A new leadership program for girls is set to launch in Uniondale, bringing together Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Theta Iota Omega Chapter and the Ivy Foundation to expand access to mentorship and youth development.
The initiative, known as START — Soaring Towards Achievement and Readiness Together — will be based in Uniondale, though organizers say it will serve girls from across Nassau County.
“It’s (the program) really talking about, how you feel about yourself, how you contribute to the community, how you build friendships and relationships,” said Rande Bynum, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “START goes through all those things and allows our girl scouts to kind of explore who they want to be.”
Unlike traditional troops, the program will operate as a specialized partnership, with trained adult volunteers from Alpha Kappa Alpha helping lead sessions alongside Girl Scouts staff.
As the program is implemented in Uniondale, girls from around Long Island can join and participate. Locations for the sessions are to be discussed; however, the John J. Byrne Community Center and the Uniondale school district would be a cornerstone start.
The program is expected to begin with about 12 participants and will meet monthly, focusing on leadership development, mentorship and social-emotional learning.
“We will be meeting for approximately one hour to develop skill sets and to be that mentor, listen and assist with a lot of common goals that they may have, “said Juanita Joyner Hicks, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Theta Iota Omega Chapter.
The topics the group will focus on is education, mental wellness which Hicks said is a strong topic within Long Island’s youth. Other topics will include managing social media, to challenge the platform.
The START program will follow a structured curriculum developed by the Girl Scouts , including its “Be U” sessions, which emphasize confidence-building, relationships and personal growth.
“It reminds us how we as women in a service organization need to continue to work on our self-worth, our self-esteem and our confidence,” said Leah Watson, chairman of the Ivy Foundation Suffolk/Nassau Counties.
“That’s a lifelong process,” Watson added. “When we give and we service a community we service out selves.
The chief executive also said in the initiative success will be measured in the first year not only by participation, but by how girls grow in confidence and engagement within their community.
“We expect to see not only a positive change with regard to them just loving themselves and being themselves, but also having the confidence to advocate for themselves,” Hicks said. “We want them to know they have support systems and to become future leaders in their communities.”
At the end of the program, the girls will receive a “BE U” patch and take part in a bridging ceremony.
The START program in Uniondale is expected to be the first of a larger initiative, expected to roll out 10 more programs with community based organizations throughout Nassau County by the end of 2026.
