Every retreat is action-packed, getting the girls to use their brains, bod- ies and hearts towards self-growth. This fall's planning includes: sailing, seeing Rent at Toby's Dinner Theater, visiting the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Towson Uni- versity, [attending] Finding Your Voice workshops, and community service activities.
The Christmas trip will be to Wash- ington D.C. to visit the U.S. Holo- caust Memorial Museum and other monuments and then coming back to Baltimore to see The Nutcracker at the Baltimore School for the Arts. We also give the girls a wonderful Christmas party each year.
WOC: Have there been any intern- ships or co-op opportunities yet for the Emeralds? Have they had a chance to use their GEMS Yellow Pages Resource Directory?
DW: Many of them do use their Yellow Pages Resource directories as a guide. Some of the Emeralds have had intern- ships, but I'm not exactly sure of the details of those. It's cute that Shari, at University of Maryland, helped one of her friends to connect. She told me that her friends don't know how to do that or who to call, so Shari will call me so I can help them to connect or find the correct resources. We also help them to find and fund meaning- ful summer experiences. The girls have done everything from horseback riding camp to leadership camp at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, [from] broadcasting camp in Syracuse to vol- leyball camp.
WOC: The Sapphires are now sopho- mores and juniors at the College of Notre Dame, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Albright College in Pennsylvania, East Tennessee State University, and the Art Institute of Philadelphia. The Diamonds are start- ing college this year at Stevenson University, which you toured last year, the Community College of Baltimore County Essex, Towson University, Wheelock College in Boston and Ohio
www.womenofcolor.net
State University in Columbus, one of the largest schools in the nation. The GEM network is growing. Do you see GEM chapters starting up on campuses across America in the future?
DW: That's a great question. I do envi- sion a strong GEM alumni program where the alumni come back and men- tor younger girls. Many of the gradu- ates say they want to be a GEM men- tor or leader, which would be amazing, but I tell them they need to graduate college first. I also hope our leadership development empowers each girl to give back and be a leader in their college communities and in their lives as they grow.
WOC: You ran an ad for mentors in a recent GEM Facets elec- tronic newslet- ter. What does GEM look for in mentors? Does mentor- ing end once the GEMs leave the three-year program?
WOC: It's been a rich and rewarding six-year period since you started GEM, but this is after a 25+ year teaching/ guidance counseling career in the public school system. Will you gradu- ate Pearls, Jades and Rubies before retirement?
DW: I am not ready to retire. When I am, I hope to find someone to continue running GEM. My 10-year plan includes planning a conference in Baltimore for like-minded individu- als so I can share the best practices of GEM and others can start their own
GEM girls rely on strong mentors to help them gain self esteem.
DW: We ask our mentors for three years and hope for a lifetime. Some of our mentors and mentees in college still keep in touch. Others do not. We look for women with big hearts and time to give to the girls. We want our mentors to be college graduates so they can be role models for the girls. We want our mentors not only to be "wise and trusted friends" but to help their mentee to go through the college application process and celebrate her college acceptances and accomplish- ments with her. We always need dedi- cated and committed mentors. I share the belief that it takes a village to raise a child. To that end, GEM depends on volunteers to mentor and speak to the girls.
programs to help teenagers—both girls and boys.
The GEM curriculum would not be appropriate for boys, but the format could be adjusted for them. So far, GEM has had over 75 girls in and through the program. I will not be sat- isfied until that number is much larger and others are empowered to do as I have done in their own communities.
GEM is funded 100 percent by private donors and foundations. GEM welcomes donations of any size. Information about helping gems shine through volunteering or donating can be found at
www.GEMmaryland.org
WOMENOFCOLOR | FALL 2010
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