April 11, 2018

On today's show we visit Destiny’s Daughters of Promise in Kennesaw, GA and talk with Founder and CEO Lorraine Thomas.  Later in the episode Bruce Gale brings us this week's Kid Hero, Jacob Turobiner, an 11th grader at Calabasas High School in Los Angeles and the Founder of Aid for Hope.


When We Save A Girl, We Save A Generation

Teen girls face a variety of stressors that put them at risk for serious issues including low self-esteem, substance abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and depression. They are often unable to find effective coping strategies. The consequences of inappropriate behavior may lead to delinquency, teen pregnancy, truancy or expulsion.  

A mentor at this stage in a girl’s life can have a broad impact on her successfully navigating the years to adulthood.  Girls mentoring programs help girls build their sense of self and develop confidence by offering them opportunities to express themselves, be heard, and explore their world in a safe environment. Investing time and energy into girls is not a fruitless endeavor. Educating and empowering girls ripples out into the community and benefits everyone.

We hear it everywhere, from the United Nations to our everyday after school programs - when we support the growth and empowerment of women and girls, we raise the quality of life for everyone.

As if adolescence weren't painful enough, the pressure to be "camera-ready" may be adding to teens' body dissatisfaction – and leading to self-destructive behavior.  81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat and 30% of teenage girls reported being teased about their weight.

As reality TV has become staple entertainment for young people and adults alike, tween and teen girls who regularly view reality TV accept and expect a higher level of drama, aggression, and bullying in their own lives, and measure their worth primarily by their physical appearance, according to Real to Me: Girls and Reality TV, a national survey released today by the Girl Scout Research Institute.

And it’s not just TV or the movies any longer.  Thanks to photo-centric social media like Instagram, Snapchat and other messaging apps, kids are exposed to a constant barrage of bikini bodies and just-right hair 24/7.  According to Common Sense Media's body-image study, teens who are active online worry a lot about how they're perceived.

Body image is closely linked to self-esteem. Low self-esteem in adolescents can lead to eating disorders, early sexual activity, substance use and suicidal thoughts. 

One of the leading reasons that teenage girls drop out of school is because they become parents. Over 50% of teen mothers do not graduate from high school. 


This brings us to today's charity, Destiny's Daughters of Promise...

Destiny’s Daughters of Promise is a Georgia-based, nonprofit organization with a mission to provide a safe environment where teen girls can come and learn strategies to become confident leaders and contributing members of society. They offer services that promote leadership development, strong interpersonal skills, financial literacy, healthy relationships, community involvement and basic life skills.  Their goal is to prepare teens for college, careers and to serve in the community. @DDPGirls

The services are provided to middle and high school girls. This age group is particularly vulnerable and are most in need of the services offered. Participants are referred by teachers, counselors and school administrators.

The greatest strength of the program is that teen girls from all walks of life are positively contributing to their schools and communities.

While visiting Destiny’s Daughters of Promise, we spoke with the Founder and CEO, Lorraine Thomas.

On this week’s Kid Hero segment, Bruce Gale brings us an interview with Jacob Turobiner who assembles first-aid kits and distributes them to the homeless through his organization, Aid for Hope.  

Living in Los Angeles, Jacob saw that the homeless of suffer everyday on the streets. Los Angeles has one of the largest homeless populations. In the San Fernando Valley, there are more than 7,000 homeless persons. Of these, only about 20% have access to shelter. This leaves thousands on the streets, many with disabilities and health issues. Homeless individuals are at high-risk of injury on the streets, and therefore need supplies that keep them healthier.

Jacob learned that the homeless sometimes have trouble with blisters or just small scrapes and cuts that become infected and lead to bigger health issues. To help tackle this problem, Aid for Hope partnered with Hope of the Valley -- a non-profit organization that houses and supports the homeless in Southern California  -- to provide the homeless with first aid kits.  Delivering first aid kits to the homeless will enable them take care of the smaller things before they escalate into larger problems.  

Jacob Turobiner
Jacob Turobiner