Our Girls Rock Too, a local mentoring program for young girls and women, is having their biggest event, the Explore Your Talents Conference, on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Stacey Grant, the organization’s founder, took time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about the organization’s event, origin, and motivating mission.
Stacey Grant is a woman who gets things done. As a busy wife, mother, PTO officer, motivational speaker, and organization leader, Grant rarely has a spare moment. She spends her time giving to those around her, particularly to young girls and ladies of Bulloch County. She had a dream years ago to help on a grander scale, and that is how Our Girls Rock Too came to be.
Grant started the organization in 2012, which serves 6-18-year-old girls. It began with what would become their largest event, a conference to showcase and explore talents. OGR2 serves 100-150 girls at this event, which was such a success, it left participants and their families wanting more.
“They come from all over the state of Georgia; different girl organizations or girl groups come to be a part of it. Parents said, ‘We don’t want just one day out of the year.’ So it really grew; I felt like God was telling me to do the girls group,” Grant said.
OGR2 has a committee of 12 individuals, all of whom passionately embrace their mission of pouring into young girls and teenagers.
“From day one God has purposefully put people in place to help me along the journey; it’s been such a blessing. We have sustained it for 11 years because of the community,” Grant says.
Grant’s focus centers around the identity and positive self-image of the girls. She wants them to establish their own inner security, and not be shaken by possible negative input from their peers.
“Self-esteem is a big thing. Being able to believe in yourself, not allowing others to kill your self-esteem. Somebody could say you’re ugly or you’re too fat or too skinny and one comment can make you go in your shell for the rest of your life," she said. "My thing is to build these girls up and provide the resources that are going to help them succeed. Let them know that there are people out there outside of your parents and your family that love you and care about you.”
OGR2’s programs run January through December, and monthly programs include college tours, field trips to places like Georgia Power/The Southern Company, and workshops on topics from self-care to beautifying the community. They gave out ten scholarships to high school seniors in 2022 for their tenth anniversary. They also run fundraisers, such as father-daughter dances and mother-daughter brunches, to be able to provide toys to children at Christmas, as well as household items for families.
Their June event features an event-packed sleep-away camp. OGR2 held Camp S.C.R.E.A.M. for over 30 girls this past summer. The camp has been in existence for over five years; however, 2023 marked the second overnight camp. Held in picturesque 7th Mile Farm in Statesboro, the girls had a chance to come together for a three-day bonding, memory-making experience that included arts and crafts, a trip to the Clubhouse, a giant waterslide, a movie night, and a glow party.
“The girls loved it. Our goal is to show them a great time and have a fun experience with girl bonding and girl empowerment,” Grant says. “We do workshops about knowing your worth, being kind and nice to each other, and just really building that self-esteem with the girls.”
Some of the camp counselors are former members of the organization who successfully went through the program, and graduated from it.
“Now they’re serving OGR2 so that girls can get the same experience that they did,” Grant says. “They love the interaction and they appreciate having the experience themselves.”
OGR2 is currently preparing for the event that started it all: Explore Your Talents Conference. The event will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM at the Statesboro YMCA, located on 409 Clairborne Avenue in Statesboro. It will feature vendors, mini workshops, and a talent show.
Grant has not slowed down in 11 years, and plans to continue what she considers a divine mission to edify the young girls and teens of Bulloch County. “I pray that God keeps equipping me with what is needed to do what He wants me to do with the program.”
For more information about Our Girls Rock Too, please visit https://www.ourgirlsrocktoo.org/.
