Girl Scouts Tell Presidential Candidates to Support Girls as Next Generation of Leaders

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) today announces the finalists for "Dear Mr. President Girl Scouts Speak Out" PSA Contest in which girls of all ages were invited to make public service announcements to tell the presidential candidates about the importance of supporting girls and the next generation of leaders.
 The videos, slide shows and other material submitted by girls across the country drew more than 10,000 votes and dealt with issues ranging from business to bullying.  "Dear Mr. President" is part of "Girl Scouts Speak Out" series in which GSUSA asks girls to submit PSAs on an important national or global topic. Submissions were posted on the GSUSA website in May and voted on through October 15. The winner of each "Girl Scouts Speak Out" has her submission made into a professional PSA.  To view the submissions by the finalists, go to http://speakout.girlscouts.org/.
The top themes that emerged from the materials the girls submitted included the need for more role models, equality in pay, bullying and the negative images in the media.

The finalists are:

Hareem, 14, Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital: "Girl Scouts of the USA, Celebrating 100 Years of Girls' Leadership." As the top vote-getter with 3,465 votes, Hareem focuses on the nation's need for leadership.  She reminds the presidential candidates that girls have great things to offer, but are opting out of leadership positions, and expresses an emphatic call to action to support girls now.

Northern Jersey Girls Teen Group, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey: "Girls are now the future!" Dear Madame President – this group of Northern Jersey girls envision that we already have a female president.  They address their video, a series of girls writing to 'Dear Madame President,' imagining a woman president who wants to support girls to become leaders.  The girls state that a girl is capable of fulfilling leadership expectations.  

Troop 6655, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles: "Do A Good Turn Daily Girls hold the president to the standard of the Girl Scout Law.  They want a president who is honest, has honor and courage to be more responsible for water and air pollution, create more jobs, stop budget cuts to education, and ensure equal pay.

Girl Scouts Colonial Coast College Group, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast: "Dear Mr. President, the children of America need your help to stop bullying." This video by a large group of teen Girl Scouts asks the President to stop bullying, saying that as a country we are becoming intolerant of those different from us which results in bullying. The girls make suggestions as to how the president can help, such as having schools take on anti-bullying pledges.  

Amanda, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois "What do YOU see?" Amanda takes a humanitarian approach, asking the Presidential candidates to see each individual not as composite of labels or stereotypes, but as a whole person. She creates imagery around stereotypes, and poses the question: What do YOU see?

The winner of the contest will be announced Nov. 1.

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