Grantee Profile: Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS)
Be BOLD Mentorship Program

To support the Be BOLD mentorship program for 4th grade girls in Falmouth schools

The award-winning Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) Mentoring Program launched the Be BOLD initiative for fourth grade girls in 2024. BOLD stands for Becoming Open-Minded Leaders of Diversity.  The 8-week program is designed to instill confidence and nurture leadership skills through education and opportunities with diverse female entrepreneurs, professionals, and community members.  The program takes place weekly during the lunch/recess break. It features themed activities, discussions, presentations, and programs. Some of the recent activities included games, dancing, and yoga.  Women in the community are also invited to share stories and experiences that provide connection, promote inclusion, and celebrate diversity while encouraging confidence, worth, value, and a sense of place. Recent visitors included a nurse from a Boston hospital, a pilot, a scientist from Woods Hole, a cake designer, and experts in therapy dogs and meditation/sounding healing.

Tracey Crago, Executive Director of VIPS, said the underlying premise of the program is to help girls become comfortable in their peer group, discover shared interests, learn what is unique about themselves, and develop positive relationships with trusted adults.  The girls in the program will attend school in a different building in fifth grade and be among students they don’t know, so developing confidence, finding a common thread with others, and building a community of support is important.

Program Growth
The Be BOLD Program launched in two Falmouth elementary schools in 2024.  Because of the positive feedback, it has expanded to all four schools in the district.  More than 98% of fourth grade girls now participate in this program. This year, VIPS facilitated a reunion, inviting fifth and sixth grade girls to attend a session. The Be Bold graduates shared their excitement about the program and how it helped them connect with other participants from other schools.

Participant Surveys
Out of 139 students surveyed, the program received 113 responses.

• 97%-100% of respondents said they enjoyed most of the activities and looked forward to coming each week
• 96% of respondents said they would participate in the program again
• 93% of respondents said there was at least one adult they felt comfortable talking with
• 40% of respondents said they would change “nothing” about the program
• 93 respondents said they would recommend the program to a friend

Comments from Program Volunteers

• “The relationship among the girls seemed to strengthen as they spent time learning more about each other when they otherwise might not have the opportunity in the classroom. The focus on social-emotional development was crucial in strengthening self-esteem and developing positive relationships.”
• “I think this promoted inclusivity and gave each student a place to feel heard.”
• “They seemed to enjoy the specialness of the program—that is was only for girls.”
• “The girls thoroughly enjoyed all the guest speakers, and they learned a lot about experiences that they may not have realized existed. I also like how the girls found commonalities that they shared with the guest.  I think this program helps girls realize that nothing is out of reach—if you set your mind to something and you work hard at it, you can achieve greatness.”

https://falmouthvips.org

“Through this experience, they really ‘see’ each other and start to see themselves outside their own bubbles.” –Tracy Cago, VIPS Executive Director