NEW YORK--More than 700 Girl Scout council representatives from around the country descend on Capitol Hill today to launch a national dialogue on the issue of girls' safety by visiting every member of Congress. Joining them are 10 teenage Girl Scouts who will be honored on March 4 as Girl Scout Gold Award Young Women of Distinction. This Girl Scout Advocacy Day signals a new era for an organization that celebrates its 92nd anniversary on March 12.

With Kathy Cloninger as its new CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA is giving voice to girls nationwide by rolling out initiatives such as a national safety dialogue based on concerns girls expressed in a Girl Scout Research Institute study and all-new programming for tweens and teens based on research of this age group. At the same time, Girl Scouts is making sure to reach girls across America and reflect their diversity by strengthening initiatives such as Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, the nation's first and only mother-daughter prison visitation program.

National Dialogue on Safety
A recent study by the Girl Scout Research Institute showed that many girls feel unsafe, both physically and emotionally, on a daily basis. For example, of the 2,341 girls studied, 34% of 13- to 17-year-olds were concerned about being forced to do something sexual, 35% of 13- to 17-year-olds were concerned about being physically attacked with a weapon, and 41% of 8- to 12-year-olds were concerned about being teased or bullied. In response to these findings, Kathy Cloninger and GSUSA are asking congressional members to commit to a girl. By visiting every member of Congress, Girl Scout council representatives are taking the first step toward a national dialogue that brings together girls and families, school systems, communities, youth-serving organizations, and governmental agencies.

Giving Voice to Tweens and Teens
Research studies of girls ages 11-17 show that they want to take a more active role in planning activities and that they want a more flexible approach to Girl Scouting. GSUSA has responded by creating STUDIO 2B(SM), a whole new way to connect to Girl Scouting for tweens and teens. Girl Scouts around the country are already participating in STUDIO 2B, following a successful pilot program. STUDIO 2B replaces badges with charms and has a "by girls, for girls" philosophy that emphasizes the role of girls in deciding what they learn about and do. STUDIO represents a limitless space teens create for themselves to explore their interests, while B refers to the Four Bs of the Girl Scout experience: become, belong, believe, and build.

Young Women of Distinction
Ten teenage Girl Scouts will be recognized as representing the best efforts in Girl Scouting on March 4 when they are named Girl Scout Gold Award Young Women of Distinction, the highest honor available in Girl Scouting, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. These honorees are chosen from among winners of the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is based on community service projects that require at least two years to complete, and have demonstrated outstanding leadership and community service.

They include:

• Sarrah AbuLughod, age 17, Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area, Inc., Saukville, Wisconsin
  
• Leanna Alexander, age 19, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, Houston, Texas
  
• Ashleigh Bethea, age 19, Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council, Durham, North Carolina
  
• Jessica Farrar, age 19, Girl Scouts of Shagbark Council, Mt. Vernon, Illinois
  
• Lauren Fields, age 19, Girl Scout Council of Coastal Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina
  
• Jillian Flaherty Horwitz, age 18, Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Council, Bethesda, MD
  
• Analucia Lopezrevoredo, age 18, Girl Scout Council of Orange County, Tustin, California
  
• Lauren McGovern, age 18, Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County, Inc., Buffalo, New York
  
• Emily McGregor, age 17, Sahuaro Girl Scout Council, Tucson, Arizona
  
• Kelly Straw, age 18, Girl Scouts of Buckeye Trails Council, Wilmington, Ohio

Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts of the USA

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U or visit www.girlscouts.org.

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