The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Kristen Garcia-Hernandez
It’s been 90 years since a group of ambitious women in Southern Arizona founded a local chapter of the Girl Scouts, an organization dedicated to empowering young women. I often hear people associate us with our most visible symbols: cookies and campfires. While these traditions are a cherished part of our organization, they are just the surface of a much deeper, more impactful story. For 90 years, we’ve built a foundation for success, creating a space for thousands of girls ages 5–18 to develop the courage, confidence and character to become tomorrow’s leaders.
Our journey began in 1935, a time when opportunities for girls were often limited. The Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona provided a critical space for young women to explore new skills and interests outside the home. Over the decades our mission has evolved to meet the changing needs of society, but our core purpose has remained constant: to help girls realize their full potential.
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The badges a girl earns on her vest today are not just decorative patches; they are a tangible representation of a toolkit for success. Each one signifies a new skill learned, a fear overcome, or a challenge met — from building a robot to advocating for a cause or managing a small business. These aren’t just hobbies; they are lessons in leadership, resilience and problem-solving.
Our commitment to serving all girls regardless of their background is central to our mission. Today, we have girls from all walks of life involved in scouting, united in a place of community, service, connection and growth. We believe that one scenario in a young girl’s life should not define her future path. That’s why we work diligently to reach girls in foster care, teens in crisis and those from challenged home environments. We strive to remove barriers so that every girl can discover her strengths and build a brighter future. Our campus on Broadway serves as a vibrant hub where girls can join a troop or participate as individuals in a wide range of activities and classes.
To celebrate our 90th anniversary, we are honoring our past and looking forward to our future with three special cornerstone events. The first is 90 Women Honored, recognizes 90 women in our community who embody the values of the Girl Scouts — women of courage, confidence and character. These are not all former scouts; they are leaders from all walks of life who inspire us all. Nominations for this prestigious honor are open until September 15th.
We are also celebrating with 90 Acts of Service, a commitment by our girls and volunteers to give back to the communities that have supported us for so long. We invite individuals and businesses to engage with us. You can list your service event on our website at the address below.
The culmination of our anniversary celebration will be the Scoutchella Music Festival on December 6th, a community-wide event that will bring people of all ages together to celebrate our legacy and look ahead to the next 90 years. Our all-female music line up includes Gigi and The Glow, Mama Goal and Sophia Rankin & The Sound. We’ll have our Cookie Rally and activities throughout the day at Kino Stadium.
Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona is a movement that changes lives and builds community one girl at a time. It’s about providing girls with a space to learn and grow, to fall and get back up, and to understand that their potential is limitless. We are immensely proud of our 90-year history, and we are excited about the future we are building together. To learn more about our celebration and how you can get involved, please visit 90YearsStrong@GSSoAZ.org.
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Kristen García-Hernandez serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. She is a native Tucsonan, a proud University of Arizona Wildcat and is honored to be the first Latina at the helm of the organization.
