Standing up for every girl

By using our collective power, the Girl Scout Movement is creating change in our communities that is long overdue. Sisterhood, justice, and fairness—are values of Girl Scouts, and we take action when we see a need to live by our Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (GSEIWI) are asking for all Girl Scouts—girls, volunteers, alums, supporters, families, staff, and our suppliers and service providers—to commit to taking action to make the world a more equitable place.

While we recognize that this is far from easy or fast work, we are building a dynamic Movement that not only welcomes all girls but gives them a place to be themselves fully.

Actions we are taking

We teach girls to lead by example, and to that end, we are committed to doing the difficult work to become an anti-racist organization.

Our team

Our team of staff, board members, and volunteers are identifying issues and building opportunities through the work of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. This committee meets regularly to evaluate council policies and programs, develop training for staff and volunteers, and better connect our Girl Scout Movement with diverse voices.

The committee has introduced community values into our Council Policies and Procedures, created staff training and development opportunities, and added diversity, equity, and inclusion as a strategic focus for our organization.

Today’s girls

Today’s Girl Scouts will be tomorrow’s leaders, and that’s why it is important to empower girls to lead with empathy, have the confidence to stand up for what’s right, and think critically about solutions to community problems.

Our Movement connects girls across a large geographic region of 38 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, creating an environment for girls to get to know, learn from, and appreciate people from diverse backgrounds. From making a new friend at summer camp to examining community problems while earning High Awards to earning badges that build skills to advocate for their ideas, Girl Scouts are changing the world.

Diversity Patch Program

The Diversity Patch Program is is designed to celebrate and honor the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of our communitites. It begins with the Trefoil center patch, followed by 5 rocker patches that acknowledge the many contributions that each community has made and continues to make across our nation.

The program is for Girl Scouts of all levels and their leaders, and we encourage girls from all ethnic backgrounds to participate.

The Black History Month Celebration Patch is designed for Girl Scouts of all levels and their leaders to celebrate the cultural richness of Black Americans and those whose ancestors originated in the African diaspora.

The Native American Heritage Celebration Patch is designed to celebrate and honor the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native people.

The Hispanic Heritage Celebration Patch is designed to celebrate the cultural richness of all people in the U.S. whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration Patch is designed to celebrate the cultural richness of all people in the U.S. whose ancestors came from the Pacific Islands or the Asian diaspora.

The LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration Patch is designed to honor LGBTQ+ history, to celebrate the diverse cultures and identities of LGBTQ+ people.

Anti-Racism Patch

The Anti-Racism patch represents the first Girl Scout My Values patch created by GSUSA to reflect the values of the Girl Scout Movement. Girls can wear this patch to show the values they believe in.

Girl Scouting prepares girls to be leaders in our world, to speak up, speak out, and take action for fairness, equality, civility, and compassion for all people, and to arm them with the courage, confidence, and character they need to make the world a better place.

Badge spotlight

Good Neighbor: Daisies (grades K-1) learn more about the communities they belong to—and how the people in their communities work together to be good neighbors to each other.

Celebrating Community: Brownies (grades 2-3) learn how their communities celebrate what makes them special.

Inside Government: Juniors (grades 4-5) find out more about the basics of government and start to become active citizens by visiting government buildings, looking into laws, reporting on issues, and getting involved with local government.

Finding Common Ground: Cadettes (grades 6-8) develop strategies for bringing people together to find common ground by getting to know someone different than them, making decisions as a group, and exploring civil debate.

Behind the Ballot: Seniors (grades 9-10) earn about the importance of voting by finding out about the electoral process in the United States and worldwide.

Public Policy: Ambassadors (grades 11-12) learn about public policies and how they can advocate for issues and legislation that matter to them.

A legacy of civic action

From the very beginning, Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low saw Girl Scouting as a movement that would inspire girls to make a difference in their world. Call it advocacy. Call it being a good citizen. Call it patriotism. Girl Scouts leave things better than they found them and work to make our communities shine.

We’ve made great strides since the first Girl Scout troop formed in 1912, and we’ve learned a lot along the way, including about the work that’s still ahead of us to make the world a better place for all. We know that work is never finished, and we’re committed for the long haul to improving and expanding our commitment to civic action—for every girl.

Resources for parents