Hearts Of Gold - Reflections from Gold Award Girl Scouts

Hannah MacLean's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on instilling patience, empathy, and understanding for neurologically diverse students within the Franklin Public School System. Motivated by the bullying and unfair treatment her younger sister faced, Hannah enhanced the district's anti-bullying curriculum and introduced a nuanced, Socratic-inspired curriculum focused on critical thinking. Her project involved three core components: collecting and distributing diverse books to middle schools, serving as an active student representative on local committees, and teaching her own educators how to incorporate neurological diversity into their classrooms. The curriculum she established remains a part of the school system's Mental Health Awareness Day. More from Hannah: In addition to my Gold Award, I have been a lifetime member of GSEMA since Daisies, and I recently worked as a camp counselor with the Girl Scouts of Northern California. Some of my favorite Girl Scout memories included selling cookies to fund a trip to the Grand Canyon with my travel troop, and discovering my interest in International Relations and Diplomacy through the annual Girl Scouts International Leadership Conference at Salve Regina. These successes I attribute to the incredible role models and leaders I had along the way, including but not limited to Roni Doherty, Joanna Lenahan, and Amy VanNederpelt, the lovely cookie Moms and role models of GSEMA, and the other incredible leaders who paved my way. Since this introduction to the accessible ways I could use my voice to make a change, I have graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics with a minor in Social Justice Theory from St. John's University in Queens, NY. Partly in thanks for my work with the Gold Award and Girl Scouts, I earned over $160,000 in scholarships and the privilege of traveling the world with the Vincentian Institute of Social Action through the Ozanam Scholars program. Full transcript available on SubStack: https://substack.com/@sherylmrobinson

Marley shares her inspiring journey of curating and developing a children's art gallery in partnership with the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center. At just 16 years old, Marley embarked on this project to provide art-related opportunities for kids in her community in North Dakota, where such resources were scarce. She discusses her passion for art as a self-taught artist, the need she identified in her community, and how her collaboration with the Southwest Art Gallery, which shares her mission, facilitated the creation of this new space. Marley reflects on her experience as a volunteer and the process of curating the first exhibit, highlighting the importance of fostering creativity among youth. Tune in to learn how one young artist is making a difference in her community through art! About Our Guest: My name is Marly Barnett, I am a 17-year-old Girl Scout from Troop 85112 and I live in the SW region of North Dakota. My Gold Award project, titled "SW Art Gallery and Science Center's Children's Gallery", was to develop a children's art gallery for grades K-12 within the physical building of the SW Art Gallery and Science Center. I started this project at age 16 in April 2024, and as a result, I have advanced from a volunteer position to a paid role as Student Director of the SW Art Gallery and Science Center's Children's Gallery in October. Most recently I added Social Media Coordinator to my responsibilities. The reason I chose this as my Gold Award project was for two reasons, one to play a more active role in my community and two, as a self-taught artist, to make the arts more accessible for young artists in Region 8 of North Dakota.

Full transcription available on Substack Cee-Cee Deslaurier-Tate about her incredible Girl Scout Gold Award project, which honors the legacy of Amanda Blake, best known as Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke. Cee-Cee dedicated over 1,000 hours to creating a documentary highlighting Amanda's conservation work, including her efforts to save endangered cheetahs and launch the first no-kill animal shelter in Arizona. Through extensive research, interviews, and a fundraising initiative, Cee-Cee has helped preserve Amanda's impact on wildlife conservation. She shares how her passion for the Old West and storytelling led her to this project, the challenges she faced along the way, and how Amanda's legacy continues to inspire her. In This Episode, You'll Learn: ✨ How Cee-Cee discovered her passion for the Old West and Amanda Blake ✨ The process of making a documentary as part of a Gold Award project ✨ The importance of preserving history and conservation efforts ✨ Insights into the Girl Scout Gold Award journey 🔗 Follow Cee-Cee's journey: https://www.facebook.com/KittyARussell/ 💛 Don't forget to follow or subscribe and leave a review! More from Cee-Cee I am currently a Freshman in college, studying theater and entrepreneurship. As a 12-year Girl Scout, I was honored to receive my Gold Award last year after dedicating over 1,000 hours to creating a Created a 2.5 hour documentary as well as designing several physical memorials in honor of actress and animal advocate Amanda Blake ("Miss Kitty Russell on the TV Western "Gunsmoke"). As a "Miss Kitty" Tribute Artist/Impersonator, during the Summer I make appearances at New Jersey's Wild West City theme park, appearing in theatrical skits. From time to time I can also be found at Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction, AZ. In the future, I plan to continue work as a tribute artist, expanding my work of preserving the legacy of past generations. Eventually I plan on opening my own Old West-themed dinner theater.

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Montserrat Hidalgo, a recent high school graduate and environmental justice advocate. Montserrat shares her journey from Girl Scout Gold Award recipient to an emerging leader in her community. Learn how her project tackled urban heating and environmental racism in South East Los Angeles, the collaborative research that fueled her work, and the global connections she forged. About Our Guest: Montserrat Hidalgo is a recent graduate of South Gate High School and will be attending Williams College in the fall to double major in Environmental Studies and Biology. She has been a Girl Scout from 5th grade through 12th grade and completed her Gold Award by addressing urban heating and environmental racism in South East Los Angeles. As a passionate environmental justice advocate, Montserrat founded Youth Action!, an environmental justice club at her high school. She also collaborated with Communities for a Better Environment (cbecal.org), a statewide environmental justice organization, to conduct NASA-funded research with UC Irvine and Chapman University on hot spots, air quality, and green spaces in South East LA. This groundbreaking work not only laid the foundation for her Gold Award project but also connected her with a global network of changemakers. Key Takeaways from This Episode: The Inspiration: How Montserrat's experiences in South East LA motivated her to tackle environmental justice issues. The Gold Award Project: The impact of her work addressing urban heating and environmental racism and how it serves as a model for others. Youth Leadership: How she founded Youth Action! and collaborated with key organizations to make a difference. Actionable Advice: Tips for youth and community members looking to create meaningful environmental change. Links and Resources Mentioned in the Episode: Communities for a Better Environment: cbecal.org Learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award: girlscouts.org/en/our-program/highest-awards/gold-award.html For more information about NASA-funded research: nasa.gov

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Today, we're thrilled to have Pepper join us to share her inspiring journey as a young aviator and her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project. From her first flight at just 10 years old to becoming a certified pilot, Pepper has navigated the skies and shattered stereotypes in a male-dominated field. She passionately discusses her mission to introduce aviation to young women in her community through a series of engaging workshops, where she taught the fundamentals of flight and even organized a thrilling "fly day" for eager participants. But that's not all! Pepper also dives into the challenges she faced, from balancing her rigorous training with high school life to advocating for the reinstatement of aviation programs in Girl Scouts. With a wealth of scholarships and support from organizations like the 99s and EAA, she emphasizes the importance of perseverance and community in pursuing one's dreams. Tune in to hear about her incredible experiences, the lessons learned along the way, and her advice for anyone looking to explore new career paths. Don't miss this uplifting episode that proves with passion and grit, the sky's the limit! More About Pepper: Autumn Pepper Rhodes is a 14 year Girl Scout, starting when she was only a daisy. She quickly got involved in cookie selling, camping, and career exploration within the Scout program. As she became a senior and ambassador, she transitioned into more of a mentor role, frequently volunteering with the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF). Pepper received the incredible opportunity to attend the 2017 G.I.R.L. Convention on the Media Team, as well as complete her Girl Scout Gold Award. Now as an adult member, Pepper is on the GSGCF Gold Award Committee! Outside of scouting, she attend Rice University in Houston, Texas for Mechanical Engineering and Astrophysics. She has a passion for aviation and aerospace, leading her to have earned Private Pilot's License and Instrument Flight Rating. Pepper also loves cycling, hiking, kayaking, and exploring nature with her friends. At Rice, she is on the Eclipse Collegiate Rocketry Team and the Duncan College Bike Team, both of which she found a home. Pepper wants to continue pursuing aviation as a career, eventually acting as a Aerospace or Aviation Design Engineer. Maybe even an astronaut one day! https://girlswhosoar.com/ https://www.instagram.com/the_dr_pepper/ Key Takeaways from this episode: Empowerment through Aviation: Pepper's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on introducing young women in her community to aviation. She organized workshops that covered the basics of flight, hands-on activities, and opportunities to meet female pilots, aiming to inspire the next generation of women in aviation. Overcoming Challenges: Throughout her journey, Pepper faced various challenges, including financial barriers and the demands of balancing her aviation training with high school responsibilities. She emphasized the importance of perseverance, time management, and seeking scholarships to support her goals in aviation. Advocacy for Aviation Programs: Pepper actively advocated for the reinstatement of aviation programs within the Girl Scouts of the USA. She engaged with the organization to propose the creation of aviation badges and programming, highlighting the need for more resources and opportunities for young women interested in pursuing careers in aviation. Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rx06pr Join our Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/sherylmrobinson/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherylmrobinson/?hl=en Please subscribe to Hearts of Gold on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/sherylmrobinson or on your favorite podcast app. Support future Hearts of Gold episodes at https://www.patreon.com/heartsofgold Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter's YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Jackie shares her inspiring journey of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award through her project titled "Single-Use Less Plastic." She discusses her advocacy against single-use plastic pollution, highlighting the importance of public policy, education, and art in driving change. Jackie reflects on how the COVID-19 lockdown prompted her to notice the overwhelming amount of plastic waste generated by her family, leading her to participate in the Plastic Free July challenge. She created an art curriculum inspired by artist Aurora Robson, teaching students to make collages from plastic debris. Jackie also founded her school's environmental club, where she organized assemblies and engaged with local officials to promote legislation against plastic straws. Throughout the episode, Jackie shares the challenges she faced during the project, including the transition to virtual learning, and the valuable lessons she learned about self-expression and advocacy. She discusses her current endeavors as an art and design major at the University of Michigan, where she has launched her clothing brand, Vinny, which focuses on environmental themes and donates a portion of profits to conservation efforts. Listeners will gain insights into the Gold Award process, the importance of creating a website for projects, and the impact of Girl Scout experiences on personal growth. Jackie encourages future Gold Award candidates to pursue their passions and reach out to others for support. More About Jacqueline: Jacqueline Vinson, 13 year Girl Scout earned her Gold Award through raising awareness of the environmental hazards of single use plastic and how we can take environmental action in our communities. Through her extensive work interviewing New York Council Members and artists, designing a curriculum and petitioning, she received the Girl Scouts of Greater New York Carmen Dubroc Scholarship in 2023. Jackie's project made a difference in her community by raising awareness of Bill A90A, a law, banning plastic straws in NYC restaurants. She also successfully petitioned to end the use of plastic cutlery and plates in her school cafeteria. As a high school senior, her environmental art won a Scholastic Art and Writing Gold Key for her portfolio, "Single-Use Less Plastics". She now studies Art and Design at the University of Michigan where she has continued to make environmental art. This summer, She started her own naturalist streetwear company, "VinNy", selling shirts with her captivating geometric designs of nature and birds. VinNY's aim is to connect urban life to the natural world, and 10% of the profits go to urban environmental conservation organizations including the NYC Bird Alliance. https://singleuselessplastic.com https://www.vinnylabel.com Key Takeaways from this episode: Advocacy against single-use plastics through art and education. The importance of community engagement and public policy. Personal growth and self-expression through creative projects.

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Mikenna shares how she created a platform to record and share the authentic stories of seniors in her community, which she then uploaded to YouTube and a dedicated website. She also made personalized booklets for each senior interviewed, ensuring they had a tangible copy of their story. Mikenna's journey began with her long-standing visits to a local nursing home, where she built meaningful relationships with the residents. Her project expanded beyond her initial nursing home to include another facility, capturing a diverse range of stories from a Holocaust survivor to a World War II veteran. Choosing podcasting as her medium, Mikenna found it to be a more comfortable and accessible format for the seniors, many of whom were hesitant about being on video. She emphasized the power of hearing someone's real voice and the deep connection it fosters. Throughout the project, Mikenna faced challenges such as understanding the technical aspects of podcasting and navigating legalities like consent forms. She also had to refine her Gold Award proposal multiple times to meet the requirements, learning valuable lessons about planning and execution. One of the most impactful stories she shared was about a Holocaust survivor, whose son helped recount her incredible acts of bravery and kindness. This experience, along with connecting with a young author who also worked with Holocaust survivors, highlighted the intergenerational impact of her project. Mikenna's dedication to her project didn't end with earning her Gold Award. She continues to interview seniors and has even developed an app concept to further her mission. Her story is a testament to the profound difference one can make through passion and perseverance. More About Mikenna: Mikenna has been involved in Girl Scouts for 13 years, where she has enjoyed working with her troop and mentoring younger troops by sharing the knowledge she has gained as a Girl Scout. For her Gold Award, she created a podcast series to interview seniors, giving them a platform to share their stories and ensuring they are remembered. Beyond visiting the nursing home that inspired her project, Mikenna enjoys singing, learning sign language, reading, writing stories, and volunteering. Looking ahead, she plans to continue supporting Girl Scouts, likely as a troop leader, while helping others in college and beyond. Even though her Gold Award project has been completed, Mikenna hopes to continue interviewing seniors as part of her ongoing efforts. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIO25jjEvAoq3m26XWHF7JQ https://sites.google.com/view/silver-stories-40202?usp=sharing Key Takeaways from this episode: 1. The Importance of Storytelling: Mikenna emphasizes the value of sharing authentic stories from seniors in her community through her Silver Stories podcast. This project not only preserves their voices but also connects different generations, highlighting the significance of understanding and valuing the experiences of older individuals. 2. Challenges and Growth in the Gold Award Process: Mikenna discusses the challenges she faced while navigating the Gold Award process, including the need for clear proposals and understanding the logistics of her project. She learned that thorough planning and adaptability are crucial for success, which ultimately helped her grow and refine her project. 3. Impact Beyond the Award: Mikenna's experience with the Gold Award has inspired her to continue her project beyond its completion. She has taken her initiative further by designing an app to facilitate the recording of seniors' stories, demonstrating that the Gold Award is not just about earning a badge but about making a lasting impact in the community. Share this show with your friends on Twitter. Click to have an editable already written tweet! https://ctt.ac/33zKe Sign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3rx06pr Join our Facebook Community https://www.facebook.com/sherylmrobinson/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sherylmrobinson/?hl=en Please subscribe to Hearts of Gold on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/sherylmrobinson or on your favorite podcast app. Support future Hearts of Gold episodes at https://www.patreon.com/heartsofgold Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter's YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ