Where the movement began
The History of all times, and of today especially, teaches that...women will be forgotten if they forgot to think about themselves.
- Louise Otto
Girls Inc. of Southwestern CT (Girls Inc. of SWCT) is still headquartered in the same building in Waterbury, Connecticut, that housed the very first Girls Inc. of SWCT in the United States. Then known as "Girls Club of America," the organization was established back in 1864 during the Industrial Revolution, in response to the needs of a new working class. The Girls Inc. of SWCT movement served young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of newly available jobs in textile mills and factories in the Waterbury Connecticut area.
Our organization provided activities for young working women as well as daughters of mill families who had no place to gather other than the city streets. As the movement spread across cities in New England and the rest of the country in the early 20th century, our programming focused on recreation and preparing girls for their future roles as wives and homemakers.
For nearly 150 years, Girls Inc. of SWCT has provided girls the freedom to express themselves, the space to dream, the tools to achieve and the ability to realize their greatness. It is my hope that the legacy of this organization continues to make a powerful difference in the lives of girls in Southwestern CT.
- Adrienne Parkmond, Esq. Girls Inc. of SWCT Board of Trustees
Today, the organization operates with expanded sights and a greater and dedicated mission while seeking to give every girl involved in Girls Inc. of SWCT programs the life skills she needs to achieve her dreams. We work with girls as young as 5 years old to age 18 to build self-esteem and empower them to take advantage of a world of opportunities available to them. We are focused on social empowerment, economic literacy, global awareness, attaining higher education, workforce and career development, and community leadership. Girls Inc. of SWCT shares our national mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold.
To learn more about the story of Girls Inc. of SWCT, please view our entry on Wikipedia.
Girls Inc. of SWCT is a 501 (c) (3) organization incorporated in Connecticut State. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
