Mayor proclaims March 10-16th Girl Scout Week

On Monday, March 11, 2024 at 2 p.m., Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee proclaimed the week of March 10^th-16^th at Girl Scout Week in the City of Laurel.

Members of the Red Wing chapter of the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, which oversees twelve troops throughout Jones and Jasper Counties, joined Mayor Magee for the proclamation signing.

The proclamation read as follows:

WHEREAS, March 12, 2024, marks the 112th 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.

WHEREAS, in July 2023, Girl Scouts hosted its triennial convention where more than 10,000 girls, alums, and supporters from across the Movement gathered to explore, create, and grow alongside thousands of fellow change-makers, dreamers, and doers; 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; and

WHEREAS, Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi serves 6,000 girls across Mississippi

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 10-16, 2024, as Girl Scout Week in the City of Laurel.