The Junior League of Greenwich recently hosted their annual “PositivelyMe!” program at the their headquarters, welcoming 39 third grade girls from the local community.
This beloved initiative is designed to boost confidence, encourage self-expression, and equip young girls with strategies to handle challenging situations— all while fostering new friendships and having fun.
A signature component of the program is its creative and interactive activities, and one of the true highlights this year was a self-esteem building exercise led by two senseis from local martial arts studio Greenwich Kempo. Each participant was invited to write one of her fears on a wooden board, then learned how to physically break through it by channeling her inner strength, an empowering moment that gave participants a tangible sense of confidence. Adding to the magic: one of the senseis was a 16-year-old local high school student who herself participated in PositivelyMe! when she was in third grade, a full-circle moment of growth, confidence, and giving back.
This year also marked the official launch of a new team-building activity: working together to design and build a Rube Goldberg Machine. Defined as a complex machine designed to complete a simple task, the Rube Goldberg exercise encourages creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, and was a solid hit with the girls.
Beyond the weekend’s event, the JLG has expanded the reach of the PositivelyMe! Program this year through new partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich and Barbara’s House, offering aspects of the program to a broader range of local youth. In addition, the Junior League of Fairfield launched its own version of the program this spring, modeled after JLG’s initiative.
“For 18 years, PositivelyMe! has been a cherished program in Greenwich, serving more than 1,500 girls in our community,” said Stacey Higdon, President of the Junior League of Greenwich. “We are thrilled to expand its impact through collaborations with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich and Barbara’s House, as well as by extending the program to Fairfield. We look forward to finding new opportunities to share this empowering program with other communities and organizations as we continue to pursue our mission.”
The Junior League of Greenwich remains committed to developing the potential of women and improving the community through effective action and leadership. For more information about the PositivelyMe! program and other JLG initiatives, please visit www.jlgreenwich.org.