History

Girls Incorporated of Meriden has been servicing the Greater Meriden area for a hundred years, transforming over the decades from being called The Meriden Girl’s Club (from 1919–1990) to Girls Incorporated of Meriden (from 1991–present.)

• In the beginning, activities were held in rented space on Colony Street.
• The 1930s were a time of growth and development for the organization. With assistance from the Meriden Community Fund (today’s United Way) beginning in 1929 the Club was able to expand efforts to provide more activities and instruction to girls in the Meriden area.
• In 1951, upon the death of Mrs. James Platt, the club was bequeathed her residence at 130 Lincoln Street – a gift we still cherish today. Mrs. Platt left this gift, as a place for girls, in memory of her daughter Margery.
• In 1990 the national organization Girls Clubs of America changed its legal title to Girls Incorporated and the Meriden affiliate followed.

There is a deep history and presence in the Greater Meriden community through Girls Incorporated of Meriden. Our philosophy has grown from teaching homemaking and etiquette skills to young women to one that is in the forefront of issues that young girls of today deal with, and we are here to inspire them to be the best they can be. We are helping to build future scientists, economically savvy women, strong and opinionated members of society, and independent-minded women who are confident, self-assured, self-reliant, and so much more.

Our Mission & Vision

The mission of Girls Incorporated is to inspire all girls to be Strong, Smart, and Bold. The vision for the organization is to be recognized as the premier all girl organization that inspires girls to work to their full potential and exercise their rights through program based curriculums that are both intentional and compensatory.

Girls Incorporated empowers girls to know that they have a right to be themselves, to express themselves with originality and enthusiasm, to take risks, to strive freely and to take pride in success, to accept and enjoy the bodies they were born with and not to feel pressured to compromise their health in order to satisfy the dictates of an “ideal” physical image, to be free of vulnerability and self-doubt and to develop as mentally and emotionally sound individuals, and to prepare for interesting works and economic independence.

The goals of the organization include reaching more girls in our community, especially pre-teen girls; continue to diversify our enrollment to meet the true makeup of Meriden; offer and implement more Girls Incorporated national identity programs like the implementation of STEM station; and more.