadership Institute was a resounding affirmation that the future is indeed in capable hands. These young leaders are not waiting for opportunities; they are creating them. The Institute was made possible thanks to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and generous supporters including Fondation CHANEL, Florida Blue’s Women’s Affinity Group (WIN), First Horizon Bank, and Fifth Third Bank.  

An estimated 3,316,280 students graduated high school this year, wearing stoles that tie them to hundreds of years of tradition and history as they walk to get their diplomas. The hierarchies of academic and extracurricular achievement are traditionally symbolized by colors that mark degree levels, organizations, as well as honors.

Ty’unna and Iris, high school seniors in South Carolina, are celebrating a more inclusive graduation day and revolutionizing what success looks like. The stoles they wore represent a more complete portrait of today’s girl — where resiliency and emotional wellness are celebrated on the same stage as academic and extracurricular achievement. 

“To me the graduation stole is not just a piece of fabric, it represents who I am and is a statement of what I have overcome to make it to the finish line. I am not just graduating because of my academic success but because I have learned that I have the power to be my own best advocate,” shared Iris. 

We must understand the role emotional support plays in getting students, particularly women, through high school. Students have reported that their mental health and emotional struggles keep them from achieving their goals, whether passing a class, graduating high school or attending college.

“Ty’unna and Iris have taught me lessons on persistence that are unparalleled. Most girls I work with at Pace Center for Girls are behind in school,” shared Lisa Spears, South Carolina Reach Program Director. “The enormity of the mountain they had to climb to make it to graduation cannot be understated.”

There is no question that young people are telling us that they are in a mental health crisis. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated a startling 57% of teen girls—nearly 3 in 5—reported feeling “persistently sad or hopeless,” while 30% said they had seriously considered dying by suicide, an increase of 60% since 2011. These numbers are the highest they’ve been in the last decade. 

“I think people don’t take mental health seriously because some people aren’t going through mental health issues to the same extent as others,” Ty’unna said. “Mental health needs to be taken more seriously. People are dying because of the stigma.”

Young people, caregivers, behavioral health providers, and policymakers are calling attention to the issue through awareness campaigns and efforts to increase the availability of quality mental and emotional health services. There is an assumed stigma that can come with sharing mental and emotional health challenges. It is evident that Ty’unna and Iris are rewriting that narrative — starting with their community of peers.

“Wearing a stole that represents both my academic and emotional wellness journey gives me courage. I want everyone to know that I am a Pace girl, and I am going to walk extra slow so everyone can see it,” shared Ty’unna.

As first-generation college students, Ty’unna and Iris are eager to pursue their post-grad endeavors as students at Florence-Darlington Technical College. Ty’unna plans on becoming an esthetician while Iris plans on becoming a nurse.

As for the legacy both girls are leaving, Iris shared, “My success looks different than others. I’m the first Pace South Carolina graduate and the first person in my family to attend college. I’m wearing a stole that sends a message to my community, and I hope to inspire other girls to stand proud in who they are.”  

Amid the current youth mental health crisis, teen girls across the country are facing record levels of sadness and despair, with nearly 3 in 5 teen girls (57%) saying they felt “persistently sad or hopeless,” the highest in a decade. And a national shortage of school counselors means that many young people have limited access to support.

But there are signs of hope as teen girls are stepping in to become mental health responders for themselves and their peers.

Meet Dayna and Kiara

Dayna and Kiara first met working together and formed a close friendship. Kiara confided in Dayna, a Pace graduate, about her struggles with school and personal mental health challenges.

“Go to Pace — it has small classrooms and a nice, more hands-on environment,” Dayna recommended. “There are therapists as well if you ever want to talk about any issues.”

Dayna supported Kiara through her conversation with her parents about joining Pace, and after a meeting with counselors, Kiara enrolled.

We asked the girls what mental health awareness means to them.

“Accepting your issues and being open about them,” Dayna said, “Advocating for yourself, making sure that you know how to get the help you need.”

“When you feel like you are not alone,” Kiara said, “There are people that are there for you and can talk to you to help you through depression.”

As an introvert, Dayna said Pace pushed her to come out of her shell, which became the reason she advocated for girls to attend Pace.

“I feel like (Kiara) is my little sister,” Dayna said, “When I was going through my mental health struggles, all I wanted was someone to tell me that I wasn’t alone and that I had someone who cared.”

Since graduating in 2020, Dayna has referred a number of girls in similar situations to Pace.

When discussing the biggest challenges facing teen girls, the girls focused on three major issues: mental health, social media, and sexual harassment.

Before Pace, Dayna was reserved when talking about the issues she was facing. Pace helped her with her social anxiety by providing her with opportunities, including speaking at Pace Day at the Capitol.

“You have to be vocal about what you’re going through,” Dayna said. “If you’re not vocal about it, then no one’s gonna know how to help you.”

Today, Dayna is studying IT at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Kiara graduated from Pace in Spring 2023, plans on taking a gap year and going to Florida State College at Jacksonville as well to study business in order to eventually open up a bakery.

“I just wanted to be the person she (Kiara) could talk to,” Dayna said, “Let her know that she doesn’t have to go through everything by herself.”

The girls were asked to reflect on their younger selves and provide advice for going through life.

“Don’t listen to what people got to say, stay true to yourself,” Kiara said.

“Keep pushing. Keep fighting,” Dayna said. “Don’t let anything hold you back or get you down.”

On April 10th, the same day we got a chance to connect with the girls, Dayna and Kiara celebrated their friendship anniversary and decided to go out and commemorate it.

Kiara created an art piece to acknowledge THE PLAYERS Championship Village grant, which features her holding Dayna’s hand to celebrate their friendship and their care for one another.

Pace girls come from all backgrounds, but throughout their time at Pace, we teach them to embrace growth and change while working to invest in their futures.  

For many Pace girls, feeling discounted and doubted can be a familiar feeling. Lexi, a freshman at Pace Treasure Coast, knows it too well: “I didn’t feel believed in when people told me that I wasn’t going to make it out from where I came from. But I did everything I could to try and prove them wrong.” Many girls like Lexi come to Pace after experiencing challenges, such as living in poverty, experiencing trauma, and struggling with their mental health.  

Every day, our exceptional team of counselors and therapists work to create safe, inclusive spaces and help girls realize and harness their power.

Amber, a freshman celebrating her one-year anniversary of enrolling at Pace, is proud to be a good listener to her friends, often helping them solve their problems. She remembers: “My friends told me they believed in me because I’m basically their counselor. They believed that I could help them and make them believe in themselves, and that made me believe in myself.” 

Amber isn’t the only one who has felt affirmed by her peers at Pace. Laura, an 8th-grade student, loves when her peers recognize her artistic talent. She says: “Whenever I get to show people [my art], and they complement me about it, I get really happy. I love getting compliments because I’m being recognized for something that most people wouldn’t really think is a big deal, but for me it is.”  

This support for each girl’s individual strengths is at the center of the Pace experience. In Spirited Girls, one of Pace’s signature classes, girls build a monthly affirmation calendar and then read an affirmation each day. Lexi says “It helps boost my confidence. When people put me down, I say ‘I am, I can, and I will.’” 

And this encouragement extends outside of the classroom. Laura shares her gratitude for her counselor, saying: “I really look up to my counselor. Miss Lena is the backbone of this place: She does so much for us.”  

Above all, the lessons girls learn every day at Pace are directly tied to their future ambitions. Amber, whose friends affirm her incredible ability to make them feel heard and seen, wants to be a guidance counselor. Lexi, who is learning to believe in herself, aspires to be a biomedical researcher or a psychiatrist. And Laura, who loves art with her entire being, wants to be an animator.  

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The girls and young women Pace supports receive academic instruction and work closely with counselors and therapists trained in gender-responsive and trauma-based therapy. These resources are made available to girls at no cost to them. Know a girl who could benefit from Pace? Learn more and enroll today! 

There is one engine that will continue to drive the future: the power of our girls and young women. We see every moment and new day as an opportunity for empowerment as we work to inspire and connect the next generation of leaders. 

More than 100 Pace girls from across the state met with members of the Florida House, Florida Senate and other elected officials and leaders at Pace Day at the Capitol. During two days of meetings, training and programs, girls learned about policymaking, ways to effectively advocate for themselves, and how to authentically share their stories.

“The speeches really got to me. It was empowering to hear Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell say that I could be signing his paycheck in the future and one of these offices could be mine,” shared Sadie, 14, a Pace girl from Collier at Immokalee. “And, when Josefina Tamayo said, ‘I will, I can and I do,’ that really got to me.  

Girls heard from Alice Sims, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Prevention Services for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell from the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Career and Adult Education, Josefina Tamayo, CEO of Volunteer Florida and Sen. Jennifer Bradley, Chair of Criminal Justice Appropriations, who hosted a mock Senate session on the merits of requiring middle and high schools to have a later start time.  

“My favorite part of the day was the mock Senate session because I got to sponsor the bill,” shared Ryann, 17, a Pace girl from Jacksonville. “It felt like I was able to project to everyone that every girl has a voice. After participating in Pace Day at the Capitol, I’m inspired to hopefully work in legislation one day. I feel inspired to be one of the women I heard from during the Women in Politics panel and potentially have my own bill one day.” 

A panel of members of Pace’s Board of Trustees focused on Women in Politics and encouraged girls to set goals and consider multiple career paths. The panel included former Sen. Anitere Flores, Brittany Perkins Castillo, Chief Executive Officer of AshBritt Environmental, and Marva Johnson, Group Vice President, State Government Affairs for Charter Communications, and was moderated by Tracy Mayernick, of The Mayernick Group. 

“Because of Pace Day at the Capitol and the female legislators I met, I feel like I am not alone and capable of sharing my story to make a difference for future generations,” shared Jossmaire, 16, a Pace girl from Jacksonville.

“Pace Day at the Capitol gave me the opportunity to be myself, talk to other people and not feel uncomfortable,” shared Gabby, 14, a Pace girl from Volusia-Flagler.  

“I was given a really cool opportunity to meet legislators who represent my community and other Pace girls,” shared Makaila, 18, a Pace girl from Citrus.

Women who have come before us have given present day girls and young women the opportunity to make their voices heard. Women like Vicki Burke, the founder of Pace Center for Girls, who is recognized in the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame for her impactful legacy.  

At Pace, we know the strength our girls have individually, but we are stronger together. When we collaborate with one another, lift each other up and unify for a cause, we can accomplish great things.  

Pace’s work has positively impacted the lives of more than 40,000 girls and over the past decade has contributed to a more than 60% decrease in the number of girls that are referred to Florida’s juvenile justice system. Eight out of 10 girls that attend Pace graduate from high school, pursue higher education or secure employment after the program.  

The belief in our girls today will create lasting generational change, transforming our world for the better. 

Pace Day at the Capitol was made possible thanks to a community of support who believe in the great in every girl, including TECO Energy, Florida Lottery and The Mayernick Group.