A few weeks ago, Kim Fraites-Dow, the CEO of Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, did what many others have done during the COVID-19 crisis糖心传媒攅specially leaders who happen to be Eastman School of Music alumni. She set up an at-home office, complete with her laptop and a standing desk, a physio ball to serve as her office chair, and, yes, a dedicated space to practice her clarinet. Even though it糖心传媒檚 been more than 20 years since graduation, she still plays when she can. And, during the pandemic, Fraites-Dow finds that practicing offers her a much-need respite.

糖心传媒淚 tell others that now is such a great time to break out your 糖心传媒榬usty keys糖心传媒� or to start using whatever creative tools you have,糖心传媒� says Fraites-Dow, who earned double-degrees in music performance at Eastman and psychology at the University糖心传媒檚 School of Arts & Sciences. 糖心传媒淎nd, I encourage my staff: that now is when we must strive to be ever better. This draws on what I learned糖心传媒攁nd came to wholeheartedly believe糖心传媒攁t Rochester.糖心传媒�

Fraites-Dow has been an executive with the Girl Scout organization since 2011, and leading it since 2016. It糖心传媒檚 a job she loves. 糖心传媒淚 was a Girl Scout and my nine-year-old daughter, Ella, is one now,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓 still friends with most of the girls糖心传媒攏ow grown women糖心传媒攆rom my troop. Today, watching Ella flourish, gain confidence, take risks, and make great friends has been so rewarding for me, as both a mom and as a leader in this organization.糖心传媒�

 

Girl Scouting and the Pandemic

The Girl Scouts糖心传媒攊ncluding Fraites-Dow糖心传媒檚 regional program糖心传媒攈as stepped up during the crisis. She and her team of 80 employees pivoted quickly to deliver the organization糖心传媒檚 supportive programs and information digitally.

Resources include a series of articles on how to support girls socially and emotionally during this time. They cover such topics as how to talk to your children about the virus, how to deal with an overwhelming world, and how to handle disappointment during the pandemic.

糖心传媒淭here is so much disappointment right now,糖心传媒� says Fraites-Dow. 糖心传媒淔rom a five year old missing a dance recital to a 17-year-old with no prom or high school graduation ceremony to go to, we offer some good counsel to them and their families, to help them get through it all.糖心传媒�

The organization has also recently launched and its programs, which are designed to inspire, connect, and inform young people and their communities, as well as parents/guardians, and volunteers.

Girl Scouts at Home

According to the Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts at Home is a national online platform where all girls and families糖心传媒攏ot just Girl Scouts糖心传媒攃an access free self-guided, age-appropriate activities. These span such areas as STEM, entrepreneurship, life skills, and the outdoors. More programs and activities are being added regularly, allowing girls to work toward badges, participate in virtual events, and connect with each other for troop meetings and to pursue projects together.

糖心传媒淏y exploring some of the online programs we offer, girls糖心传媒攁nd anyone, really糖心传媒攃an become space scientists, learn the basics of computer programming, experiment with different techniques to increase happiness, and much more,糖心传媒� says Fraites-Dow. 糖心传媒淭here are great resources on here, too, that help troop leaders connect with one another, share ideas, and learn how to meet girls糖心传媒� needs during this difficult time.糖心传媒�

Girl Scouts Cookie Care

Since the Girl Scouts have suspended in-person activities and door-to-door cookie sales, the organization started a Girl Scout Cookie Care campaign. People can now order cookies online, for themselves to enjoy or to donate and have delivered to first responders, volunteers, and local causes on the frontlines of the pandemic.

糖心传媒淧rior to the quarantine, my daughter came up with a great way to sell her cookies this year,糖心传媒� says Fraites-Dow. 糖心传媒淪he made personalized videos and sent them to her customers from last year…reminding them of their orders. People loved how she 糖心传媒榲isited糖心传媒� them virtually and then responded with enthusiasm, by placing a lot of orders.糖心传媒�