A message that Tara shares with all of her friends, family, and young girls...
"Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. You can be robbed of all material possessions, belongings, or money. Yet what still remains? Your self worth, knowledge acquired through an education, and the dreams you keep within your heart and soul. No one can take those things from you, as every human being on this earth deserves the right and the opportunity to be gifted a sense of self, sense of wisdom, and the endless possibility of dreaming. Our nation can be a much stronger and better place by focusing on the healthy and vibrant development of our youth, for they are the future of what will continue to build urban communities across America."
The History and Future of Girls Got Dreams
How do we keep our nation's youth on the right path in a world filled with violence, crime, teen pregnancy, and low graduation rates across urban communities? Did you know that statistics show nearly 1 million teens under the age of 20 become pregnant in the United States of America, predominately in urban communities? In result, teen child bearing alone costs U.S taxpayers nearly $7 billion annually for social service and lost tax revenues. Statistics taken since the year 2000 show that teens living in families with incomes in the lowest 20% of all family incomes were 6 times more likely as their peers from families in the top 20% of the income distribution to drop out of high school. Where do all of these issues that arise in the teen years root from, what causes these alarming statistics and how can we do something about it? Looking at scientific evidence from psychological research on child development it is apparent that the most crucial time frame for which a child develops self-esteem, confidence, as well as the most significant social and emotional growth is in the elementary years between 5 and 9 years old. During these years there is an extremely significant development in both emotional and cognitive abilities. This is when a child is starting to develop a personality, sense of "self", as well as a more assertive internal spirit of who they are and what makes them their own person.
The saying "girls got game" is a notable one, Tara thought. But what about Girls Got Dreams? How can you build self-esteem, camaraderie, confidence and build your very own dreams? You have to have game first! Bring the game, then comes the dreams, Tara believes. As an avid supporter of Teach for America and athletic immersion, Tara states that the key components of a successful youth are a just and equal education, the presence of athletics and extracurricular activities, and inspiration by mentorship. Tara, the creator and founder of Girls Got Dreams Inc., hopes to build a small but powerful base for combining all three of those components in sporting clinics, special events, and mentorship opportunities for the Atlanta female youth.
Since the founding of Girls Got Dreams in January of 2009, Girls Got Dreams has been featured in the Atlanta Newspaper, South Fulton Neighbor Newspaper, and the Darien Review Newspaper. The organization has successfully orchestrated over 10 inspirational outings, 25 fitness clinics, and three Holiday parties with hefty donations of healthy food and 300 gifts to young girls in low income neighborhoods of Altanta. Girls Got Dreams is in the process of branching out to other regions of the Atlanta community, along with neighborhood schools in both Boston and New York City.
