In a recent conversation on BigCitySmallTown, Girls Inc. of San Antonio President and CEO Lea Rosenauer expressed a steadfast dedication to empowering local youth. Striving to equip girls with the necessary tools for navigating mental, physical, and emotional health; educational success, and life's many complex hurdles, Girls Inc. continually adapts to meet the evolving needs of young women in Bexar County.
Established in 2004, Girls Inc. has made significant strides in the community, serving a notable 6,000 girls in 2019 alone. With Rosenauer at the helm for a decade, the organization strives for meaningful partnerships with educational and community-oriented entities, such as Communities In Schools, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the THRU project, and various local school districts. "When I talk to my peers around the country and I talk about how collaborative San Antonio is, I get shocked expressions," Rosenauer shared, "This is the environment I believe makes San Antonio so special and so unique."
Girls Inc. has established a program center complete with a variety of zones designed to support every aspect of a girl's journey toward a fulfilling future. From peer support to healthy lifestyle choices, and educational entrepreneurship, the object is clear: create a nurturing space for growth and mentorship. According to Rosenauer, the process is all about forging connections. In her words, "It's about building trust. Many of these girls have never had an adult in their life follow through with anything. And so, we get to be those adults that provide that support."
Anticipating the needs of the future, Girls Inc. is developing new avenues for digital access and business acumen among the youth. Through collaborations like Bibliotech Nina with Bexar County, an entrepreneurship and finance lab with Frost Bank, and enhanced mental health services courtesy of Methodist Healthcare Ministries, Rosenauer and her organization are crafting a world where barriers are diminished, and the potential is nurtured and recognized. "Talent may be universal but access and opportunity is not. It's my mission to provide access and opportunity for girls to see a world outside their backyard," affirmed Rosenauer during her interview with BigCitySmallTown, as reported by SA Report.
