Girls Going The Distance is dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. The Junior League of El Paso will team with female participants in 3^rd-8^th grades from the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence (CASFV) in a mentoring relationship centered on running.  Over the course of the project, the girls will develop and improve confidence and strength of character, learn to respond to others and themselves with care, create positive connections with peers and JLEP committee members, and make meaningful contributions to our community and society.

Fresh Beginnings: From Farm to Table empowers the El Paso community through a partnership between the Junior League of El Paso and the YMCA to increase access to fresh, locally-grown produce and nutritious meal options.  Committee and community members will become advocates for individual and community solutions to poverty and hunger, promoting self-sufficiency and increasing regular physical activity among community members, with attendant benefits to both the physical and mental health of participants.  “Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach them how to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”

Building Connections will focus on improving the relationship between caregiver and child by developing positive and supportive communications and modifying behavior patterns through teaching effective discipline and child management skills.  The Junior League of El Paso will work with the El Paso Child Guidance Center and young children, ages 2-7 years, who experience emotional and behavioral problems (e.g. temper tantrums, hitting, kicking, not following directions) stemming from exposure to traumatic events such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.

Spotlight on Mental Health is a collaboration between the Junior League of El Paso and Emergence Health Network to produce a special television “Community Mental Health” program that aims to reduce the stigma associated with mental health illnesses.  The program will provide El Pasoans information regarding the availability of local resources for the early identification and treatment of mental health illnesses, the opportunity to have questions answered by a panel of mental health professionals, and insights into events and programming for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).