Girls on the Run

When Sophia Smith was a young girl in Vermont, she struggled with her social skills.

After moving several times during her childhood, Smith was lonely. She struggled to make friends and often stayed quiet during class. Her third grade teacher was a coach for a program designed for students like Smith and pushed her to sign up in the hopes that it would help Smith break out of her shell.

Now, Smith credits her turnaround to Girls on the Run, a nonprofit life-skills company designed to help young girls with their confidence and personal development. Smith is the executive director for the Rio Grande branch.

Smith had always known she wanted to work with children, often volunteering to take care of younger children. She served as the director for LoboThon, a nonprofit fundraising organization for the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital, before finding out Girls on the Run needed an executive director. As a previous participant, Smith said she was excited to serve children in a program she once benefitted from.

Girls on the Run is an international movement. The local branch’s focuses on making a 10-week after school program for girls from third to fifth grade. Since the New Mexico branch opened in 2014, Girls on the Run has served over 1,000 participants in over 20 locations around the state.

The program is twice a week and each year there are different adaptations to the curriculum based off of community needs. Youth development experts who research changes in society for young women created the program.

“There are rotating curriculums for Girls on the Run, so there are new themes and activities to keep things fresh for anyone who might return the next year,” Smith said.

This year’s program is titled “Hello Superstar,” and aims to empower young girls and their self image. Activities include positive self talk, becoming comfortable in your own body and allowing yourself to feel your emotions.

At the end of the program, girls will participate in a five-mile run facilitated by Girls on the Run coaches and volunteers . Smith stresses that while there is a run, participants can do other forms of outdoor activity.

“Whether you wheel yourself, crawl or even just sit in the grass, we want to promote the girls to get outside and enjoy nature,” she said. “We want all girls to feel included, regardless of your physical capability. We want to teach the girls how to set and accomplish goals in whatever way that is.”

Smith said the company uses the IDEA mindset to create a safe environment for participants. IDEA stands for inclusion, diversity, equity and access.

“We want everyone to feel safe and included in our program. Whether you have a disability or a different gender identity, Girls on the Run should be a safe space for anyone who wants to participate,” she said.

In an external evaluation of Girls on the Run, caregivers for the girls who have participated said that the program gave accommodations to make sure they could participate with their peers on an equal level, according to the program.

The program costs $165 per participant and includes a 10-week program with two lessons a week, materials for the curriculum, a T-shirt, and the registration fee for the final run.

The program has a scholarship fund for students who cannot afford to participate and Smith said that participants do not have to prove their financial need.