Inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

THE GIRLS INC. EXPERIENCE IS UNIQUE AMONG ORGANIZATIONS SERVING GIRLS.

The thoughtful combination of PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENT, and PROGRAMMING provide and immersive and highly supportive experience for the girls, and the focus on the WHOLE GIRL provides a structure of growth and development to help girls achieve and thrive.

About Girls Inc. at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee

Using hands-on, research-based programming, Girls Inc. empowers girls to succeed. Trained staff and volunteers build lasting, mentoring relationships in girls-only spaces that are physically and emotionally safe – where girls find a sisterhood of support with shared drive and mutual respect.

The skills and knowledge students learn in Girls Inc. equips them to set goals, overcome obstacles, and improve academic performance. Girls learn about a variety of topics that directly impact their lives and futures, including:

how to lead healthy and physically active lives
money management and financial literacy
navigate media messages and the portrayal of women’s bodies
discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math
prepare for college and professional scenarios

Click here to download materials on healthy relationships.

YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee proudly offers Girls Inc. at 21 Metro Nashville Public Schools. To date, more than 7,000 girls have been impacted with life-changing experiences and personal mentorship since we became the Girls Inc. affiliate in Middle Tennessee in 2008.

We do not discriminate or exclude girls from our programming based on their gender identity or gender expression.

EVERY DAY, GIRLS INC. AT YWCA NASHVILLE & MIDDLE TENNESSEE PUTS OUR MISSION INTO PRACTICE THROUGH THE GIRLS INC. EXPERIENCE USING SIX ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS. TOGETHER, THEY PROVIDE A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT IS GROUNDED IN A BELIEF IN GIRLS’ RIGHTS AND ABILITIES.

Girls-Only Environment: A pro-girl and girls-only environment that is physically, socially, and emotionally safe and confirms that girls can succeed and deserve to be taken seriously for the women they will become;
Mentoring Relationships: Trusting, mentoring relationships with adult staff and volunteers trained in an approach that is grounded in a belief in girls’ rights and abilities;
Intentional Programming: Holistic, compensatory, and intentional programming focused on girls’ needs and that provides exposure to a wide variety of experiences and options that girls might not have experienced otherwise;
Research-Based Curricula: Relevant, field-tested, and research-based curricula that confront the serious needs of girls while building the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to enable girls to be competent, confident individuals and adult women;
Interactive Activities: Girl-centered, motivating, deliberate, and interactive activities that develop and promote girls’ strengths, and;
Sustained Exposure: Sustained exposure to programming and connection with a girl over time to increase positive outcomes and reduce the potential for negative outcomes.

Girls Inc. Programs & Info

Chaput-Avery Scholars

The Chaput-Avery Family Foundation, founded in 2018 by Bob and Mary Chaput, is dedicated to strengthening leadership skills in girls and young women. This new program is designed to increase the ability for girls to attend and graduate from college. Click here to learn more. And read about our first Chaput-Avery Family Foundation Scholarship recipient Kim Boih in this Tennessean article.

Antioch Mural

Watch this NewsChannel 5 story about our 2021 Scholarship Recipient

Read about our 2021 Chaput-Avery Scholar on the MNPS Blog here.

Virtual Summer Camp 2021

Join us for a fun and interactive camp experience this summer. Access our registration forms in English and Spanish.

Contact Shay Turner via email for more.

Kendra Scott Gives Back

A HUGE thank you to our friends at Kendra Scott for supporting our Girls Inc. program! The jewelry retailer hosted a summer back to school supply drive for our girls and invited several of our students for a fun and fabulous photo shoot! We are truly grateful for Kendra Scott and all of our community partners!

See photo gallery below for more images of our Girls Inc. students. Photos courtesy of Madeline Juliette Queen

If you would like to donate to our Girls Inc. at YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee program, please click on our secure donation form below:

To donate via PayPal, click here.

Girls Inc. has changed my mind and my life for the better. I’ve made new friends and mentors. I’ve learned how to deal with my emotions. I’ve learned how to financially take care of myself. Without Girls Inc. I think it would’ve been way harder for me to become the beautiful young lady I am today. I truly believe that I am STRONG, SMART, AND BOLD.

Jaida Kline, Hunters Lane graduate

YWCA Spring Breakfast Girls Inc. Feature

2019 Spring Breakfast Speaker Alexis

The Sisterhood of Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. Clubs in Metro Nashville Public Schools

How You Can Help

Every dollar helps.
We serve hundreds of girls each year between school programming and our spring break and summer break camps. All money raised for Girls Inc. goes directly to making more girls strong, smart, and bold. Donate now.

Support our graduating seniors by providing an item from our wish list! Visit our Amazon Wish List .

Interested in volunteering?
We rely on volunteers to help us with our Girls Inc. spring break and summer camps, and will soon launch a volunteer mentoring program. Contact Allison Adams via email or phone at 615-983-5144 to learn about current opportunities.

Want additional information on Girls Inc?
Contact Vanessa Helbig Johnson via email or phone at 615-983-5123.