side menu icon
Three hands meeting in the middle

Community Engagement

Through targeted community outreach and partnerships with schools, community centers, places of worship, 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.

Communities We Support

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, Somerville, and Winthrop

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).

Are you a troop leader in one of these communities? If so, you may request additional troop support resources to ensure that your troop has a positive Girl Scout experience. Please complete this form to request troop support.

How to Volunteer

Be a Volunteer 
Introduce troops to awesome experiences that change their perspectives and broaden their worlds. Volunteer today!

Troop Leader
Are you excited to work directly with Girl Scouts in a troop to discover new skills, make lifelong friends, and have fun changing the world? You will love being part of a troop’s leadership team! Troop leaders are provided with training, resources and ongoing support from dedicated council staff members. They set up the troop’s schedule, plan and facilitate regular troop meetings, and connect with the local Girl Scout community. Need more information before you say yes? Check out the New Leader’s Guide to Success and Troop Leader position description.

Friends and Family
The Girl Scout Friends and Family Network is a great way for caregivers to contribute in their own way! The Friends and Family Network can be utilized on an “as needed” basis. Whether it’s providing snacks or an extra set of hands at a meeting or during an activity, joining the Friends and Family Network is a great way for caregivers to get involved in Girl Scouting when they may not be able to attend each troop meeting. Varying interests and abilities are needed for a troop to be successful; use this worksheet at a meeting with families in your Girl Scout troop to identify where caregivers' personal interests might align with the troop’s needs. 

Episodic Volunteer
Are you looking for a way to support Girl Scouts but don’t have the time to commit to being a troop leader? Are you an expert in something you want to share with Girl Scouts? Are you interested in volunteering with Cultural Advocacy events? Episodic volunteers help to support our existing troops, service units, and GSEMA programs in one-time or short-term opportunities.  Email customercare@gsema.org for more information on becoming an episodic volunteer. 

Girl Scout Gold Award Advisor
Support Gold Award candidates and the Gold Award process set forth by Girl Scouts of USA (GSUSA) and GSEMA through direct support of individual girls’ projects and aspirations to earn the highest award in Girl Scouting. One-year commitment. Learn more.

GSEMA's Gold Award Committee is actively seeking new advisors. Complete our online application to apply today.

Start or Support a Community Troop

Start a Community Troop
Interested in bringing Girl Scouts to your school, local center or place of worship? Contact us/contáctenos.

Support an Existing Community Troop
Interested in supporting the growth of Girl Scouts in your neighborhood? A donation to Girl Scouts ensures the delivery of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls of all backgrounds, and helps to empower themselves to become the change-makers of tomorrow. Donate today! Select "Community Engagement" as the designation.

mail_32
Want to partner with us? Send us a note today.

 

 

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.

June 1-30: LGBTQ+ Pride Month

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:

download 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.

 

May 1-31: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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!

download Fun Patch Activities (PDF)

March 6-12: Girl Scout Week

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.

download Learn more about all the Girl Scout Way Badges (PDF) 

Feb. 1-March 1, 2022: Black History Month

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!

download Fun Patch Activities (PDF)  Actividades en Español (PDF)

Nov. 1–30, 2021: Native American Heritage Month

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!

download Fun Patch Activities (PDF) Actividades en Español (PDF)

Sept. 15–Oct. 15, 2021: Hispanic Heritage Month

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!

download Fun Patch Activities (PDF)  Actividades en Español (PDF)


Lift Your Voice

Your voice matters, and collectively, we can stand up against racism and make the world a better place. Through a self-guided patch program, you will learn how you can make a difference. Patch requirements coming soon.

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.

Girl Scouts Anti-Racism Resources

Books and Movies for D/B/J
Books and Movies for Teen Girl Scouts
Resources for Adults
Resources from GSUSA