Since I recently left my position at Dress for Success, a nonprofit that empowers disadvantaged women, I thought it quite fitting to write my first blog entry about a nonprofit that empowers disadvantaged girls.
Linda Odell is the Founder & Executive Director of SOHO, the Space Of Her Own nonprofit based in Alexandria, Va. Linda is the sister-in-law of my long-time friend, Katie Leed Odell. Katie and I met almost 24 years ago in 6th grade at Letort Elementary school in the country side of Conestoga, PA. She’s more than a friend; she’s my sister…from another mister! In the words of our favorite childhood character, Anne Shirley, we are “Kindred Spirits!"
Linda Odell is the Founder & Executive Director of SOHO, the Space Of Her Own nonprofit based in Alexandria, Va. Linda is the sister-in-law of my long-time friend, Katie Leed Odell. Katie and I met almost 24 years ago in 6th grade at Letort Elementary school in the country side of Conestoga, PA. She’s more than a friend; she’s my sister…from another mister! In the words of our favorite childhood character, Anne Shirley, we are “Kindred Spirits!"
I wasn’t surprised when Katie, who is
a busy wife and mother of three very young children, as well as an active member of her church and volunteer community, was the first to respond
to my email about my desire to create my own (kosher and halal) Happy Hour! She
told me about her sister-in-law’s non-profit, SOHO, and I had the privilege of learning
more about it. Below are excerpts of my interview with Linda Odell.
What
is the mission of SOHO? Our mission is to provide disadvantaged girls
with social, emotional, academic and creative enrichment through mentorship and
arts instruction. We aim to reach underprivileged girls in local communities
and prevent juvenile criminal involvement. We strive to inspire young girls to
create a better future for themselves by designing a space of her own.
When
& How did you learn about SOHO? I started SOHO in Virginia, in 2003 through my work with
the juvenile court, at a time when crimes committed by girls were skyrocketing,
particularly in the areas of shoplifting & fighting. Too many [girls] were
running away from home and too many were getting pregnant. I’d had a long
history of developing crime prevention and afterschool programs, but this
population was difficult to “hook.” They were disinclined to attend anything
unless it was “fun.” A few years ago, I was contacted by someone from Lancaster, PA’s juvenile probation office about starting a SOHO program there. He had learned about SOHO at a conference where I had presented and had no idea that I’d grown up in Lancaster. Unfortunately there was no follow-through, most likely due to massive cuts in prevention program funding. If anyone is interested in starting a Lancaster, Pennsylvania SOHO program, I'd be more than happy to help.
What
motivated you to start your own chapter? I wanted to start a mentoring program
for girls, because mentoring has been proven to be a highly successful approach
to helping girls develop into capable, secure and happy adults. A survey of
local middle school girls indicated that 97% had an interest in art. I came up
with the SOHO—Space of Her Own concept when reading a Teen People Magazine
article. Oprah had teamed up with a popular designer and renovated two girls’
bedrooms, Trading Spaces-style. What struck me was that both of the girls were
white and appeared to live in highly affluent homes. I thought to myself, “How
could Oprah, of all people, help these girls when there are so many other girls
who need it more?” That’s when a “ding”
went off in my brain and SOHO was conceived. I knew that virtually every girl
in Alexandria would want to participate and that I’d have no problem recruiting
volunteers. I needed to find a nonprofit partner to apply for grant funding, so
I approached a local arts organization. It took four visits before I met
someone who was interested, and willing to help get things rolling. Alice
Merrill and I are now Living Legends of Alexandria for starting SOHO!
What
did you NOT expect? What has surprised me the most is the number
of girls and women who apply to SOHO. We currently have 53 women to invite to
our summer orientation sessions who will vie to serve as SOHO mentors this
fall. We only have the capacity to select a maximum of 12 girls and 12 mentors
for each of our 2 locations. Girls cry when they find out they have not been
selected. It’s heartbreaking.
How
has SOHO transformed your life: I have been inspired a million times
throughout the SOHO journey, watching girls transform from [feeling] insecure
to confident, from friendless to social butterflies, from sad to happy, from
rude to classy. I’ve watched rooms transform from moldy, roach-infested spaces
with personal items stored in trash bags, to gorgeous spaces that the girls
adore. I’ve seen a crack-addicted mother borrow our room renovation cleaning
supplies and scrub her entire house. I’ve met a single, unemployed father who
stayed up all night installing the carpet we had donated so that his 3 daughters
could enjoy a clean, fresh new bedroom. One family was slated for eviction from
their government-subsidized home when SOHO stepped in to enable them to stay.
SOHO mentors have been phenomenal. It’s incredible to see the extremes they go
to enrich the lives of their mentees and, with a shoestring budget and a lot of
networking and creativity, create beautiful new bedrooms.
Four years ago, I was contacted by an
arts center in Richmond, VA and helped them to start a SOHO program. Three
years ago, a school teacher and longtime SOHO volunteer started our second SOHO
site.
SOHO’s
Achievements & Future Goals:
v In 2011,
SOHO received nonprofit status and a strategic planning grant. I invited several
of my respected volunteers to attend a full-day planning session. I was thrilled
when 22 out of 25 of them attended! We now have a comprehensive working plan
for SOHO’s upcoming years.
v Last
November, SOHO won a free marketing campaign from a young advertising
professionals group. Over a dozen volunteers have worked to create a website,
promotional video, marketing campaign, fundraising event, free business cards
and letterhead, donated web space and e-mail accounts. Their work has been
valued at over $150,000. All this for a new nonprofit with a mere $16,000 in
the bank.
v Last month
I met with a brilliant man who, along with his equally brilliant wife, founded
a nonprofit in Nairobi, Kenya. After watching the new SOHO video, he said, “So
the room renovations are about giving the girls dignity? We distribute dignity
kits to girls living in a refugee camp in Nairobi, which include flashlights
and rape whistles. Could you adapt SOHO to meet those girls’ needs?” I
suggested we match girls with trained college student mentors to learn life,
coping and safety skills who would work together to design personalized bedroll
backpacks with Velcro pockets to store safety and personal items. He loved the
idea and has invited me to Nairobi in June to get the ball rolling. I shared
this with three of this season’s SOHO girls, all of whom, by US standards live
in extreme poverty. One responded gleefully, “We could be pen pals!” Another said, “We can send them flashlights
and whistles!” The possibilities are
endless.
I am working harder than I have in my
life, juggling my paying job with my volunteer work directing SOHO. But it’s
pretty darn exciting! – Linda Odell, founder of SOHO.
To learn more about this amazing
nonprofit, or to find out how you can help, please watch this video and visit
their website:
Don’t forget to share this with your
friends and family. They might be inspired to become mentors themselves…or at
least, smile and feel happy knowing that people like Linda are helping to create
happy girls become happy women. As a woman myself, I know the world needs all
the happy women it can get! Now, if only we could get some men to understand
this need! OK, I won’t go there…at least not today! ;)
