Preliminary Status of Girls Report shared at the Day of the Girl Champions Luncheon
October 11, 2022
SAN ANTONIO (October 11, 2022) - On International Day of the Girl, a day celebrated globally every year to empower girls and amplify their voices, the City of San Antonio partnered with members of the Day of the Girl Coalition to host a Girls Champion Luncheon and review preliminary results of a new Status of Girls in San Antonio Report.
Since 2019, a group of girl-serving organizations in San Antonio, led by Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, has convened to organize a weeklong series of events to raise awareness and to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives. This year’s theme, “Your Rights, Tu Voz, Right Now!,” emphasizes the need to amplify and listen to girl voices and to encourage them to be empowered in all areas of life. The Day of the Girl S.A. event Sunday, Oct. 9, at Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair attracted hundreds of girls and their families for a day of educational and empowering activities.
This year’s inaugural Girl Champions Luncheon was held at the Municipal Plaza Building, with policymakers and leaders representing various organizations committed to the empowerment of girls. Girl Board Chair of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas, Ella Danica Arispe, served as the emcee and introduced City Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, who delivered remarks about the importance of supporting initiatives and programs to empower girls of all ages, including the annual Girls Empowerment Summit. “San Antonio is home to numerous girls and young women who deserve to live in a city where ample opportunities are accessible to them and socioeconomic equities don’t limit their potential,” Councilwoman Rocha Garcia stated.
“I believe in empowering young girls at an early age so that they can grow up to be strong, confident, and fearless leaders.”
Councilwoman Rocha Garcia then welcomed Dr. Rogelio Sáenz, professor of Demography at UTSA, who presented preliminary results of his Status of Girls in San Antonio report concerning girls and young women below 18 years of age.
As was the case in the Status of Women report conducted by the city in 2019, significant differences exist between girls and young women from different racial and ethnic groups. Compared with white girls and young women, Black and Latina girls and young women are disparately impacted in terms of health outcomes, access to healthcare, the effects of poverty, and the digital divide. The preliminary results presented are based on the American Community Survey for the 2016-2020 period and information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The results presented, along with additional findings in the final report due in the spring, will provide information for the city and community leaders to consider in the development of policies to improve the status and life opportunities for girls and young women in San Antonio.
The event included a panel of girls who shared their experiences and the challenges they face as young women growing up in San Antonio. The panelists included Catherine Fiscal, a junior at UTSA, representing Significant U; Amaya Hill, an eighth grader at Vale Middle School, representing Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas; Breanna Jimenez, a sophomore at East Central High School, representing Girls Inc. of San Antonio; and Zoe Lopez, a junior at Young Women’s Leadership Academy representing the school. Despite their distinct journeys, all four girls agreed on the importance of uplifting girls and women by making opportunities accessible. Some girls mentioned lack of access to health care and mental wellness, as well as how limited opportunities and lack of reliable transportation in certain ZIP codes can limit their potential. Above all, they agreed that girl voices need to be heard.
“The two words I would use to describe what it’s like to be a girl are ‘enraging’ and ‘empowering,’ ” Jimenez said. “I thankfully have had many people pushing me to be better and who are helping me find my voice and be an advocate for others. But also, especially in Texas, there are so many things happening that we need to change. Being a girl is all about learning how we can create a better future.”
Deputy City Manager Maria Villagómez concluded the event by emphasizing the important role the City of San Antonio plays in connecting girls and young women to opportunities, including the services, programs, and initiatives provided to residents of all ages. She also acknowledged the ample ways the City of San Antonio can make transformative changes in the lives of girls and young women through polices enacted by City Council by focusing on those areas most impacted by intergenerational poverty and health disparities. Councilwoman Rocha Garcia, Deputy City Manager Maria Villagómez, and community leaders from across San Antonio expressed their eagerness to see the final version of the Status of Girls report, scheduled to be presented at the annual Girls Empowerment Summit in mid-March.
“We at Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas are honored to be a part of this coalition of leaders dedicated to improving the lives of girls in our community,” said Major General Angie Salinas, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), CEO of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. “To improve the lives of women, we must first address the lives of girls. It is critical that we focus on preventative measures early in a girl’s life and provide them with opportunities to succeed. That’s what we do at Girl Scouts, and we’re thrilled to work with the city to further this cause.”
