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So let's get started. Happy Friday, Becky, what's happening?
Happy Friday, I've got the biggest grin on my face. We're talking about what uh, my like my one most passionate philanthropic angle through the lens of this incredible series that we've been going into man, do we have a guest for you?
Oh, my gosh, I know, we have been like, so excited to talk to Marty's and I can't wait to introduce you to her. But if you're joining us this Friday want to give a little bit of context because we've been pouring into this small and mighty series. Thank you give butter for creating space for us to do this. Floyd Jones has been on the podcast the last couple of weeks on Fridays. It was like pumping us up with strategy of how to fundraise how to activate. But something that we wanted to do to really galvanize all these things we're talking about. It's talking to somebody that is literally on the frontlines doing the work. And Martinez is somebody that we have been following for a long time. And it's she's hard to follow because just the other day we get her out of office that she's over in Egypt or wherever she is. Because her mission is all about and it's called girls going global. And let me tell you about the small but mighty mission, they have already touched the lives of 1500 high school girls, and more than 300 of them have traveled getting to experiences places like Canada and Costa Rica, one of my favorites, Belize, Peru and Italy. And this mission is led by just this Dynamo that really gets it that sees the world differently. Marty Sutton she is this growing social entrepreneur committed to women committed to girl empowerment, civic engagement and economic development. And she shares this kindred spirit that we've lifted on the podcast a lot, I know it's a value of our family have this idea of creating global citizens have, you know, it kind of awakened something when you can step out of our comfort zone and we can have these experiences and build relationships, it allows us to come back and to inspire and lead serve in a different way. And so I'm really excited to learn more about girls going global to talk about it in the framework of like, how can we each implement the frameworks that Martina has found working from just starting something to really something that's really impacting around the world. And we're gonna break down some of the framework that's behind girls going global. It's all about service and learning, and adventure. And so my friend, I cannot wait to hop into this conversation. We are so delighted to see you on our screen today Marty's set and get into this house. Welcome to the weird for good podcast.
Woooo, thank you for having me, I'm so excited.
Oh my gosh, it is a huge honor. And you know, we cannot start without hearing your story. Like what got you obsessed with this idea? And what you know, were the kind of the formative moments of your life growing up that led you to want to start girls going global?
Wow. I feel like that's a loaded question. And so forgive me if it's a little long, but follow me on the journey. People follow me follow me.
We're here for it.
I'm originally from Philadelphia. And I typically like to start with that. I'm so glad, John that you pointed out the formative moments because there's so many moments throughout my life that then brought me here. So being from Philadelphia, there is a stereotype that Philly people stay in Philly, right. We're known to kind of like we're there. We're diehard Eagles fans, it's a thing right? And so
that's a football team John
was like as a basketball football.
In my high school, for example. Even the college's like the the guidance counselor's they feed you to other Pennsylvania state schools, or Philadelphia City Schools. And so it was a really huge deal out of my graduating class of I want to say about three or 400, there were only maybe 10 of us that were going out of state. And I was going to Spelman College, which is in Atlanta, Georgia, and this historically black college and university. And so that was a really big deal to be leaving and for many going so far away from home. And so I would say like the first thing that looking back on my life that really shaped and created the thought of girls going global is this idea of exposure right beyond where you come from. So that doesn't always look like traveling around the world. It's it really does start with like how do you take a chance and try something new, even in some of those everyday decisions in life with one of them being for young people your college decision, right? So I stepped out of my comfort zone. I went to Atlanta I was an international studies major. And so I had to study abroad. And what I found in my study abroad experiences and so I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain. No one ever been believe that I was American, it was like you can't be American and be black and be traveling. It just didn't add up for people. So I was consistently asked was I from Senegal was I from Nigeria, like there was this concept that there might be people from the African continent that will travel here, but there's no way there's like a black American here that is traveling. And so I realized that they were not used to seeing people that look like me in these spaces. And then I took my first job abroad, and I was in India. So then the Part Two came of my family thought I was absolutely crazy. So they also felt like these are not things that we do, you know, like, what are you doing? Like, you're really just keep pushing the envelope here. Like now you want to go work and live in this other place. So I saw from both angles, that one when I traveled, other people in the countries weren't used to seeing people that look like me. And then I also realized that my family where I came from, they weren't used to us doing these types of things. So girls going global, really did start as this idea around global awareness. I just wanted other girls to know who Malala was. I wanted them to know that there were women presidents in different countries. I never intended to travel with young people. I just simply wanted to start this thing around awareness. And then once we kind of got going, none of the girls have passports, so we fundraised for passports. And then naturally, once they got the passport, they were like, well, we have to go somewhere. And so 2013 Yeah, which was I guess that's a 10 years ago. Now, we took our first trip on the Mega Bus from Philadelphia to Toronto, Canada.
Love it.
That was our first thing. It was seven girls, we had like no money. And now we've traveled to probably I think now we're at like seven or eight countries. And we and we work with over like 70 to 85 Girls per year. So that is the origin story of GGG I tried to keep it short. But that's the gist. That's how this thing got going. But it literally started with a PowerPoint when I was working in India. And it's now turned into this thing.
I mean, how many of us can relate to this story? I mean, the gist of the GGG I love this, by the way. You're right. Our worldview expands when we meet people who are not like us, that don't live like us, that don't look like us. I so appreciate that. You just kept following these breadcrumbs that are leading you to having a deeper experience and a wider impact with your community. So like, tell us about this nonprofit go a little bit deeper talk about your mission. Talk about you know what it was like starting and, and founding this, this incredible organization. And in where is it today? What are your dreams doing?
Yeah, so Okay, so we started in Philadelphia, right? We then ended up moving our headquarters to Atlanta. So we were working with girls in Philly and Atlanta. And then I want to say was 2016 when we opened our program to girls throughout the US. And so how it works, you know, our mission statement says we empower girls through travel and cultural exchange, right. So those are the words. That's what it says. We're global citizenship driven, focus on empowering girls to be more culturally aware. But I always go back to that exposure piece, because we're known for traveling. But there's so much more that happens with GGG. So we do have domestic programs that are in schools that are with other girls, servant organizations that are focused on that global leadership piece, right? That global awareness piece, those competencies that will help you not only in a travel situation, but throughout life. So things around interconnectedness, cross cultural awareness, communication skills, leadership, making connections, problem solving, the list goes on, right. So there's all of that jazz. And then we also have our summer travel camps, which we are the most popular for, and those focus on service, learning and adventure. And so that looks like going to another country, we have a service partner in the past that typically has been a Peace Corps volunteer, so that they're learning more about international fellowships, they go visit an embassy to learn more about leadership and women that are in international development careers. We're having opportunities for them to connect with girls their age in these countries. And so again, those are the type of like inner cultural connectedness moments that you simply can't get when you just like go on a trip with your parents, right? So to go to Peru and be with Peruvian girls and have a soccer match and then go to their homes and cook a meal and sit down and you know fellowship together. Those are the type of special experiences that we're trying to create when we take these girls outside of their hometowns and expose them to something different.
This is John's love language for sure.
It is because I think getting out Um, I kind of make fun of like all inclusive resorts like you gotta get off the resort and like go actually experienced culture, you know, and people and get to know communities. So talk about through the lens of one of the girls has been in your program and just so curious, like, what is this unlock for them? What kind of happened as a result of these experiences?
Yeah, I always tell people, and I tell the girls this as well, so that there isn't any pressure on the parent on the student, or even on our team for this, like miracle transformation in 10 days, in seven to 10 days, right? Because I remember when I was studying abroad, I remember I kept feeling like I was missing out, because everybody promotes it as this thing that's life changing, right? Like your life is gonna change, you're going to be so different. And I remember when I studied abroad, I did not feel that, you know, I was like, where's my life changing moment from traveling the world. I wasn't having that. And so I tell the young people, and I share this with this audience as well, that sometimes it happens in three days, sometimes three weeks, sometimes three years. And you're not always going to see the magic or the transformation immediately, right, and that like, deeply transformative way. But there are some signs that show what someone has gotten out of this experience. So the first thing is definitely confidence, right? Because number one, you might be someone who was afraid of heights. And then next thing, you know, you're ziplining, over in the rainforest over, you know, in the jungle, and it's like, wait a minute, what's happening here, who is this person? So for sure, one thing I think every girl walks away with is definitely just an increased confidence of self and self assuredness. And knowing that if they push themselves, they can, in fact, go beyond what they may have sensed their limits were. So that's for sure something, the communication and interconnectedness especially with us being in such a virtual world, you know, girls don't have opportunity as much to connect with each other in person, right. And so I like to say even the peer networking that happens, you're meeting girls from across the country. So you might be a girl from Atlanta, and you're meeting a girl from Los Angeles. And then there's a girl from Memphis, and then there's a girl from Philly. And here we are, with this melting pot of culture, even within our group that I truly believe is really special and creates a sisterhood that everyone walks away saying they have a lifelong friend. And I think that's the one thing that's hard to sometimes quantify for donors, right or in a pitch deck. But if I had to say the thing that all the parents and all the girls say is that they felt like they gained a sisterhood with girls going global. The other other big thing is providing a safe space for these girls, right. And I think that's the other thing that is so so important that I want to make sure I add here, because it's very rare that girls right any girl feel safe enough to really be their, their full and true self, and then particularly to share their like biggest dreams and their deepest fears. And so another thing that I'm so so proud of is that we have been able to provide a safe space for girls to come and talk about something a dream that maybe they've never said to anyone, but they're finally admitting I do want more, right. And then they also might share a fear or something that's holding them back in their household or holding them back in their school. And they feel safe enough to share that and say like, I'm not okay. And I do need someone to check on me, because I'm really struggling. And that for sure, I would say is the greatest takeaway, not only for the girls, but for us, as a team and as an organization to say that if we do nothing else, we do that.
I'm just so proud of you. Because that I really am I, I think what you've done here is absolutely beautiful. I'm so smitten with it. But we want to get practical here because we think you've done an incredible job translating that really heady vision into an actionable way that people can get involved with your mission. So talk to us a little bit about how you build a fundraising strategy. What is the process of building it? And how do you leave your story in with it.
So really, I always tell people girls going global started with I was working at Ashoka Innovators for the Public, I think this audience might be familiar with them. They were a super huge social enterprise organization. Once upon a time, but like completely big, big time dollars, okay. But I was making like $30,000 or something, and I saved $250 from four paychecks to get my first $1,000. And I share that because I think it's so important when I'm working with other nonprofit founders and other EDS, even when I'm doing my consulting work, it's so important for people to know you have to invest in yourself. No one is going to believe in you or invest in you until you can show that you have also done that and so all I had I was a 22 year old with $250. And that's all I have for myself. That's not what happened is here.
I'm feeling that.
Yeah. And I will say this is also over 10 years ago, right? So the thing there is that I also didn't have the resources, or the education or the knowledge that I have now. So I took $250. I did that with four paychecks I created I had $1,000. And I said, What can I do with this? I can get on the Megabus. I can buy some snacks, I can ask somebody else to give me a sandwich and cut it into right. And I can buy some poster board for these girls to create country flags. That's how this thing got going. You know, that was the first fundraising strategy. There was no strategy. You know, you were winging it, you were doing what small nonprofits do, which is make $1 out of 15 cents, and you make a shake. You know, I was gonna say whoop, I don't think we can cuss on here. Yeah, my line to people was make ish shake. You know what I mean? You got to do what you got to do. So we started with that, where it was just like we're just winging it, we're trying our best. I started off selling, we raised our first passport dollars, like we funded our passports, I was selling $20 T shirts that say black girls travel. That was how I fundraised to get our first 10 passports. And then again, as time goes on, you learn different things. So then I learned about the concept of partnerships. And I found someone who they had a grant from Expedia, right to do 100 passports across the US. And then we became their Philly partner, and they sponsor 10 of our passports. So this is back in 2012. I didn't realize it till I said that just now. But full circle moment. Here we are in 2023. And Expedia is now our partner, our funding partner, and funding a group of girls to travel, I just really had that aha moment. Before we were abide, probably we're an indirect grantee. Right. And here we are today, 10 years later. And we are a full fledged Expedia travel partner, grantee. And so a lot of our work has been funded by individual donors. That's what I'm getting at here is that we are an organization that we started, and for a very long time, it was people that was how we were able to sustain this work, we were the people that every dollar counted. So when you send us your $10, when you send us your $20, that meant a world to us, you know, because again, once upon a time, I would take those $20. And it was funded in a passport for $135. And so I would count, I'm sitting there really trying to get 10 T shirts sold, you know what I mean, to get this one passport, and so that's transformed. You know, as we've grown, and we have a board of directors now. And we have a leadership team. Now we're able to make more strategic decisions. And so we do have more of a diverse portfolio and individual donors is still for like most nonprofits it still funds, probably 60 to 70% of the work that we do. Again, now we have corporate sponsorships from folks like Expedia. And I would say even over the past three or four years is when grants became our third biggest bucket, and has been able to fund our work. And again, I share this because I want people to understand that every organization is different, right? And it's important to know your lane. Everybody's lane is not grants, you know, like and for us, it wasn't for a very, very long time. Because why? Because a grants come with a lot more red tape B grants come with a lot more impact measurement and outcomes. And as I've said, I'm not always able to show people that sisterhood is why you should invest in this. C, sometimes you're doing something that doesn't always meet these like critical needs, right. And so the education of people understanding that travel is just not vacation that it is, in fact, global education, that has been very difficult to translate to funders. And so that also is a big reason why grants was not our thing. The thing that took us over the map, financially, and I think a lot of other social impact folks need to tap into this is accelerators, pitch programs. That was how we got our first $50,000 I was a part of Civic X, I believe now they're called acumen and they have a social impact accelerator we were a part of it for I want to say it was three months. The exposure to being able to talk to various companies was definitely a game changer. And out of 13 impactit was for profit and nonprofit businesses and organizations that were a part of it and we won the $50,000 So that was the cane. Yeah, that was the first thing that funded like a salary for me. You know, like for the longest I was being part time freelance full time, you know, so I tell people all the time, I've done all the things in the nonprofit space. I've been a development manager. I've been a consultant. I've been a program manager. I've been a director, but I was not an executive director of particularly of girls going global until 2019. So again, all that to say we started in 2012. Folks, okay, like, let's be clear that everybody's journey is not the same. And sometimes you have to put in that time of, you know, learning before, it's going to take off maybe in the way that you want it to.
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Can I just say you rock and secondly, I don't think you and Floyd collaborated on this. But I love that y'all are like threaded together the episodes were Floyd was really teaching of just like starting where you can start, you know, and only the thing that you can do before you try to do at all you've unpacked that like I mean, you can add more channels as you get to have growth and have some movement and momentum. So I'm curious, I mean, you are such a great storyteller how you've woven that in. I'm curious now with these different groups. I mean, you have this individual donors, you've got your corporate partners that are kind of their own thing. And then you've also got grant relationships. How are you using storytelling? How do you share the story? And maybe, you know, if you have some tips for how do you customize it to make it more, I guess, more value aligned for those partners? How do you do that?
When I think about how I tell the story, because I'm consistently trying to be better at this, right? And making sure that I'm being mindful when I'm speaking to different audiences. So for example, I try to find something to connect with people, because sometimes, again, the travel thing, you got to make it relative to the person. So some spaces I might start with as simple as like, how many people have a passport, because 40% of Americans do not have a passport. And so I might, and that's where I stick in the passport thing, you know, so the focus on in that type of conversation is like, right now we're just focused on providing the tool, we're not focused on them getting somewhere, we just want students to have the opportunity. And I always like to say stay ready, so you don't have to get ready. And in those conversations, I talked about my experience of being offered an opportunity to go to South Africa, all expenses paid, and I did not have a passport. And what my life would have turned into had I not got a passport, it two days before the trip, there probably wouldn't be a girls going global, right? Because I've managed to make it all happen. I got it for myself. But oh, what it would have been if I was just ready, you know what I mean to go and would have been able to fully participate in the experience without the haze of getting there. So that's definitely like one lens or one story right that I use when I'm doing like the passport scholarships. I like to use that when I talk about the travel elements similar to how I started with you all around exposure, and it might be around your hometown, right? And just stepping out of your comfort zone. Sometimes I also focus on like your city, even cities are segregated or isolated. Right. And so sometimes even in Georgia, you know, like, there's diversity where you know, if you just go to Alpharetta, there's all these other types of people in restaurants, right? And a lot of cities are this way. And so that might be another angle to bring people in around like, Have you ever went across the tracks and just try to different foods? Have you ever went across the tracks and connected with different types of people. And then again, for some where like academic enrichment is the focus, then that's where we might bring in a lot of that language immersion, right, and making sure that you understand like, the girls do do language lessons, hey, there are 10 core competencies of global citizenship. And these are the 10 critical thinking, interconnectedness media literacy. So that's where I'm honing in on all those like academic things, right? And then when you have people that maybe kind of get it, but their thing is travel, right, that's when you want to focus on more of the language around like they're doing these new and cool things. They're ziplining they're going to the Great Pyramids, they're catching all the world wonders, you know, that's when you're beefing up that element of it. And again, you just have to consistently think about the audience and what things to hone in on if it's a mental health grant, I'm talking about that safe space, right. These are the ways that I've managed to like try to position us in different in different areas. I hope that answers
It more than answers. I mean, what you have what I would call a marketing mindset, we all know that the new evolution of philanthropy is personalization, and making someone feel seen and that you see them, you know them. And I think your ability to just pivot just slightly, depending on who the audience is what you're wanting to do pivot the story is really profound. And you did that with us. And the first two minutes, because you sharing your lived experience allowed us to see the experience through your eyes, you know, and I think that that is powerful that you've already lived this, you've already experienced it, and now you're trying to provide it to others. So I think that's also very powerful. And I want to make sure, friends, if you have a personal connection to your nonprofit, share it, share it in your pitch, talk about why this is personal. I know, when I would go and do my pitch, you know, whether it was for the burn center or transplant, when I was in health care, philanthropy, I would say I'm uniquely tied to this mission. You know, I got IVF treatment here that allowed me to have my daughter and people can see it's more than just a job. And that creates that connectivity that with like, a strengthened bond.
Yeah. People connect with people. And again, I say, know your lane. And so for me, what I know about myself is I show up better talking than I do writing. So that's why grants for me, it's cool, right? I can, it can sound good on paper, but I know it comes to life, if you're watching me talk about this. And so that's why for me, I'm gonna sign up for the pitch competition, I'm gonna say there's an opportunity to get in front of people, that's the thing I'm gonna sign up for. And another thing that like sometimes is the angle is also like, educating people again, on the history as well. And like this concept that like, once upon a time black people could not travel, it was not safe. It was dangerous. You needed to know where are the sundown towns, you needed to know where you could stay. So it's also important to make sure that people understand like, the privilege, right, that has that existed, and how quickly, we can all forget that these things that we see today, like this black travel movement we see today, where everybody is just going going going. This was not a thing. First of all, it wasn't a thing 10 years ago when I studied abroad, right? So it surely wasn't a thing. 40 years ago, this idea of even going outside of your city was scary. You could not just go all willy nilly, there was no such thing as a solo traveler, you could not be black and traveling so low in this here country of America. So God forbid the thought of the world, you know. And so that's also important. Again, depending on what room I'm in, I might drill deeper into that to make sure that people really understand why this is like so remarkable. And let's not forget, let us not forget why this is no small thing.
I want Marty's on my group project. You know on your group project, there's always somebody that pulls the most weight has the most Initiative and the dead weight. Girl, you are like tenacious and making it happen. I'm just saying the group. Amazing amazingly,
somebody else has to do the data, even when
even. All right, it
definitely needs to be like a development manager that's doing the CRM because I totally need to just give me the
time. It takes a village and I don't want to just sugarcoat this conversation and all the good stuff that happens because we have to face the realities that tiny nonprofits are spinning all the plates, you know, with the limited staff, with the limited budget. And you know, that's why we have such a heart for the small nonprofit because the work is mighty. And there's just not enough hands frequently at the table doing the work. So we would love it if you would maybe talk just a little bit about what are the challenges they face as you're facing as an organization?
Yeah, for sure. I mean, outside of making sure that people's children are safe, right? Because no, seriously, like, over time, I've realized that again, something that is maybe not super quantifiable to get donor dollars, but I've realized like in 10 years, you've done probably like 15 different international experiences. And it's been like 300 Girls, and you have managed to not only take girls, but bring them back safely. Because those are very real challenges that show up when you are working in not only the travel space, but in youth development, right? There are things that happen with young people every day. And it's important to acknowledge that like that is a challenge that I'm grateful we have not had to experience right. And then in regards to operational challenges, like you said, just meeting people, you know, all nonprofits struggle with this with capacity Building. And so for a long time, and even now, you know, I'm still the full time employee. So we still operate with part time contractors, with volunteers, we're still again, making ish shake, with this very limited amount of resources. And even for myself, you know, I still am on a martyr salary. You know, I'm not the ED that's making six figures. And so we're still stretching ourselves. And that's a huge challenge to make people understand why, again, they should invest in this work. And then the next level of like, why you should invest in our team, there's so much more we could do if we had people, if we had, you know, a larger staff, we could host more experiences, you know, we get applications, I remember, there was a year where we had like, 200 Something applications. And we literally only had, I want to say it was like 30 spots or like something like that, where it was like we had to waitlist almost half of the you know what I mean, half the, they were all great applicants. And it was because I myself can only be at so many things, right? But the cost to train people, I recently was talking to an organization, I wanted to get some training done that was going to be like 10 to $15,000. So for me as an ad, do I put my 10 to $15,000 and training people? Or do I take 10 to $15,000? And give three girls a scholarship? These are the types of challenges and questions that we have to ask that other organizations just don't have to go back and forth between you know, you're consistently choosing between programmatic expenses, and operational expenses that you know, in the long run will better serve your the young people, right. But in the interim, and in the immediate, it's like, where do I really need to put the dollar. So our biggest challenge has definitely been building a team and building a team with experience with passion. And the I can pay well to really honor their gifts.
I mean, Martice Thanks for breaking that down. And I just think looking at your journey for the years that you pour it in, like, it's just so admirable how you have shown up for these girls, and what you've built this momentum that surrounds you. And I think the community you talk about is also powered by these incredible volunteers and supporters that surround this mission. And I want to hear from you, you get to we get to talk to Floyd about mobilizing. And I think He's so charismatic about that, you know, through his platform on GiveButter or any different way that you show up online. I'm curious, how have you found is the most effective way to mobilize supporters digitally for you?
Yeah, well, digitally definitely is that storytelling angle, and like you said, showing the girls, so as much as I'm really great at talking, when I can show the girls talking that absolutely is how people online completely buy into it when they're hearing these girls share a testimonial, but even some of those like off guard moments where they're like seeing a girl eat something, and it's their first reaction to it right, or when they're seeing a girl stand at like, Machu Picchu with a llama. It's like, Oh, my God, like that is so cool. I think we do a really good job of capturing like, the fun, right? And selling that. And then also making sure we capture the learning moments as well. So that people see that there is a balance that's happening here. These girls are in museums, but they're also dancing. You know, they're they're learning languages, but they're also you know, doing something else. So I think that has been how people digitally have like really bought into girls going global.
Oh, that's just so cool. And the fact that we are almost like voyeurs, or that sounds a little creepy, but like cheerleaders, like watching it happen, you know, in real time rooting for them, feeling and soaking up their joy and their sense of wonder. And I just think that the seed that is planted here is so much more than travel. It's so much more than confidence and safety. And I mean, there's lived experience, there's open heartedness and empathy and trying new things. And I just, I just think the ripples at this age are so profoundly important. And I and I can't wait for like, the next 10 years when your girl alums become your board members and become your donors.
They are. They are now.
We're here. We're here.
Yeah, like they're grown. They're grown ladies. So it's so weird, because now we have girls that are like 23 and 25. And they're in their careers, and they're serving on the board. They're being chaperones, like this year for Egypt. We just had like three of our chaperones for our experiences our previous global girls, right. So we have Junior counselors that are 18 and older, but then we have like your actual chaperone, who's typically going to be 23 and older. And so we have that happening now. And so because of that, we had to start a collegiate experience. That's how we ended up in Egypt because all the girls are now like, okay, there's limited Junior counselor spots. We're all now in college. They're like we need something to we still want I have a GGG experience. And so that was how we started girls going global the collegiate experience and they went to Egypt this past week. It's on our Instagram stories now. And then we also now have chapters. So they started a chapter at Spelman, they're gonna be starting a chapter at Tuskegee for Valley like there, you're just doing their thing. Okay.
Amazing. Well, I hate to wrap this up, because I just am so geeked out about what you have done, how beautifully you and organically you have built this and imparted this gift to so many girls across the country. You've are familiar enough with the podcast, you know, we end with a one good thing. So what would be your one good thing? What What would you offer up to the community today?
My one good thing. So I'm gonna say and I say this all the time. And it's important to share every time which is be attached to the vision and not the path. And I share that everywhere I go. Because when you listen to my story, it's went so many different ways, right? Like, I didn't start this thing to travel with girls. But I listened to what they wanted, I listened to what they needed, I paid attention to what was missing. And this journey has turned into something that I would have never imagined I never imagined to be here. 10 years later, I never imagined to be a full time Executive Director. I never imagined to be myself personally going on, like five experiences this summer with young girls. And so again, being attached to the vision, which for me was just making sure other girls knew that there was more to the world than what they saw every day. That was the vision. And the path has shown up in so many different ways. And I just keep rolling with it.
That a girl.
You say that one good thing. I feel like I say something like that. But you said so much more beautifully. I love the idea of like really holding on to the Northstar, but just like being okay with the way that it's gonna take, like, what a beautiful way the journey if like, this whole mission is about the journey and just, I want people to find you Martice I want you to get a raise in your work. We're going to fundraise around this mission. So yes, connect is to help people can find your mission, how they can plug in, and honestly find you online to follow all of your work.
Yeah, so our website is girls going global.org our Instagram at girls going global, you can find all of our adventures there, we have the highlights of all the different trips that we've done, Facebook girls going global. And we also have a GiveButter. So if you're interested in donating, again, you'll find that on our website, but you will see our beautiful gift butter page. That is how we mobilize our fundraising has been powered through give butter, so please consider sponsoring a passport, we have that campaign up. We have our international travel camps, and then also any type of general donations towards the work that we do in building our team and making sure that we're providing these girls with great experiences. We welcome them all.
How much does it cost to support a girl getting a passport?
Yes,I was just thinking that, it's 135 to sponsor a passport, aka $11 a month.
Aka $5, you know twice a month so there's your latte.
It's like 10 years I mean a passport last 10 years I think right in
Yes, it does.
Such an investment.
Martice I'm so glad you were born I'm so glad you're in this world and you brought this incredible mission to bear I we could not be rooting for you more we've made a donation from We Are For Good to Girls Going Global. It just because we want to fund this work and just absolutely love it so you keep going with this mighty mission. We are absolutely rooting for you.
Oh, thank you all so much. See I'm already about to like 10 years in and every
I wish it was a million dollars.
I'm like oh they thought of us. Thank you all.
Such an honor.
You're welcome. It's our honor. Thank you my friend.
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