Don’t let Chicago girls fall behind because of school cuts

Girls going back to Chicago schools this fall are not receiving the opportunities they need to succeed. Given Chicago Public Schools’ budget cuts, girls will see fewer extracurricular activities that get them active, build leadership skills and grow their self- esteem.

At a time when 81 percent of voters believe preparing girls for leadership roles should be a national priority, we should be encouraging them to get involved, not slashing their programs.

Doing so not only removes the opportunity to participate but sends an implicit message to girls that their sports, their opportunities to play, to be healthy and grow into leaders are valuable to us as a greater community.

Here are three ways you can encourage girls to be leaders this fall:

Find girl- only spaces where she isn’t afraid to use her voice and explore her strengths. It is proven that girl- only learning experiences can broaden career choices down the road.

Encourage her to be active, by joining a sports team or going to classes at a local YMCA. Being active helps adolescent girls’ mental health and increases their life satisfaction.

Listen to what she has to say. Teaching girls their voices are valuable is the first step to them having the self- esteem to speak in front of a group. When we listen to girls and prioritize their programs, we demonstrate that we believe in the power of girls.

Don’t let more girls fall behind this year due to budget cuts. Encourage a girl in your life to be strong, to use her voice and to join a team that values her contributions.

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