Girls Inc. urges council to back expanded outreach, reports 378 Jefferson County participants

Susan Stahl, executive director of Girls Inc., told the Jefferson County Council that the nonprofit’s mission “is to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold,” and that the organization served 167 girls at its downtown center and 211 Jefferson County girls through outreach programs this year. She said the group operates vans to provide after‑school transportation and restarts playground programs during the school day to reach girls who cannot come to the center.

Stahl said the outreach numbers are unduplicated and that Girls Inc. plans to expand services next year. She handed out a 2025 year‑in‑review with program numbers and invited council members to review the materials. “We don’t provide counseling,” she added, “but we have a part‑time mental health advocate who focuses on programming and supports girls struggling with serious issues.”

The presentation highlighted transportation costs the organization covers to reach students as far as Lexington and an alumni engagement effort launched this year; Stahl said continued modest county support would enable the group to extend outreach to girls who otherwise would not access center‑based programming.

The council asked clarifying questions about the materials Stahl provided and thanked her for the presentation; no formal motion or vote occurred during the session.