Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Sylvia Martinez, President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Memphis, who highlights the organization’s 80-year anniversary and how the nonprofit inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. The organization provides year-round programming focused on STEM education, leadership development, and life skills, serving more than 1,500 girls across Memphis with a commitment to equity, opportunity, and long-term success.
During the interview, Sylvia explains Girls Inc.’s mission of empowering girls through the “strong, smart, and bold” framework, which focuses on healthy living, education, and independence. She describes how the organization brings in experts to teach specific skills, from farming and food preparation to financial management and sports, while Girls Inc. handles the educational framework. Sylvia emphasizes that the partnership model allows them to provide comprehensive training while leveraging external expertise, with partners either coming to their location or transporting the girls to partner facilities. Sylvia discusses their STEM education program for girls aged 5 to 18, highlighting their partnership with Steve Wozniak who provides curricula in areas like robotics, coding, and cybersecurity. The girls surveyed expressed strong interest in robotics, animations, and coding, with the program offering sequential learning opportunities and certifications like drone piloting.
Sylvia describes her 8.5-acre Patricia C. Howard Campus in Fraser, which includes a teaching kitchen, event space, and programming areas. The property hosts over 500 volunteers annually who help maintain the land and grow produce. The facility is available for team bonding events and rentals, offering both indoor and outdoor spaces for various activities. She highlights the organization’s success in achieving 100% graduation and post-secondary education rates, with 97% of participants developing leadership confidence. Their programs serve 1,500 girls across multiple school partnerships and locations, including their farm campus and sites near the University of Memphis, with additional camps at various locations.
Sylvia highlights the organization’s free programming since 2019 and discusses volunteer opportunities, noting that the farm alone requires 500 volunteers annually. The conversation concludes with information about how community members can get involved through volunteering, donating, or supporting girls’ participation in summer camps, with contact details provided for the organization’s website, http://www.girlsincmemphis.org, and main phone line, 901-523-0217.
Visit https://www.girlsincmemphis.org/ to learn more and connect with Girls Inc. of Memphis.
