Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/

We had the pleasure of speaking with Elizabeth, a freshman in college who recently completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Elizabeth's project, titled "Wisdom Wings," aims to support survivors of sexual abuse by providing care packages to police stations. These packages include stress toys, journals, pens, and informational pamphlets to help victims navigate the reporting process.
Elizabeth shared her personal connection to the project, revealing her own experience with abuse as a child and the challenges she faced in reporting it. This deeply personal journey inspired her to write a children's book, "Lee Learns a Lesson," which teaches kids about consent and boundaries. The book is available on Amazon, and all profits go towards funding the care packages.
Throughout the episode, Elizabeth discussed the various challenges she faced, including coordinating with police stations and writing a children's book. She also highlighted the support she received from her illustrator, Holly Perda, and the Orange County Mental Health Organization.
Elizabeth's project has received positive feedback from both police officers and survivors who have benefited from the care packages. She also shared her favorite memories from the project, including her first public speaking event and receiving the first physical copy of her book.
In addition to her Gold Award project, Elizabeth talked about her previous Girl Scout achievements, including her Bronze and Silver Awards.
She also offered advice for other Girl Scouts considering similar projects, emphasizing the importance of passion and perseverance.
Elizabeth's story is a powerful example of how personal experiences can inspire meaningful change. Her dedication to supporting survivors of sexual abuse and her passion for writing and public speaking are truly inspiring. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to share her journey on the Hearts of Gold podcast.

More About Elizabeth:

I’ve been in Girl Scouts since I was in first grade. I’ve completed my Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award. Through my Fold Award I have found my passion for writing a children’s book, speaking out about my story, and supporting survivors of sexual abuse. I’m currently finishing my last week of my freshman year of college at Suny Cortland with a dual major in Business Economics and Communication.

In addition, I have had my book placed in three libraries; Bruggemeyer Library (Monterey Park, CA), Alhambra Civic Library (Alhambra, CA), and Queens Public Library (Queens, NY).
You can also find the eBook on my website at hiddenjewelsofasia.com.

Website Link: https://linktr.ee/wisdomwings?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Link to ebook: www.hiddenjewelsofasia.com

Key Takeaways from this episode:

• Elizabeth's Girl Scout Gold Award project, Wisdom Wings, focuses on supporting survivors of sexual abuse by providing care packages and a children's book called "Lee Learns a Lesson."
• Elizabeth's personal connection to her project stems from her own experience of being abused as a child, which inspired her to create resources to help others in similar situations.
• Elizabeth's project has received positive feedback, with care packages being helpful to survivors and her book receiving support and praise. She has also expanded her project to college campuses and is continuously working to grow and sustain it.

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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/

We had the pleasure of speaking with Haley about her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project. Haley's project focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted walking, particularly in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She observed that many people, especially younger generations, are often engrossed in their phones while walking, which poses significant safety risks.

Haley shared how her project was inspired by the lack of attention given to pedestrian safety compared to the numerous campaigns on distracted driving. She created a website, brochure, and a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to educate students, particularly those in driving schools, about the importance of staying aware of their surroundings while walking.

Haley's project was a collaborative effort, involving her mother, a video creator who served as her Gold Award advisor, and representatives from the Houston Police Department and Metro Rail. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Haley successfully completed her project with the support of her team.

We also discussed the roles of a project advisor and a council mentor, and how Haley's advisor, with her video editing skills, significantly strengthened the project. Haley emphasized the importance of choosing a project advisor who can fill in the gaps in your skill set and provide valuable guidance.

Haley reflected on the challenges she faced, including balancing her project with her senior year of high school and overcoming doubts about the project's importance. She shared her favorite memory of the project, which was the collaborative and fun process of editing the PSA video.

In addition to her Gold Award project, Haley talked about her long-standing involvement with Girl Scouts, her experiences with volunteering, and a memorable destination trip to Los Angeles where she learned about filmmaking. She highlighted the importance of choosing a project that you are passionate about and the fulfillment that comes from making a positive impact on the community.

Haley is currently a senior in college, pursuing a degree in computer science with a focus on data analytics. She plans to continue her involvement in volunteer and charity work while exploring her creative interests.

To wrap up the episode, Haley shared her unique way of making s'mores, preferring a lightly toasted marshmallow with a honey graham cracker and a Hershey's bar.
Thank you for joining us today, and be sure to follow or subscribe to stay updated on new episodes. If you have a Gold Award story to share, reach out to us at growandshareatoutlook.com. Catch up on previous episodes on your favorite podcast platforms or watch the full video versions on YouTube.

More About Hailey:

Hi! My name is Hailey, and I'm a proud Girl Scouts of San Jacinto County alum. I've been a Girl Scout from 2009 to 2022, and I've been awarded the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award. I've also been awarded the Senior and Cadette Journey Summit Award, and the Silver & Gold Torch Award. I'm currently in my senior year of college studying Computer Science at the University of Houston Clear Lake, and I plan on graduating this December 2024.

Website Link: https://www.petextriansafety.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haileyrthomas01

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Haley's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on raising awareness about distracted walking, especially among younger generations.

2. Haley emphasized the importance of finding a project advisor who complements your skills and fills in your weak points to make the project stronger.

3. Haley shared her future plans of pursuing a degree in computer science and working in data analytics, while also expressing a desire to continue volunteering and charity work.

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Support future Hearts of Gold episodes at https://www.patreon.com/heartsofgold

Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/

Valerie's Girl Scout Gold Award project addressed the critical issue of cat overpopulation in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Partnering with her local Humane Society, HAWS, she contributed to their Project Guardian initiative by building weather-resistant cat shelters and creating an educational video presentation on the causes and effects of cat overpopulation.
Valerie shared her journey, from her initial inspiration driven by her love for animals to the challenges she faced, particularly with the technological aspects of her project. She emphasized the importance of communication and leadership, skills she honed throughout her project. Valerie also highlighted the support she received from her project advisors, her troop, and her family, which was instrumental in her success.
We delved into her favorite memories, including building the shelters with her troop and the satisfaction of seeing her project come to fruition. Valerie also offered valuable advice for other Girl Scouts considering their Gold Award, encouraging them to take the leap and reassuring them of the support available throughout the process.
Currently studying mass communications with an emphasis on public relations at Winona State University, Valerie aspires to work for an organization that positively impacts the community, potentially even Girl Scouts.

More About Valerie:

Valerie has been a part of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast since 1st grade. Her troop created birdhouses for the Chinook Program Center for their Bronze Award and organized a community game night at their middle school to collect supplies and raise awareness for veterans for their Silver Award. Now, she and her troop return to day camp as alumni volunteers.

In addition to her involvement in Girl Scouts, Valerie has participated in the National Honor Society, the Girls Golf team, and the marching band at her high school. She is currently studying Mass Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations at Winona State University, where she is also a member of Delta Phi Epsilon. With her degree, she hopes to work for a business that gives back to the community, such as a local news station or her local Girl Scout council.

Project Link: https://hawspets.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021_HAWS_TattleTails_AUGUST_forWeb.pdf

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Valerie's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on addressing cat overpopulation in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, by creating shelters for feral cats and educating the community about the issue.

2. Valerie learned the importance of communication, leadership, and time management skills throughout her project, highlighting the support and guidance available to Gold Award candidates.

3. Starting her project in the sophomore year allowed Valerie to develop skills and passion for her project, although she acknowledged that working with shorter timeframes might have helped her prioritize tasks more efficiently.

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Support future Hearts of Gold episodes at https://www.patreon.com/heartsofgold

Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ