Salute to Senator Mikulski Jump Starts Maryland Girl Scouts' 100th Anniversary Celebration

BALTIMORE, Oct. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM) will jump-start their 2012 100^th and 50^th anniversary celebrations with a salute to U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski on Monday, October 17^th from 7:00 -8:00 pm at the GSCM Seton Urban Program & STEM Center, for her commitment and support of Girl Scouts' Detention Center programs, which include GSCM's Beyond Bars and Girl Scouting at the Waxter Detention Center programs. GSCM's Beyond Bars program has been nationally acclaimed and featured in a documentary, Daughters Left Behind, produced by journalist Lisa Ling.  The Beyond Bars program ensures regular visits between incarcerated mothers and their daughters through bi-monthly Girl Scout meetings at the Maryland Women's Correctional Institution in Jessup, Maryland. The goal of the program is to reduce recidivism and intergenerational incarceration; help reduce the trauma and loss girls experience from having an incarcerated parent; and, help mothers and daughters stay connected through involvement in the program.  Senator Mikulski, a lifetime Girl Scout, has been a steadfast supporter of these programs nationally, ensuring funding for these important and life-changing programs.    

Connie Lindsey, Chair, Board of Directors, Girl Scouts of the USA, will be making special remarks on behalf of Girl Scouts of the USA marking the first visit by Girl Scouts National Board Chair to the central Maryland headquarters.  She will also share her personal Girl Scout story and her vision for women and girls in the movement.

"The night will celebrate Juliette Gordon Low's legacy of developing courage, confidence and character in all girls and those who embody her vision," commented GSCM CEO, Traci A. Barnett.  "We are thrilled to honor Senator Barbara Mikulski for her long-standing support of Girl Scouts and for her many accomplishments in the Senate; she is the longest serving female Senator and the second longest-serving female member in the history of the United States Congress," Barnett noted.  

The schedule of events for the evening is as follows:

5-7:00 pm        Open House & Program Activities for girls and adults

7:00 pm         Welcome & Girl Scout Greetings by Traci A. Barnett, M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland

Opening remarks by Connie Lindsey, Chair, Board of Directors, Girl Scouts of the USA

Special comments by Ellen Talley, Thomas J.S. Waxter Detention Center

7:30 pm        Presentation to The Honorable Senator Barbara Mikulski by Girl Scouts Beyond Bars troop members

The event is open to the public and will include opportunities for all attendees to sample Girl Scout programs, including science in the kitchen, Techbridge STEM activities and dance in the center's new dance studio.  To RSVP,   contact [email protected]

Girl Scouts of Central Maryland provides leadership programming for nearly 29,000 girls in central Maryland residing in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties.  For more information about the programs GSCM offers visit gscm.org; follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook.

SOURCE Girl Scouts of Central Maryland