Starting at a very young age, girls are conditioned to believe by the media and society that beauty is a woman’s most important asset. However, senior Mackenzie Morison is striving to crush this misperception and empower young women.
Morison works for Guardian Gals, a nonprofit organization stationed in her hometown of Gaylord, Michigan. After spending many years as a participant herself and volunteering for the group, Morison is now taking on the role of Programming Director.
Guardian Gals is a program for girls in 4th-12th grade that meets once a week over the course of ten weeks during the summer. During that time, the young women focus on a variety of different subjects, such as philanthropy, creativity, nutrition, and active lifestyle. The program works to create a sense of self-awareness and instill confidence in these girls starting at a young age.
“Our mission is to collaborate, spark, and empower these girls during those 10 weeks and beyond,” said Morison. “ [I love to watch the] girls come out of their shells and make new connections. We give them the chance to just be kids during the day.”
As the programming director, Morison is responsible for reaching out to women leaders in the community to come speak to the girls during their “Peace Tea Pause.” During this time, the guest speakers will come talk to the girls about their passions and how to achieve their dreams. These inspiring sessions allow for the young women to meet other empowering women around them and ask questions about their journeys.
“We call it [Peace Tea Pause] because there’s this drink called peace tea that we toast ‘to the passions, to the mission, and the visions of women everywhere’ at the beginning of these sessions,” said Morison.
Guardian Gals is a place where young girls can come together to make friends and express themselves. Morison said that she met her best friend during her time as a participant, and that it gave her the courage to join a sorority when she came to college. She is looking forward to returning this summer to inspire and empower more young minds.