Girl Scouts River Valleys Community Engagement

Engaging Communities

We strive to provide every girl with the opportunity to experience enriching programs that blend critical life skill development with activities that support academic success and leadership.

The Community Engagement Team at Girl Scouts River Valleys has developed over 30 community partnerships in 2019. Check out some of our community partners.

Our Mission & Work

We work to increase visibility, build trust, and create long-term investment in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience by families and girls of color. We cultivate authentic and holistic relationships with communities of color and community organizations that serve people of color in Minnesota.

We also lead the development and growth of Girl Scouts River Valleys’ Mentored Troops, a pathway that actively works toward increasing the ethnic diversity and representation of girls and volunteers of color in Minnesota.

“I am just so proud to be able to lead a mentored troop that is giving girls the opportunity to be Girl Scouts in an environment that I wish I had as a little girl.”

—Lori Cowan
Girl Scout Mentored Troop Leader

Mentored Troops

Mentored Troops are volunteer-led troops that provide girls of color the opportunity to be part of ethnically diverse Girl Scout troops led by volunteer troop leaders of color. Girls in mentored troops develop a sense of belonging and sisterhood in a culturally-relevant environment.

More About Mentored Troops

We know that Girl Scouting has proven to support academic success and life outcomes in alums, and Girl Scouts show increased self confidence in their decision-making abilities and their capacity to become strong leaders in their own lives and communities. At Girl Scouts River Valleys, we also know that not everyone finds Girl Scouting familiar or easily accessible, including girls and families of color within our council area.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are core Girl Scout values, and at Girl Scouts River Valleys, we understand representation matters. Mentored Troops provide girls of color the opportunity to be a part of ethnically diverse Girl Scout troops led by volunteer troop leaders of color.

In 2020, Mentored Troops Supported:

40 New Mentored Troops
507 Girls (90% girls of color)
54 Troop Leaders (90% adults of color)

Benefits of Mentored Troops

At no cost to your girl in her first troop year:

A paid Girl Scout membership fee for one year and placement into an ethnically diverse Girl Scout troop–Includes a Girl Scout uniform kit and supplies

Trained troop leaders who will lead the troop in earning badges and patches

Troop funds to financially support her troop’s Girl Scout activities

"I feel honored to be able to be a part of Mentored Troops and be present with these Girl Scouts as they grow and mature as young women. It's been inspiring to see them blossom, and it makes me think of what Maya Angelo once told Oprah Winfrey: ‘When you know better, you do better.’ Being able to provide opportunities to help our young women grow allows me to help them know better and do better."

—Wanda Vue
Girl Scout Mentored Troop Leader

Community Engagement Team

Karla Benson Rutten

Vice President of Community Engagement
800-845-0787 x1258
vsupport.karla.bensonrutten@girlscoutsrv.org

Karlie Hammes

Community Engagement Coordinator
(North Minneapolis, faith communities)
800-845-0787 x1110
vsupport.Karlie.Hammes@girlscoutsrv.org

Bernice Prigge Rodriguez

Community Engagement Coordinator
(South Minneapolis, Richfield)
800-845-0787 x1201
vsupport.bernice.priggerodriguez@girlscoutsrv.or

Kia Xiong

Community Engagement Coordinator
(Saint Paul)
800-845-0787 x1220
vsupport.kia.xiong@girlscoutsrv.org

Gina Rios

Community Engagement Coordinator
for Latinx Partnerships
800-845-0787 x1238
vsupport.gina.rios@girlscoutsrv.org

Sierra Napoli

Administrative Assistant
800-845-0787 x1216
vsupport.sierra.napoli@girlscoutsrv.org

Community Partners

We currently partner with over 30 schools and organizations, including:

Harvest Preparatory School (Minneapolis)
College Prep Elementary (St. Paul)
Partnership Academy (Richfield)
St. Paul City Schools (St. Paul)
Black Hawk Middle School (Eagan)
Echo Park Elementary (Burnsville)
MY Place (Mankato)
Greenvale Park Community School (Northfield)
Project Legacy (Rochester)

Interested in working with the Community Engagement Team?

Contact any of the Community Engagement team members above, or email us at CommunityEngagement@girlscoutsrv.org or give us a call at 800-845-0787 to learn more.