Dr. Daiquiri Steele, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Alabama, is a dedicated volunteer with Girls Inc. of Central Alabama. Dr. Steele first became involved through a friend who introduced her to a member of the board. She says, “Through that connection, I was able to tour the Crestwood Center, meet with the President & CEO, and get additional information about Girls Inc. programs. I began volunteering immediately after that.”
Witnessing the Girls Inc. Experience firsthand through a tour is a great way to encounter the direct impact that our programs have on empowering girls to be their best selves. Dr. Steele was inspired to start volunteering that very day, and has continued to make an impact ever since.
The experience is transformative for the girls, and for each volunteer as well. “No matter what your profession or background, the girls will be able to benefit from your expertise, skills, knowledge, and overall support,” says Dr. Steele. “The girls are always incredibly excited to soak up the knowledge that volunteers share with them.”
Dr. Steele says her favorite part of volunteering is seeing the creativity of the girls. Whether facilitating a positive affirmations activity with elementary school girls or providing a campus safety and rights training with incoming college students, Dr. Steele always includes activities that allow participants to display their creativity.
She says, “They are brilliant, and they have boundless imaginations. Witnessing their creativity at work is truly awe-inspiring, and I enjoy getting to nurture and celebrate them.”
Her time spent with the girls also results in hearing powerful stories about how Girls Inc. is making a difference in their lives. “Each individual girl seems to have a story of how a Girls Inc. event, initiative, staff member, or volunteer has really made an impact on her,” says Dr. Steele. “The organization’s reach is expansive, and the programming is incredibly comprehensive. It addresses every aspect of a girl’s life from education to health to social skills. As the girls grow and evolve, so does the programming available to them. The return on investment for both volunteers and donors is tremendous.”
We are endlessly grateful to volunteers like Dr. Daiquiri Steele who continue to show up and invest in the next generation of leaders. If you would like to invest your time into achieving our vision of powerful girls in an equitable society, please consider joining Girls Inc. as a volunteer! Reach out and learn more by contacting volunteers@girlsinccentral-al.org.
This story was featured in the September 2023 issue of The Bold Bulletin, Girls Inc. of Central Alabama’s monthly e-newsletter. For more stories like this in your inbox, sign up below!