DENVER — Girl Scouts of Colorado and U.S. Bank teamed up to bring a bilingual patch program to more than 120 scouts in Denver on Saturday. 50 more Girl Scouts participated in Colorado Springs.
U.S. Bank approached Girl Scouts of Colorado with an idea for a patch related to financial management. Girls were able to speak both English and Spanish during the event, so the girls knew they were welcome no matter their culture or background.
“It’s really important for girls to realize Girl Scouts is for everyone,” said the CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado, Leanna Clark. “We have 16,000 girl members across the state, but sometimes girls feel like it’s not for them, and we want to make sure we reach out to every girl in the state regardless of their culture or background or what language they speak. We just want to make sure they realize they are welcome here no matter.”
At 14 years old, Daniela Carrillo from Troop 60555 in Thornton has big dreams for her future.
“I really want to start my own car shop,” Carillo said. “And in order to do that, I have to make money. So I chose the path to clean houses before anything so I can get my own supplies.”
The scouts were able earn a patch designed by a local Latina artist.
“We had a local artist, a Latina artist, design the patch,” Clark said. “She is with us today, it’s extra special because of her being here and the girls are able to interact with her as an artist.”
“I learned how to invest and how to not be in debt, and to start small, to keep dreaming and start big,” Carrillo said.
“They’re going to stations, step-by-step they're thinking about ‘what am I good at, what’s my skill, what’s my talent?'” Clark said. “Everything today is fully bilingual as well.”
“It feels great to have others that speak Spanish too, because you're not the only one, and you don't feel left out,” Carrillo said.
The kickoff of this bilingual patch program was a chance to fit in, and figure out what the future may hold.
“Don’t lose faith in what you’re trying to do,” Carrillo said.
More reporting by Lauren Scafidi:
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