Overview

Growing into Respected Outstanding Women, (G.R.O.W.) is a mentoring program through the Murray State University ’s Women’s Center. The program pairs 15 undergraduate women leaders with girls from Calloway County Middle School . Currently led by Jane Etheridge, director of the MSU Women’s Center, and Llena Chavis, a faculty member of the social work department, the G.R.O.W. program will be entering its fourth year at MSU. The program is designed to foster personal growth and develop leadership skills in middle school girls through positive female role-modeling.

History

G.R.O.W. was established in the fall of 2002 by senior social work major Kennette Cleaver and Jane Etheridge. G.R.O.W. was adapted from the existing Young Women Leaders Program, a mentoring program established at the University of Virginia in 1997 by directors Kim Roberts, Ph.D., and Winx Lawrence, Ph.D. The directors are also supported by graduate students serving as program coordinators and project managers.

The Young Women Leaders Program developed out of concern about the self-esteem of adolescent girls. A study by the American Association of University Women in the early 1990s found that as girls move from childhood into adolescence, their self-esteem drops significantly. Young Women Leaders Program wanted to create a program that would respond to that concern as well as have other benefits. By being a role model for a young girl, an undergraduate woman can share her many gifts with others and help a young girl learn about her own leadership potential in a supportive, diverse, and safe environment. Spring of 1997 saw the first training class at the University of Virginia . After having completing six years of operation, Young Women Leaders Program now serves over 500 middle school girls.

Structure

College women interested the G.R.O.W. program go through an application process at the beginning of the fall semester. The women, sophomores to seniors, are required to attend an informational meeting and submit an application and an essay. The applications are evaluated and narrowed down to a smaller pool for interviewing. The interview process is thorough, examining both the emotional stability and communication skills of the applicants. Based on the interview process, 15 mentors are selected and immediately begin a nine-week training session that meets for two hours weekly.

Middle school administrators and counselors nominate girls who exhibit a need for a positive female role model. The girls are diverse, varying in age, race, background, educational level and socioeconomic level. The nominees are narrowed down to approximately 17 girls who are then narrowed down to 15 girls based on parental consent, two remain as alternates until the beginning of the program. The “big sisters” and “little sisters” then meet once a week in a group setting for a two-hour period and twice a month for one-on-one interaction.

During group activities, discussions and activities are centered around prominent issues in the girls’ lives. Topics from the previous year included body image, assertiveness, self-esteem, leadership, stereotyping and its effects, peer pressure, and interpersonal communication. The mentoring sessions begin soon after MSU’s spring semester commences and consists of nine weekly group meetings lasting approximately two hours. The program takes place at Calloway County Middle School.

G.R.O.W. Office Phone Number:

(270) 809-3365

E-Mail: grow@murraystate.edu

2008-2009 Coordinators:

Caroline Peake

Shandi Puckett

G.R.O.W.

Goals and Mission

Mission

G.R.O.W. exists to bring out the emotional, mental, and physical best in every girl by providing a nurturing environment led by diverse, open-minded, and connected mentors who are dedicated to equipping each girl with the skills to help them live a healthy and well-balanced life.

Goals

• Promote realistic academic and personal goal setting.

• Encourage respectful social interaction with others.

• Demonstrate the importance of tolerance, diversity, and individuality.

• Emphasize decision-making that will ensure physical, emotional, and mental well being.

• Establish trusting relationships with fellow mentors and middle school girls.

• Facilitate meaningful participation in school and in the community.

• Support the values, interests and talents of the middle school girls.

201 Ordway Hall

Phone: (270) 809-3140

Fax: (270) 809-3366

womenscenter@murraystate.edu