On Wednesday, March 12th at 2 p.m., Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee met with members of local Girl Scout Troops 3801 and 3840 to celebrate the 113th Anniversary of the organization and to proclaim March 9th through 15th as Girl Scout Week in the City of Laurel.
The group has been engaging in activities every day this week to mark their 113th Anniversary and to celebrate their amazing cookie-selling season. Two girls in the group sold over 1,500 boxes of cookies each!
The funds from the cookie sales will go towards activities for the girls including a camp out that they have planned for later in the year.
Photographed: Anna Marie Whyte, Sumiyah Smith, Isabella Smith, Zuri Smith, Faith Bridges, Morgan Wilson, Aria Whyte, Adja Watson, Sarah Bridges, Mya Marquez, Makiyah Gant, and Sharia Marquez.
The proclamation Mayor Magee signed during the event read as follows:
WHEREAS, March 12, 2025, marks the 113th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA, the largest and most impactful leadership program for girls in the world; and
WHEREAS, today, more than 50 million women—trailblazers, visionaries, and leaders—are Girl Scout alums who have made the world a better place; and
WHEREAS, during a time when girls are dealing with the impacts of pandemic-related learning loss, Girl Scouts offers important out-of-school and afterschool learning enrichment and skill building opportunities that expand their world, allow them to cultivate their talents, and ensure they can confidently pursue their passions and make the world a better place; and
WHEREAS, since its beginnings, Girl Scouts has emphasized public service and civic engagement, and has fostered a sense of community in girls; and
WHEREAS, during a time when girls are experiencing increased levels of anxiety, stress, loneliness, and depression, Girl Scouts continues to provide community, consistency, and connection for girls, and is a safe haven in all the uncertainty; and
WHEREAS Girl Scouts’ longstanding commitment to getting girls outdoors, including exciting summer camp experiences, instills a lifelong appreciation for nature and the environment is more critical than ever as we emerge from the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, at a time when civics education is missing from many schools, Girl Scouts engages girls of all grade levels in civics programming that deepens their understanding of democracy and government, prepares them for a lifetime of civic engagement, and motivates them to take action on issues that are important to them; and
WHEREAS, Girl Scouts offers girls 21st century programming in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); the outdoors; entrepreneurship; and beyond, helping girls develop invaluable life skills; and
WHEREAS, Gold Award Girl Scouts take on projects that have a measurable and sustainable impact on a community by assessing a need, designing a solution, completing a project, and inspiring others to sustain it; and
WHEREAS, as a member organization of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts is part of an international sisterhood of 10 million girls and young women in 152 countries and is committed to offering girls more opportunities to engage with communities worldwide, make meaningful global connections, and explore global citizenship
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Johnny Magee, Mayor of the City of Laurel, Mississippi, do hereby applaud the Girl Scout Movement and Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi for providing girls with a safe, inclusive, all-girl space where they can hone their skills and develop leadership abilities, and I declare the week of March 9-15 as Girl Scout Week.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF LAUREL, MISSISSIPPI, TO BE AFFIXED THIS THE 12th DAY OF MARCH , A.D. 2025.
