GEM: Girls Empowering Movement is a physical activity club done by girls for girls. GEM aims to promote middle school girls to create long-term healthy habits and choices. GEM covers topics like physical activity, kindness, mental health, and nutrition. Only 51% of girls have a healthy aerobic capacity in the 5th grade. By grade 12, the number drops to 31%. GEM is changing this trend by providing girls with access to and opportunities for regular physical activity.
This new group will begin meeting in January at Heard County Middle School. The first cohort of girls are all 7th graders nominated by their teachers to be part of the group. The group will be co-facilitated by Heard County Community Partnership Project Manager Rachel Schory, and University of West Georgia student intern Grace Katherine James. Grace has previously facilitated GEM groups at other schools and presented the idea for launching a group at HCMS early in her internship.
“I am so excited for this group of girls. The relationships and opportunities for leadership that GEM will give them are so important in middle school,” said June Barber, Social Worker for Heard County Schools and HCCP board member.
GEM is a program of HealthMPowers (https://healthmpowers.org/) and is funded through organization and corporate sponsors.