Up Close & Personal-Girls in Power-Interview with Founder

SK: What first got you interested in this line of work?
MR: I struggled as a young girl with anxiety, feeling alone and isolated. I desired to learn the skills to connect at a deeper level. I wanted to learn to communicate my needs of feeling heard and “mattering” in the world. However, most importantly, I wanted to give back to my community; the very specific tools and skills that I had learned from my hard life experience. I have spent years in therapy and hundreds of thousands of dollars; however living with Christ in me provided me a strong foundation of faith and a daily practice of living in the moment which led to my recovery. Through my journey of self-discovery in my late thirties, a deep desire to advocate for the disadvantage and at-risk youth was developing, and I took a leap of faith, turning over my hidden skill-sets, and prayerfully considered my next step… God delivered to me and I transcribed the Girls in Power curriculum in written form in the summer of 2010 with the intention to launch a program, first for girls. My hope was to reach as many young women as possible, so they would not have to suffer in silence and live behind a mask, as long as I did.
SK: Of all of that, what would you say is the most important, or the most prominent part of the job?
MR: Getting the word out and generating sustainability---GIP needs funding in order to keep providing programs to youth and families. SK: Is there any part of your job that you especially love doing?
MR: I love to teach young girls, teens, mothers and women.
God has used my hurts for good and He has shown me how to package up the tools I have learned which have helped me live a more fulfilling life. God is using me, and through me He is letting me share these tools to help others heal, change their ways, change their hearts, cope and manage, develop a healthier mindset, and as well, contribute to society…creating sustainability all around…