New Research Reveals Girls as Young as Age 5 Feel Lonely, and It Takes a Toll on Their Confidence

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas support girls with mental wellness programming and resources

DALLAS, TX, May 14, 2024 -- The vast majority of girls (70%) ages 5 to 13 experience loneliness, and the feeling intensifies with age.* This is just one of the compelling findings from new research by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), completed in partnership with Wakefield Research. Conducted earlier this spring, the study revealed a troubling rise in loneliness, a feeling that notably diminishes girls' confidence as they grow older.

The data also points to the power of friendship in boosting girls' confidence to try new things they wouldn’t otherwise do alone, and despite the ubiquity of digital devices, these results point to girls' desire for a range of authentic experiences and interpersonal connections.

Key Research Insights:

• Loneliness Increases with Age:  Survey results show 64% of girls ages 5–7, 67% of girls ages 8–10, and 73% of girls ages 11–13 reported feelings of loneliness.
• As Loneliness Grows, Confidence Drops:  While 86% of girls ages 5–7 expressed belief in their ability to tackle challenges, this figure drops to 73% among 11–13-year-old girls.
• Friendship is a Confidence Booster:  For more than half of the girls surveyed (52%), having a friend by their side encourages them to try new things, like talking to a new person or joining a new group.
• Girls Prefer Real Interactions to Screen Time:  Most girls would prefer to be creative (63%), go outside and play, or spend time with their family (59%) rather than spend all their time on screens.

These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions that foster meaningful connections and self-assurance among young girls. Given the prevalence of loneliness among young girls, Girl Scouts is more important today than ever. Girls of any age can join the organization to form lasting friendships, build self-confidence, and access mental wellness programming—meant to tackle the specific issues today's girls face.

"Empowering girls to thrive through challenges of the digital age and beyond is more critical now than ever," emphasized Jennifer Bartkowski, CEO of Girl Scougts of Northeast Texas. "Our mission is to reverse this trend by continuing to provide core Girl Scout programming and integrating mental wellness education into everything we do, ensuring every girl knows she is part of a community that believes in her potential."

Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (GSNETX) offers a robust suite of mental wellness resources and programming to support girls, council staff, and adult volunteers. GSUSA developed the programming in collaboration with partners like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Supported by grants from Medical City Dallas and the HCA Healthcare Foundation, these programs are available at no cost. An additional $5,000 from Medical City Dallas ensures that all local participants can access these patches for free.

GSNETX is working to destigmatize mental illness, normalize conversations about mental health, and deliver inclusive programs for girls of all backgrounds. As a pioneering council, GSNETX was selected to host a recent video about the 'Mental Wellness Patch', a nationwide initiative. This program is designed to help girls in grades 4-12 recognize and understand their emotions and develop effective strategies for managing mental health challenges. For more information about Girl Scouts' commitment to mental health programming, visit girlscouts.org/mentalwellness.

*The GSUSA survey was conducted online from March 19 to 31, 2024, among 1,000 U.S. girls aged 5 to 13. The data has been weighted to reflect the demographics of the national population accurately.

We Are Girl Scouts

Whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths, make best friends, and rise to meet new challenges. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves girls and adult volunteers across 32 counties. To change the workforce pipeline in STEM and meet the urgent need for female voices and leadership in the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy, GSNETX opened the 92-acre state-of-the-art STEM Center of Excellence in 2018. Learn more at gsnetx.org or call 972-349-2400.

DALLAS, TX May 13, 2024 – Mary Kay Inc., a corporate leader in global sustainability, is strengthening its roots in Lewisville. On May 10, the company partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and Keep Lewisville Beautiful to host a tree planting event at Railroad Park to celebrate Mother Nature and Mother’s Day.

“Through partnerships with organizations like the Arbor Day Foundation, Mary Kay is making positive environmental impact in ecosystems where we operate around the world,” said Ryan Rogers, CEO of Mary Kay, Inc., and grandson of Mary Kay Ash. “But change starts in your own backyard. We enjoyed ‘sprucing’ up the community by planting trees that will benefit local families for generations to come.”

Mary Kay volunteers planted 60 native trees along the trails and waterways in Railroad Park, symbolizing the company’s 60^th anniversary of enriching the lives of women and their families worldwide and protecting the planet. The park is four miles from Mary Kay’s state-of-the art Richard R. Rogers (R3) Manufacturing/R&D Center. Trees planted at this location directly impact Lewisville communities by providing much-needed shade in community spaces, enhancing the beautification of recreational areas, and providing important ecosystem benefits in the Trinity River watershed.

"We are thrilled to see Mary Kay contribute to the tree canopy of Lewisville,” said TJ Gilmore, Mayor of Lewisville. “This initiative is not only a breath of fresh air for our city but a testament to the flourishing partnership between our community and a corporation that continuously gives back. Together, we’re making Lewisville a better place to live and work."

Mary Kay’s partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation stretches back more than 16 years—and in that time, the company has helped plant 1.4 million trees around the world. Arbor Day Foundation is the world’s largest membership nonprofit dedicated to planting trees.

“The Arbor Day Foundation is dedicated to helping our local planting partners unlock the transformative power of trees in their community,” said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees clean our air, cool our cities, and improve the lives of the people around them. We’re happy to partner again with Mary Kay and Keep Lewisville Beautiful to maximize the impact of the urban canopy and inspire more people to engage with nature in a meaningful way.”

Keep Lewisville Beautiful is a local environmental nonprofit that partners with organizations to plant trees and provide residents opportunities to care for Lewisville’s tree canopy on public lands.

“Tree planting is an investment in our community’s future”, said Amy Wells, Executive Director of Keep Lewisville Beautiful. “These trees will help create shade for families visiting Railroad Park, provide habitat to local wildlife, and will provide a multitude of ecological benefits for our local environment. Keep Lewisville Beautiful is excited to partner with Mary Kay and the Arbor Day Foundation to increase Lewisville’s tree canopy and make a visible difference in our community with Mary Kay volunteers. Their donation to our community and KLB will go a long way towards keeping Lewisville beautiful.”

Following the planting, the Lewisville Parks Department is committed to long-term maintenance and upkeep of the trees with supplemental watering, pruning, and care.

Did you know:

• R3 Manufacturing/R&D Center in Lewisville is named in honor of Mary Kay Inc.’s cofounder and Mary Kay Ash’s son, Richard R. Rogers.
• Built on 26 acres of land, R3 features state-of-the-art R&D laboratories and cutting-edge manufacturing technology.
• 57% of products manufactured at R3 are exported to Mary Kay’s international markets.
• R3 production capacity is up to 1.1. million products per day. The facility boasts 20 product-packaging lines and 21 processing vessels and mixing tanks.
• R3 is LEED Building Design and Construction Silver-Certified facility.

About Mary Kay

Then. Now. Always. One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. For 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on Twitter.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities, and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

About Keep Lewisville Beautiful

Keep Lewisville Beautiful (KLB) is a non-profit and award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful. KLB’s mission is to “engage the citizens of Lewisville through service and education to enhance their community environment”. Our vision is to partner with the community to promote environmental quality, making Lewisville the best place to live, work, and play. Annually, KLB volunteers contribute over 10,000 volunteer hours towards litter abatement, environmental education, and beautification programs, and remove 25+ TONS of trash from community green spaces and waterways. Learn more at keeplewisvillebeautiful.org.  

New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces the induction of three new board members: Fallyn Jones, senior vice president, Citigroup Inc.; Laura Nieto, managing director of corporate responsibility, Southwest Airlines; and Camelia Lopez Shoemaker, prosecutor. The new members began three-year terms April 1 with an optional second term.

Additionally, Crys Kelly, social analytics director, Iris Worldwide, has been named president of the NFNL Circle of Friends (COF) Board, and C. Davis Prescott, senior vice president, First Horizon Bank, is the new president of the Men’s Advocacy Group (MAG). These new officers will serve two years with an optional additional year. First on the agenda for COF President Kelly is the spring fundraising event hosted by Circle of Friends – a Wine Tasting on May 15 while MAG President Prescott is preparing for the annual ManKINDness Breakfast on May 17.

Fallyn Jones has over 15 years of experience in financial services. As senior vice president, senior compliance and ethics officer for Citigroup Inc., she develops and implements operational testing and controls for the company’s Global Ethics Office, with responsibility for business operations in North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle- East, Africa, Latin America, and Mexico. Jones was named to Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 in 2023, and her passion for the greater community and creating opportunities to advocate for women of color is evident through her commitment and achievements within education, civic engagement, community outreach and senior care. Jones resides in Dallas with her husband, son, and daughter.

Laura Nieto, a 25-year employee of Southwest Airlines, leads the company’s corporate giving and stewardship strategy. Founded on the principles of loving people, building resilience, and living responsibly, she oversees Southwest’s strategic community investments, employee engagement and volunteerism, foundation giving, sustainability programs and social impact initiatives. With a passion for developing innovative programs that engage and empower diverse communities, she is a D&I champion and community advocate. With a love for the outdoors, she is a marathon runner and has completed her quest to become a World Marathon Major Six Star Finisher. Nieto resides in Dallas with her husband and daughter.

Camelia Lopez Shoemaker is a skilled career prosecutor with more than 20 years of experience in the prosecution of complex cyber-crime, fraud, terrorism, and other criminal and civil matters at both the state and federal level.  In addition to the case work, she has experience as a senior leader setting policy and guidance for district and national impact regarding public-private partnerships and is a frequent speaker regarding cybersecurity, digital currency, and intellectual property matters. Camelia resides in Dallas with her husband and children and their 60-pound lapdog, Millie.

"These dynamic leaders bring incredible new expertise and passion to the mission of New Friends New Life,” said Jane A. Rose, board chair. "Their commitment and leadership will be invaluable as we work collaboratively to not only empower and restore the lives of trafficked and sexually exploited women and girls, but also as we bring the stigmatized issue of sex trafficking out of the shadows to educate the community on ways they can engage in the solution.”

The new board members join a diverse board of community representatives including: Jane A. Rose, NFNL Board Chair, General Counsel, Irwin R. Rose & Co. (who is in her second year as chair and will complete her term on March 31, 2025); Adam Cannon, Chief Brand Officer, G6 Hospitality, LLC; Erin Nealy Cox, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis and a former high-ranking U.S. Department of Justice official; Sherri Daniel, Certified Public Accountant; Dr. Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN; Healthcare Executive, Strategic Advisor, and Emeritus Chief Clinical Officer; Kelley Grayson, Regional VP, Provider Network Solutions; Laura Harris, Journalist and Co-Anchor, NBC5; Dr. Millicent Knight, OD, FAAO, FAARM, FNAP; Senior Vice President, Customer Development Group, EssilorLuxottica; Sarah K. Miller, Philanthropist; Paulette Miniter, Associate Attorney, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Cheryl Monroe, VP Controller and Treasurer, Mary Kay Inc.; Christa Sanford, Partner, Baker Botts, LLP; Elena Sacca Smith, Group Manager, the Office of Social Innovation, Toyota North America; and Jessica Turner-Waugh, Actor and Community Leader.

For more information, visit newfriendsnewlife.org or call (214) 965-0935.

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About New Friends New Life: Founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1998, New Friends New Life (NFNL) restores and empowers trafficked and sexually exploited teen girls, women and their children, and drives awareness of the issue and its prevalence. The agency’s vision is to create a community where women and girls can soar above the limits of their past and achieve their dreams. In 2023, NFNL served 328 members (clients). NFNL also educates the community and works to eradicate the epidemic of sex trafficking through advocacy, legislative reform and strategic partnerships that address systemic causes. In 2018, NFNL opened a drop-in Youth Resource Center (YRC) in partnership with the Office of the Governor to serve trafficked and high-risk teen girls. Since its opening, we have served 546 girls. In 2015, NFNL organized its  Men's Advocacy Group to engage men in the fight against sex trafficking and exploitation. For more information, visit http://www.newfriendsnewlife.org.

The Plano community vibrated with captivating melodies, soft vocals, and moving dances on May 11th as the "Zhang Chen Art School Ninth Annual Performance 2024" took center stage. Under Mrs. Zhang Chen's expert direction, singers, dancers, and musicians showcased their exquisite skills and unique styles, adding a vibrant touch to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The evening kicked off with a video reviewing the nine years of teaching at Zhang Chen Art School, which touched everyone in the audience. The stage design and lighting effects transported the audience to a dreamlike world, enhancing each song, dance, and piano performance. Thunderous applause followed every act, leaving everyone eager for the next one.

A Celebration of Collaboration

Heartfelt thanks go to Junxi Xu, President of the ACAES - ZCAS (Asian Cultural And Education Society - Zhang Chen Art School) Chapter, and his dedicated team. Their leadership and tireless efforts in organizing the concert, including planning and securing a volunteer support team, were invaluable. Mrs. Zhang Chen extends her gratitude to all performers and volunteers who contributed to the event's success.

Serving the Community

This free, public performance exemplified Zhang Chen Art School's commitment to enriching Plano's cultural and artistic landscape. It was both well-supported and received with resounding applause!

Building the Future

Jan Xie, President of the Asian Cultural and Educational Society (ACAESUSA), congratulated Zhang Chen Art School on the success of their annual performance. She also commended the newly formed ACAES - ZCAS Chapter. 

"We are fortunate to have such a dedicated Chapter of youth promoting Asian culture through singing, dancing, and piano playing, all while serving the community," said Jan Xie. "This year's President, Junxi Xu, displayed exceptional leadership and dedication. We wish Zhang Chen Art School continued success in nurturing artistic talent!"

A full list of performers and volunteers who participated in this benefit event will be provided below.

Link for larger pictures available here

Junxi Xu, Jianhui Wang, Qin Mingxia, Jefferson Li, Yu Jin, Wenya Hu, Samuel Yin, Rouxuan Wang, Liya Wang,  Nicholas Du, Kayla Zhang, Nikila Rajan, Milin Chen, Wilson Tang,  Kristen Chen, Bohan Xuan, Muffie Tian, Emily Wang, SummerYang, Weili Lin, Yuhan Pang, Ruyi Zhang, Jessie Wang, Kate Huang, Mina Young, Kunlu Wang, Melody Xia, Hansen Chen, Oliver Wang, Nathan Chen, Logan Tian, Zoe Chen, Victoria, Grace Fan, Cihan Chen, Hailin Wang, Ava Xia, Nora Ma, Anya Hu, Luna Ding, Evan Chen, Elizabeth Sue, Yiyi Wang, Emma Wang, Andy Han, Luna Ding, Lucas Ding, Yulian Lin, Angela, Lucas Chen, Jodie Lin, Alvin Fang, Anxin Dai, Andy Han,Anna Zhang, Jeremy Wang, Seraphina Li, Le Xing, Xin Tong, Jiaqi Zhao, Julian Liu, Edric Yan, Emily You, Summer Yang, Jodie Lin, Li Li, Angela Jian, Daniel Huang, Ciyun, Chen Zhang and Jan Xie.

DALLAS--May 8, 2024

Dallas Lutheran School is pleased to announce the board of directors has hired Betsy Graham as Head of School for the north Dallas High School and Middle School.

Graham is currently the principal of the kindergarten-8^th grade school at Prince of Peace Christian School in Carrollton where she has served for 22 years.

“We are thrilled to announce the hiring of Betsy Graham as our new head of school to lead our school,” said Rick Myers, President, DLS Board of Directors.

Graham, who has a Masters of Education (M. Ed) is an experienced educator who has been a critical part of the leadership team at Prince of Peace for 11 years, leading up to 450 students and over 45 staff members at a time. Recently, she was nominated by the POPCS staff to receive the Texas District Educator of the Year Award.

She plans to have a detailed and innovative approach to the development of the people, programs, and places that make up Dallas Lutheran.

“What stands out to me about Dallas Lutheran is what I thought was a catchphrase, turned out to be completely legitimate—Lion’s Pride. Everyone absolutely loves this school, and I am thrilled to join a dedicated team that is embracing the heritage of nearly 50 years of ministry, building on the past to create a great future that will impact eternity,” Betsy Graham, Head of School, Dallas Lutheran School.

Graham previously also served on the board of the Texas Institute for Teacher Education. She completed her B.S. in Education at Concordia University—Wisconsin in 2001, and her M. Ed at the University of North Texas in 2008.

“Betsy Graham is the perfect person to lead our school. She has all of the qualities we wanted in a new leader for our school. We have been so impressed with Betsy from the first time we spoke with her and all throughout the process of getting to know her as a strong leader,” said Mark Couser, DLS Board Member and Head of the Call Committee

Dallas Lutheran suffered damage to its classrooms and administrative buildings during the tornado that hit the school’s campus in 2019. Since then, the school has been serving students in portable buildings as they have undergone a capital campaign to raise the money necessary to rebuild.

The current graduation class of 45 students were 8^th graders when the tornado hit. Graham’s first goal will be to rebuild the admission pipeline through innovative scholarship offerings and new academic vigor including STEM and AP classes at nearby Dallas College in Richardson.

It is a difficult assignment but one that Graham is ready for.

“I am ready to hit the ground running at DLS. We are truly blessed to have an incredible staff of loving and nurturing teachers who truly care for and invest in our student/staff relationships. And, we have a dialed-in and supportive parent teacher organization that invests in our school annually. Working with our board, I am confident that together, we will get through this situation and look forward to breaking ground on our new building in the coming year,” said Graham.

Dallas Lutheran will begin its 49^th year of serving the families of north Dallas this August.

About Dallas Lutheran School

Founded in 1974, classes began in 1976 for the 7^th through 12^th grade private secondary school that provides a personalized, student-focused, and Christ-centered learning environment. More than 2,000 alumni have graduated from the north Dallas school. Dallas Lutheran School has full state accreditation in Texas through the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) and nationally through the National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA.). Over 2,000 Lutheran schools serve nearly 200,000 students taught by 20,000 educators. Dallas Lutheran School is located at 8494 Stults Road, Dallas, Texas 75214.  For more information, visit www.dallaslutheranschool.com.