Pace Insights

May

Looking Forward: Pace Girls Share Their Aspirations for the Future

Posted on: May 5, 2022

At Pace, we celebrate all our girls’ successes as they look towards the future! College Signing Day is celebrated on May 7, an initiative presented by Better Make Room that aims to inspire students to reach higher. This day celebrates all students committed to pursuing an education past high school, whether at a professional training program, the military, a community college or a four-year college or university.

We sat down with three Pace girls who shared their interests and aspirations for the future:

“Coming to Pace really helped me. I learned that if the people around you aren’t helping you grow, they shouldn’t be in your life,” said Karimah from Pace Palm Beach. “After Pace, I want to go to college. I like psychology and criminology a lot. I like thinking about what people think, and why they’re thinking it. I also love writing — it’s so fun to me. If I could do anything in the world without any constraints, I would be a writer. I’m not sure career-wise, but there are so many opportunities.”

Quinn from Pace Escambia-Santa Rosa shared: “My passion is music, music theory, and teaching others what’s fun about music. My love of music came from my dad. He had a little area in our house where he had all his instruments. He taught me to play so many things on the guitar, and really finding how much I loved it came from him.

Before Pace, I didn’t accept help for a long time. I was in denial. Finally, I decided to go into a GED program, and I graduated with really good scores in about a month. I’m focused on [applying to] Pensacola State College because my dad’s old music teacher is still there. I want to learn under him and eventually teach students music theory.”

Idali, also from Pace Palm Beach, explained: “After Pace, I want to go to college. Currently, I work at Starbucks, and they have this program where they pay for tuition for Arizona State online. I want to take advantage of free college. I want to learn something in psychology or sociology. Growing up, I watched a lot of shows on law enforcement, which gave me a passion to be a profiler and to study how humans think and behave. I’m interested in joining law enforcement, and that’s my dream.”

Since 1985, Pace has supported more than 40,000 girls with our personalized approach, empowering girls to reach their highest potential and showing them that a life of love, success and happiness is possible. At Pace, seven out of 10 teen girls graduate from high school, pursue higher education or secure employment, and nine out of 10 have experienced overall academic improvement.

Learn more about Pace’s academic progra ms.

May

Celebrating Pace Team Members During Teacher Appreciation Week

Posted on: May 4, 2022

Staff and Culture

“I really appreciate Ms. Kathy. She played a big role in me graduating. She was the one that contacted my old school to set me up right. She’s been there every step of the way. I can’t thank her enough. She’s number one. She’s my rock.” — Tyra from Pace Polk

At Pace, our team of dedicated teachers, counselors, therapists, and directors foster safe, supportive, and inclusive environments for our girls to help them reach their goals.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, join us in celebrating the hundreds of teachers who inspire confidence, ignite imagination and instill a love of learning in our girls.

Four Pace girls shared their appreciation for their favorite teachers:

“One of the main supporters I’ve had at Pace is Mr. Walter,” shared Quinn from Pace Escambia-Santa Rosa. “Mr. Walter was the first person I told when I passed the GED test. He’s like a dad to me, since I didn’t have one growing up. He’s pushed me to be my best, and he really showed me how proud he is of me — that I am finding myself and finding what I love doing.”

Idali and Karimah both shared gratitude for Mr. Christie, a history teacher and academic advisor at Pace Palm Beach.

“Mr. Christie has so much faith in me. He always makes sure that everyone feels safe in the classroom — that’s his priority,” said Idali. “I came to Pace because I was doing really bad at academics. My grades were really low because I was skipping classes and didn’t care about my classes. As soon as I came to Pace, they’ve helped me a lot. I’m on track to graduate next year.”

“Mr. Christie is the best. He’s a history teacher, and he’s always giving us the most valuable information,” added Karimah. “He’s like an encyclopedia — he knows so much. I’ve learned so much about the world and the state it’s in right now, and I’m so grateful to him.”

Every day, our team of counselors, therapists and educators advocate for our girls’ physical and mental health and help them thrive and grow, creating brighter futures for all. Since 1985, more than 40,000 teen girls and young women have had the opportunity to achieve their own success, leading to positive outcomes for themselves, their families and communities.

Join us in celebrating all team members for their continued commitment to create strong girls and strong communities.

Get involved with Pace and check out our current open positions!

Apr

Denim Day: Wearing Jeans with a Purpose

Posted on: April 28, 2022

Staff and Culture

Pace joins communities across the country in recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

On Denim Day, April 27, 2022, the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, McKenzie Marsch, Special Projects Manager at Pace Palm Beach, participated in a panel discussion hosted by Palm Beach County Victim Services.

Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, and businesses to wear denim to combat victim blaming and educate others about sexual violence. McKenzie participated in the panel discussion on behalf of Palm Beach County’s Girls Coordinating Council.

“Representing the Girls Coordinating Council of Palm Beach County, I had the opportunity to share why we should decrease discomfort related to discussing sexual assault and consent and the importance of leading with the ‘start by believing’ mindset,” shared McKenzie.

Since 2017, Girls Coordinating Councils (GCC) have been formed, like the one in Palm Beach, in various counties throughout Florida and Georgia. The Girls Coordinating Council is a community collaborative focusing on reforming and strengthening the system of care for girls and young women.

Change begins when girls get the help they need to further their education, strengthen their relationships, interpersonal skills, and learn healthy coping mechanisms that help them overcome past trauma and look toward the future.

Apr

Advancing Safe Driving Skills and Awareness with State Farm

Posted on: April 26, 2022

Partnerships

In recognition of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Pace Center for Girls partnered with State Farm Insurance to advance girls’ understanding of distracted driving and safe driving skills.

Pace is committed to addressing topics that improve girls’ skills and ability to make healthy decisions and reduce harmful habits to their health, wellness, and safety. When we focus on supporting girls, they gain the power to achieve success in all areas of their lives, leading to positive outcomes for themselves, their families and communities.

Texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, and fiddling with music – all common activities of teenagers – can have catastrophic results when driving. In 2020, there were more than 48,000 driving crashes in Florida – 75 percent of which were caused by the driver being inattentive behind the wheel.

“At Pace, our holistic approach provides girls the counseling, academic courses and life-skill training they need to make safe and healthy decisions,” said Mary Marx, president and CEO of Pace Center for Girls. “Distracted driving is a public health threat, so we are thankful to State Farm for investing in Pace and partnering with us to develop this curriculum to teach our girls passenger and driver safety skills.”

Pace Jacksonville teamed up with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and local volunteers to celebrate Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

From April 19 through 22, Pace hosted a week-long initiative across its 21 Florida locations where girls completed lessons, crafted art projects and heard from guest speakers including representatives from State Farm, and Cara Filler, America’s leading speaker on traffic safety and peer pressure. The service-learning opportunity was made possible thanks to a $85,000 statewide grant from State Farm Insurance.

Kiya was one of 50 girls who participated in the safety clinic at Pace Pinellas and shared, “Do not answer because it doesn’t matter if you get a text from your mom, your boyfriend or anyone. If you are driving and you answer that text, any second something could go wrong.”

“Working with the Pace girls has been a memorable and rewarding experience,” said Jose Soto, State Farm Corporate Responsibility Analyst. “The girls have an incredible abundance of talent and creativity, and our agents enjoyed the opportunity to teach them invaluable lessons about safe driving that will build a safer, stronger and better-educated community.”

Pace Volusia-Flagler hosted a Transportation Safety Fair to help build a safer, stronger, and better-educated community.

The week-long programming concluded with an awareness campaign art competition. Like many of Pace’s programs, art was intentionally woven into curriculum as a powerful tool of expression. From the competition, three winners will be selected, and the statewide winning art piece will be displayed at the Florida State Capitol.

Apr

Pace Provides Teen Girls Safe Spaces to Express Themselves through Art

Posted on: April 18, 2022

Health and Wellness

All girls, regardless of their story, deserve safe and supportive spaces to heal that help them to become strong, compassionate, and successful women. Through creative outlets, girls can find their inner voice, examine values and morals, and look towards the future.

During National Poetry Month, Pace girls are teaming up with community partners for a series of art and poetry workshops.

Pace Miami partnered with O, Miami Poetry Festival and Bakehouse Art Complex to teach girls the fundamental principles of art-making and poetry writing as vehicles for self-expression. The eight-week program, led by writer Arsimmer McCoy and visual artist Patricia Monclus, culminated with a poetry reading celebration and publication of a limited-edition book of the girls’ work.

“The girls are enjoying all the [art/poetry] sessions,” said Britney, Spirited Girls Teacher at Pace Miami. “The educators are doing a magnificent job with instructions and engagement. Pace Miami is very grateful to have this infused art opportunity within the Spirited Girls curriculum.”

Pace’s Spirited Girls class focuses on the developmental needs of girls, life and vocational skills, diversity, spirituality, and empowerment. In the class, girls can express themselves in a context of gentle guidance that supports their self-discovery and growth.

We sat down with Annah from Pace Lee, who wrote her first poem about the unique strengths of a woman in the Spirited Girls class. Annah shared: “Writing is important because I am able to express myself and get more creative with what I do. In the Spirited Girls! class, we learned about the struggles women went through, and the class helped me express myself. Women have not been treated with the same respect and equality as men, and what I want people to take away from my poem is that women are strong and able to get through anything.”

Annah was the first middle school girl at Pace Lee to accomplish the Grace stage, the highest level of Pace’s Growth & Change Recognition Program. Girls move through the recognition program as they complete milestones that align with Pace’s nine guiding principles.

Annah’s counselor Ms. Leslie reflected on Annah’s growth and development thus far at Pace: “Annah has made strong relationships with positive peers. She has straight A’s and a 100% attendance rate. But she doesn’t give herself enough credit. She’s an absolute rock star.”

In all its various forms, art is a powerful tool for expression for girls like Annah and is weaved throughout the fabric of Pace’s programs.

... ...

Recent Blog Posts