
Girl Scouts and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy
For more than 100 years Girl Scouts has stood for making the world a better place, and pledged to “help people at all times.” Those words carry great weight and responsibility and inspire us with strength as we denounce institutional racism, violence, injustice, and inequity.
Read
our Council statement on Antiracism HERE
Read
our GSUSA National President's open letter HERE
Sign
Girl Scouts Stands Against Racism Pledge HERE
Resources for Troop Leaders and Volunteers
Whether you're a parent/caregiver or Girl Scout troop leader, offering a safe space for your girl to talk about important issues is vital. Review these resources as you navigate discussions.
Volunteer Essentials: Engaging Girls & Families
- Creating a Safe Place for Girls
- Communicating Effectively with Girls of Any Age
- When Sensitive Topics
Come Up
- Volunteer Policies and Procedures (includes
non-discrimination policy, whistleblower procedures, and more)
- Pages 13-14 cover emotional safety and mental health.
Girl Scouting is a partnership between girls, volunteers and families. To be responsive to girls’ needs and interests in challenging times where personal values and experiences may be part of a "safe space" conversation, we request that troop leaders seek permission from families first.
Permission to Participate in a Sensitive Issues Discussion [PDF]
Ways to Take Action
As a girl-led organization we support our Girl Scouts' passion and desire to make a difference within their own communities. See below a living lists of resources for Girl Scout advocates.
-
Girl
Scouts of the USA Civic Engagment
- Girl Scouts of the USA Advocacy
- Indiana Civil Rights Commission Equal Opportunity Patch Program Curriculum from Girl Scouts of Central Indiana [PDF]
-
Earn
the Racial Justice Patch from Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and
YWCA [PDF]
- Help Your Kids Take Action Against Racism
Girl Scouts Highest Awards
Bronze. Silver. Gold. These represent the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn. All three awards give girls the chance to do big things while supporting an issue they care about. Highest Award Girl Scouts are impacting the worlds of STEM, education, agriculture, medicine, and culture.
Learn how to earn Highest Awards.
Ways to Learn
The following resources serve as a starting point for conversation
and education.
Girl Scouts' Resources
Cultural/Museums
-
Talking
About Race from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African
American History and Culture. This online portal provides
tools and resources on the topics of race, racial identity, and
how they influence every aspect of society.
- Center for Racial Justice and Education
- Evansville African American Museum
- Lyles Station School & Historic Museum
Do you have any resources that you would like to share with us? Tell us here!
Printable Resources
Download printable versions of the "Racism and hate have no place here" image.
-
Letter
(8.5 x 11 in) [PDF]
- Poster (18 x 24 in) [PDF]