Girls Inc. is thrilled to welcome the newest cohort of the National Teen Advocacy Council (TAC). The TAC is a leadership body of Girls Inc. girls (grades 10-12), who advise and inform our organization’s advocacy by sharing their life experiences and views about issues facing girls and youth in their schools and communities. Throughout this year-long leadership position, TAC members develop their advocacy skills from National staff and issue experts, represent Girls Inc. in different ways, and lead Girls Inc. advocacy efforts through activities such as social media campaigns and lobbying Congressional offices.
The 2022-2023 Teen Advocacy Council is composed of twelve inspiring girls passionate about advocacy, representing ten Girls Inc. affiliates and all Girls Inc. regions across the U.S. and Canada. Get to know more about these outstanding leaders below.
Caitlyn
Girls Inc. of Central Alabama
My name is Caitlyn, I am 17 years old and I am currently a junior. My hobbies include band, tennis, and various leadership activities. During my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends, watching movies, and spending time with family. After high school, I plan to attend Tuskegee University, where I will major in Veterinary Medicine and minor in Animal Science.
Tiegan
Girls Inc. of Lincoln
I am a 17-year-old International Baccalaureate senior from Nebraska. Some of my favorite things are community service activities, music, art, and skateboarding.
Diya
Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta
My name is Diya, and I am a junior in high school. I have been passionate about STEM since a very young age, and have grown to become passionate about educating other girls in STEM. As I’ve grown up, I’ve seen fewer and fewer girls in my STEM-related classes, so I made it my mission to advocate for more STEM education for girls. I joined Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta as a freshman and helped run the STEM education program there. As a sophomore, I started a Girls Who Code chapter at my school, to further my mission of educating girls in STEM. By being a part of the TAC, I hope to further advocate for Girls in STEM and learn new skills that will help me in my endeavors locally.
Bansi
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta
Hello! My name is Bansi, and I am a 12th-grade student from Alberta. Over the years, I’ve built a passion for advocacy within my community, especially regarding girls and resource facilitation for youth. Many of my projects revolve around the disparity in resource distribution for girls and boys – especially in male-dominated fields. Other than my advocacy efforts, music is also a significant aspect of my life! I spend much of my time at rehearsals for the traveling concert band, where I play the flute. In the future, I plan to pursue a career in business and corporate law – a good fusion of creativity and logistics.
Maleah
Girls Inc. of Central Alabama
I am Maleah. I am 15 (turning 16 in June 2023) and a sophomore in high school. My favorite things to do are play video games, listen to music, cook, and act. My favorite artists are Tyler the Creator, Rico Nasty, Rina Sawayama, Thundercat, and Kali Uchis. My interests include movies (and their cinematography), video games, fashion, anatomy, and psychology.
Melissa
Girls Inc. of New York City
Hello, my name is Melissa. I am 17 years old. I have been a part of Girls Inc. for three years now. I love listening to music, cooking, singing, playing volleyball, and swimming. I LIVE on Booktok and I could scroll on Pinterest for hours. I enjoy thrifting and anything related to fashion.
Audrey
Girls Inc. of Alameda County
Hello everyone! My name is Audrey, I am 17 years old. I go to high school in California. In my free time, I love to watch movies, especially psychological thrillers and old horror movies. I am interested in learning how to take initiative and bring change to my community outside of a structured institution. I am so excited to be a part of this program!
Calen
Girls Inc. of Chicago
Hello! My name is Calen. I’m from Illinois, and a senior in high school. Some of my hobbies include reading, watching movies/tv shows, and bracelet-making. Government, politics, and computer science interests me, and I look forward to pursuing a career in any combination of these disciplines.
Helen
Girls Inc. Pinellas
My name is Helen, I am 15 years old and I’m a sophomore in high school. I love playing sports like volleyball and basketball with my friends. I also love volunteering at my local kitten shelter and school-led events. I put a lot of effort into everything I do, whether it be my school work, volunteering, or extracurricular activities. My ultimate goal is to study law to help minorities and anyone in need. I am excited to see how my peers and I can make a difference.
Jasleen
Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region
Hi, my name is Jasleen and I am a senior in high school. I like to play my flute, learn about new cultures, and advocate for what I believe in. I also love to volunteer and participate in selfless service to give back to my community as a Sikh.
Vivian
Girls Inc. of New York City
Hi! I’m Vivian, a 16-year-old junior in high school. I’ve been with Girls Inc. as a Teen Peer Leader for a little over a year, where I lead a club within my school. In school, I’m a member of the student council and book club and enjoy acting in school plays. Outside of school, I love acting, sports, reading, and hanging out with my dogs! I’m interested in studying Urban Education and want to work to make school systems more equitable, and places where every child has the same educational opportunities.
Trinity
Girls Inc. of Chattanooga
My name is Trinity, and my pronouns are she/her. I am 16 years old. I am a Junior. Some of my hobbies include volleyball, reading, and hanging out with my friends. Some of my interests include American history, philosophy, and law.
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At Girls Inc., our direct service and advocacy work are integrally linked; each fuels the other. We strive to center girls’ voices on the issues that matter to them and provide the tools and opportunities that foster a new generation of leaders. We congratulate the 2022-2023 Teen Advocacy Council and look forward to an inspiring year of girl-led advocacy ahead!
