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Commitment to Diversity
A Letter from Patricia Diaz Dennis
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to an end, I thank each and every one of you who helped us celebrate the beautifully vivid cultures of our Latina Girl Scouts. From sharing personal stories of what it means to be Latina, to the various commemorative events councils held around the country, our month-long tribute to Hispanic heritage was incredibly meaningful.
In early October, MANA – a National Latina Organization which empowers Latinas through leadership development – honored me as a 2007 Las Primeras Award recipient for Community Service for my Girl Scouts work. Leticia Van de Putte, Texas State Senator and co-chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a wonderfully amazing Latina, also received an award. When we chatted, she described her childhood Girl Scout experience as crucial in her upbringing. She said her mother put her in Girl Scouts in the late 1950s because it was the only place in San Antonio where "little Mexican girls, Jewish girls and African American girls" could all be together. She brought tears to my eyes.
Including a diverse range of people at all levels of Girl Scouting is one of our most important core values, inherent since our very founding. Starting in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low purposely sought out girls from varied socio-economic backgrounds, different races, ethnicities, religions and abilities. We've kept this spirit of multiculturalism and diversity alive through the last 95 years of Girl Scouting, as Van de Putte's mother recognized. I am proud we carry on Juliette's incredible legacy today through the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
To me, it's a bit odd to set aside just a special week or month to celebrate the history and contributions of one group or another. Holding true to the Girl Scout Law of making the world a better place, we should honor the richness of diversity daily. And so, I call upon everyone involved in the Girl Scout Movement to spend every day all year rededicating ourselves to inclusiveness in our relationships. We should become engaged in the cultures, interests and priorities of the people around us. Our differences make America and Girl Scouting strong. Together we can ensure they stay that way.
Patricia Diaz Dennis
Chair, National Board of Directors
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VOLUNTEER