The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Skye Dunlap Girls to Women: Erika Greeley, director of SPEAK UP!, says middle-school can be the toughest time in a girl's life. Group encourages young women to boldly assert their girl power WGNA honors former mayor Hammer with a contribution to the SPEAK-UP! program By Mary Spicuzza Staying on top of her schoolwork, serving as treasurer for her class, and volunteering for recruitment orientations at local schools makes 11-year-old Danielle Vlkovic one busy young woman. Vlkovic, a sixth-grader at Willow Glen Middle School, appears a born leader. But she attributes much of her early success to a 12-week program known as SPEAK-UP! Leadership Program for Girls. "We learned about different jobs that women have, and how to speak in front of people and be more confident," Vlkovic says, pausing thoughtfully. "My favorite part of SPEAK-UP! was probably learning public speaking. I just did a recruitment for my school, Willow Glen Elementary, and the training really helped." Her quiet voice resonating with girl power, Vlkovic demonstrates how she and other young local dynamos have helped make San Jose's SPEAK-UP! a success. For five years, the program has worked to empower girls by helping them develop confidence, positive attitudes and self-expression as well as encouraging political awareness about sexism and gender discrimination. The rave reviews after SPEAK-UP's fall program at Willow Glen Middle School inspired the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association to honor Mayor Susan Hammer by making a contribution to the program. The association's $100 donation aims to build leadership skills for future female leaders. "Mayor Hammer has been so responsive to community concerns, and she is certainly a strong female leader," WGNA president Kris Cunningham says. "We wanted to honor her for commitment and service to our city." Supporting strong women is what SPEAK-UP! is all about. It grew out of an organization known as 20 Percent Plus By 2020, which called for at least 20 percent of local leaders to be women by the year 2020. SPEAK-UP! has been so popular that it branched off into its own organization. Erica Greeley, the program's director, is joined by a committed board of directors, including president Kimberly Mulcahy, an integral player in the San Jose mayor's office, local leader Joe Guerra, who serves as treasurer for the group, and Councilman Frank Fiscalini. Each year SPEAK UP! visits 20 schools during its fall and spring programs. It spends 12 weeks with each group of students working to develop career awareness, teamwork, presentation skills, decision-making, practical-living skills, women's issues awareness and interpersonal communication. The group may deal with heavy issues, but Greeley explains that members present issues in a fun, interactive way. Mask-making teaches self-expression and healthy doses of role-playing provide some dramatic spice, while instructors focus on leadership to show that each young woman can make a difference. As Greeley speaks passionately about the unique challenges facing middle-school girls, she makes it clear that a lot of work still needs to be done. Greeley, who spent much of her childhood growing up abroad, says that some of the hardest times of her youth came during her sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade years, which she spent in the United States. "I was so struck by how hard it is in this country," Greeley recalls. "I was just appalled by what happens to young girls in America. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade are such formative years." Studies show that eating disorders and depression often begin during these years, and in middle school many young women are edged out of mathematics and hard sciences. Despite the challenges, SPEAK-UP! is enjoying tremendous success. The boost from the WGNA will help the organization launch its upcoming spring programs--and more importantly shows that empowering girls is important to the community as a whole, not just women. Although SPEAK-UP! won't return to Willow Glen until the next school year, residents are still reaping the benefits. "They wanted to keep it going when the 12 weeks were over," says Ann Vlkovic, Danielle's mom. "They all came away very excited and energized." For more information about SPEAK-UP!, call 293-8565. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, February 3, 1999. ©1999 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.