All of Boston: Allston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, Downtown Boston, East Boston, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury
Bradford, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lynn, Malden, Methuen, Revere, Saugus, and Somerville
Along with these communities, the Community Engagement team supports additional under-resourced eastern Massachusetts cities/towns on an as-needed basis (such as Framingham, Waltham, and Brockton).
Community Engagement
Through targeted community outreach and partnerships with schools, community centers, and housing authorities, GSEMA works within communities that need additional support to deliver the full Girl Scout experience and programming. Our Community Engagement team identifies barriers to participation, provides individualized assistance, and creates community-specific solutions to bring the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls who may not otherwise be introduced to Girl Scouts.
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Communities We Support
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How to Volunteer
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Start or Support a Community Troop
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What's New? Follow our Facebook Group
Cultural Advocacy Programs & Events
Multicultural Community Celebrations
We are stronger together! Through multicultural heritage patch program activities, Girl Scouts celebrate and learn about the cultural richness of the diverse communities that make up the United States. Girl Scouts are encouraged to complete the patch activities at their own pace, throughout the year.
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June 1-30: LGBTQ+ Pride Month
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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month (LGBTQ+ Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) Americans. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ+ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marks the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans.
Federal and local policies and practices, along with numerous national advocacy organizations, are increasingly acknowledging and focusing on giving greater attention to LGBTQ+ youth in their work. Encouraging greater acceptance and support for all youth, including those who are or are perceived to be LGBTQ+, will make communities, schools, and other settings safer, better places.
Today, celebrations include pride marches, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts. LGBTQ+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the historic impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals have made locally, nationally, and internationally.
We’ve got plenty of activities for you to choose from as you join the LGBTQI+ Pride Month celebration. You’ll discover and learn your way to earning a fun patch! Wear yours proudly, today!
Learn more about LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and download activities:
Fun Patch Activities (PDF) Actividades
en Español (PDF)Also available, is GSEMA's resource for volunteers and caregivers to support and empower transgender youth within Girl Scouting.
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May 1-31: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
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May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, an annual celebration of the achievements and contributions of Asians Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It’s a time where we join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the history of the United States and are instrumental in its future success. Following are the many countries included in the Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month celebrations as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
We’ve got plenty of activities for you to choose from as you join the Asian American and Pacific Islander Month celebration. You’ll discover and learn your way to earning a Fun patch! Get the Asian American and Pacific Islander Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF) -
March 6-12: Girl Scout Week
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Earn the Girl Scout Way badge with GSEMA on March 7! Participate in Girl Scout traditions, learn about Girl Scout History and celebrate the Sisterhood of Girl Scouts. This event is part of a series of Community Celebration Patches to celebrate the countless contributions that diverse communities have made and continue to make in our communties. *Badge is not included.
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Feb. 1-March 1, 2022: Black History Month
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Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements and contributions of the African American and Black communities—a time (though not the only time!) for emphasizing the central role of this varied community throughout U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans.
We’ve got plenty of activities for you to choose from as you join the Black History Month celebration. You’ll discover and learn your way to earning a Fun patch! Get the Black History Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF) Actividades en Español (PDF) -
Nov. 1–30, 2021: Native American Heritage Month
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The United States has 574 federally recognized Indian Nations (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities, and native villages).
You can celebrate Native American Heritage Month by recognizing with your family and friends the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Native American communities that were the first inhabitants in the United States. Take this opportunity to learn more about the cultures of the Indian Nations in your state and across the country. We’ve got plenty of activities to choose from, so you can make new discoveries and have tons of fun while earning your patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF) Actividades en Español (PDF) -
Sept. 15–Oct. 15, 2021: Hispanic Heritage Month
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The United States is home to about 60 million Latino and Hispanic people. That's a lot of culture (and people) to celebrate! You can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with your family and friends by recognizing all the histories, cultures, and contributions that Hispanic and Latino people have made. Take this opportunity to learn more about the 21 Spanish-speaking countries and territories’ cultures honored during these four weeks. And with plenty of activities to choose from, the discovery and fun are endless. Get the Hispanic Heritage Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF) Actividades en Español (PDF)
Exploradoras (serie bilingue/bilingual series)
¡Los invitamos a formar parte de las Girl Scout Exploradoras! Una serie nacional bilingüe para niñas en grados K-8 donde su niña participará junto a otras chicas de su edad mientras exploran y descubren sus intereses de manera divertida. Las niñas aprenderán nuevas habilidades y desarollarán valor y confianza en sí misma. Regístrese.
We invite you to join the Girl Scout Exploradoras, a national series of biligual online gatherings for girls in grades K-8! Your girl will participate alongside other girls her age as they explore and learn new skills in a fun way, and build courage and self-confidence. Register.
Lift Your Voice
Your voice matters - and collectively, we can stand up against racism and make the world a better place. Through fun at-home activities and six virtual sessions connecting with other Girl Scouts, you will learn how you can make a difference. This program is facilitated in English.
New sessions to be announce soon. Stay tuned!
Girl Scouts Anti-Racism Patch Program
Girl Scouting prepares girls to be leaders in our world, to speak up, speak out, and take action for fairness, equality, and compassion for all people, and to arm them with the courage, confidence, and character they need to make the world a better place. The Anti-Racism patch represents the first Girl Scout My Values patch created by GSUSA to reflect the values of the Girl Scout Movement.
Download and complete the patch activities, then wear this patch to show the values you believe in. Patch may be purchased through the Girl Scout Shop.
