Group helps girls become successful

Alexia Vernon is a person of action. The 20-year old Las Vegas resident has started a new nonprofit organization which helps girls between the ages of eight and 18 become more successful.

"I want to follow this through -- it's not just an idea I had," said Vernon, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas women's studies major. "I really want the focus on the girls."

Last year, while participating as an intern with the Nevada Women's Business Resource and Assistance Center, Vernon said she decided to start something that would help her give girls better opportunities to succeed in the business world.

It was then that Vernon came up with the idea of a nonprofit organization called Girls Activity and Leadership Institute, or GAAL. "I want to help girls to accomplish skills necessary to be successful," said Vernon.

The institute is designed to help girls find "their own voice," and learn things that aren't taught in school, said Vernon. In the introductory session, slated to start this September, Vernon has helped formulate four core classes: women's history, educational theater, writing for self expression, and leadership for the 21st century.

Vernon said she came up with the classes from her own educational background. She went to an all-girls' school in Seattle, before coming to Las Vegas. Many of the concepts Vernon said she is bringing to GAAL came from the educational approach of her former school.

"I don't think these will be the set classes," said GAAL's creator. Her plan is to have an open workshop after each session to receive input from class participants to make the classes better. Eventually, Vernon said, she would also like to see the institute sponsor a book club and a youth council.

A second goal of GAAL is to form gender equity workshops with youth program workers around the valley, helping them to integrate some of GAAL's ideology into their programs.

"I always want to be making a difference," said GAAL's founder.

As part of its nonprofit status, the institute will not be staffed by paid workers. Instead, GAAL will rely on student interns to teach and volunteer. Vernon said she is hoping to find volunteers who "have an awareness of social inequity."

Vernon entered the Independent Means Youth Business Plan Competition last year and won recognition for her outline of the nonprofit program. "Winning that definitely gave me the confidence to think I had something," she said.

The institute's first event is scheduled for the April 26 Take Your Daughter To Work Day. GAAL is trying to match girls with mentor "moms" who will take the girl through a typical work day.

GAAL has a partnership with the American Association of University Women. For more information call 255-4180.