Girls Incorporated of North West Oregon: Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

History

Welcome to Girl's Inc. of Northwest Oregon, we inspire, empower, and support girls through gender specific services, research based prevention and intervention, leadership, advocacy, and mentorship. Girls Inc.® is the new name for the Girls’ Initiative Network, a unique organization with a significant history.

In 1998, Annette Klinefelter started the organization by convening dozens of groups of elementary, middle and high school girls to determine what they need most from adults, schools and their community.

Six years later, Girls Inc. has grown tremendously, but our goal of expanding the realm of possibilities girls envision for themselves and giving them the tools to achieve their dreams, remains central to our mission.

A growing future for girls in NW Oregon

In 2003, the Girls’ Initiative Network became a 501©3 organization, administered independently of Lewis & Clark College. In January of 2005, the Girls’ Initiative Network board of directors voted to become a Girls Incorporated® affiliate. An infusion of new, wonderful programs and a better future for girls and their communities.

A legacy of community support

Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon’s® history reflects the commitment and passion of a diverse group of service providers, educators, Multnomah County commissioners, and community advocates.

In 1998, Mary Henning Stout, Ph.D., professor of Counseling Psychology at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR wanted to respond to the concerns raised in the New York Times Bestseller, Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, by Mary Pipher, Ph.D. Pipher's novel drew national attention to social toxicity and its negative effects on the lives of girls and young women.

Professor Stout began to organize local women of diverse ages and backgrounds to provide supportive environments for girls with the goal of building self-esteem and resiliency.

At the time, Professor Stout was working to organize local women in high need communities to provide groups for girls, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, decided to allocate funding for a county wide initiative focused on the needs of girls and young women.

This initiative was to be called the Girls' Initiative Network (GIN). Mary's effort, the Girls' Leadership Center, and its sponsoring department, the Center for Professional Development (CPD) at Lewis & Clark College, became the recipients of the GIN funds in 1998.