Five area girls learned lessons in the value of determination and their own ability to make lasting change while undertaking Girl Scout Gold Award projects.
As a result, they have bettered their communities, both now and in the years to come.
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts is a local branch of the national Girl Scouts of the USA organization, which provides opportunities for girls to feel empowered and develop leadership skills.
This year, 21 young people earned Gold Awards, the Girl Scouts’ highest distinction. Five of those individuals are from Longmeadow and East Longmeadow.
To become a Gold Award Girl Scout, the person must identify a real-world problem in their community and find a way to address it in a sustainable way that will create long-lasting change.
“Earning the Gold Award is a distinguished honor that sets Gold Award Girl Scouts apart from their peers,” Theresa Lynn, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, said in a press release. She said the Gold Award Girl Scouts “demonstrate the leadership, problem-solving and commitment to community that the Gold Award represents. Their work makes a lasting impact and shows they are exactly the kind of leaders our world needs.”
One of the Gold Award Girl Scouts from Longmeadow is Abigail Richard. Richard created a lending library outside the elementary school in Lee, where her father works as the superintendent of schools.
“I’m passionate about academics and literacy,” Richard said. “I always knew I was always going to do a lending library, but I didn’t know where. There’s lots of them in Longmeadow, and I love visiting them and either dropping off books I’ve read or seeing what books there are.”
Through her father’s position in the school district, Richard learned that Lee had lower literacy rates among its youth than “more fortunate towns, like Longmeadow.” She decided to install a lending library outside the elementary school so children could continue to read over the summer and when school is out of session.
The first step was obtaining permission from members of the town. “It was intimidating,” Richard said. “I had to speak in front of the [Lee] School Committee and not everyone was excited about it, and I had to convince them. Then, I had to work with the DPW, which I’d never done anything like that.” To raise money for the project, Richard said she participated in Girl Scout fundraising projects, including a carwash. She also organized a book drive to gather the initial titles for the library.
Richard researched different lending library models before settling on one. She worked with her woodworking teacher to build a weatherproof library box. The DPW will ensure the library remains in good working condition for the future.
Richard joined Girl Scouts in the second grade. A recent graduate from Longmeadow High School, Richard said she stuck with Girl Scouts because of the friendships she made. “That’s literally like my sisters,” she said. She also said she was able to gain experiences she otherwise would not have, including staying overnight at a zoo and fixing vehicles. “I think it’s important for everyone to try,” Richard said of Girl Scouts.
Of the lessons Richard took away from her time in the Girl Scouts, she said the most impactful was “to never be afraid to speak up. Never be afraid to say something, even when you’re scared.”
Another Longmeadow resident who earned their Gold Award is Trevi Sandberg, who organized an LGBTQ+ Pride Prom for students who may not have otherwise felt comfortable attending a traditional prom. Considering her older sister’s experiences, Sandberg decided to create a dance with a welcoming atmosphere where all people would feel comfortable.
Sandberg booked a friend’s band to play at the event and rented the Longmeadow Adult Center as the venue. She set a price for tickets and created marketing for the event. More than 60 people came to the inaugural Pride Prom and the Longmeadow Pride Alliance agreed to host the event in the future.
“Not everyone will always agree with you, so it’s up to you to create the future you want to live in,” Sandberg said in a press release.
Maia Oh established a program to supply free period products to students at Longmeadow High School. After surveying 170 students to determine if there was a need for such products, Oh sought a grant from The Pad Project a nonprofit that expands access to menstrual products. She also received donations from Longmeadow Public Schools’ head nurse. She procured wall-mounted dispensers for the restrooms at the high school and installed them. The custodial staff will refill the dispensers from a two-year supply, ensuring the project continues to help students after Oh graduates. She even had the opportunity to speak at the Johns Hopkins Global Health Leaders Conference on the topic of menstrual equality.
Longmeadow high schooler Julianna Quinlan used her love of horseback riding to create a volunteer manual for a therapeutic riding program. The manual included guidance on training and barn responsibilities. Quinlan created print and digital versions of the manual to provide ease of use. The manual will allow volunteers to learn independently now and in the future.
East Longmeadow Girl Scout Sophia Najeebi saw an opportunity to help children experiencing homelessness through a crafts program at Christina’s House in Springfield. The nonprofit provides support and transitional housing to mothers and their children.
For the Crafts and Care for Christina’s Children program, Najeebi assembled seasonal craft boxes with activities for children of varying ages. The boxes provided tools to keep children engaged while their parents were working on progressing through the program. Through St. Mark’s and Bethlehem churches, she secured partners to continue the program in the future.
