Story by Charilyne Rojas. Video by Jennie Trejo. Photos provided by Lemon Aide Society.
Dallas Doing Good has had the privilege of partnering with the Communities Foundation of Texas for North Texas Giving Day over the past few years, but this year, we are doing it Texas BIG. It is the 15th anniversary of the largest community giving event in the nation, so we have selected 15 organizations to highlight leading up to Giving Day on September 21. Early giving kicked off on September 1.
A group of girls from Dallas is learning to transform life’s lemons into lemonade while having fun through leadership, service, and self-empowerment. With the mission to inspire the next generation of female leaders to make a sustainable difference in their community and the world, the Lemon Aide Society’s vision is for every girl to have the self-confidence, self-esteem, and life skills to reach their full potential and give back.
Founded in 2020 by Debbie Weinstein with the help of close friend Julie Cruz, the organization was born from a passion for building tomorrow’s female leaders. The nonprofit has made a tremendous impact in only three years, both with the girls they develop– who are endearingly referred to as “Lemon Aides”– and the numerous organizations they have partnered with.
Having over a combined 60 years of mentoring and educating girls in various settings, Debbie and Julie learned that girls strive to be their best selves when someone believes in them. Recognizing a need in our community, they developed an impactful female empowerment, service, and leadership program focused on relationship building with self, each other, and our community.
“There are many service-oriented organizations, but I came up with this idea to make it a leadership organization, but they would plan service projects as the vehicle to learn leadership, confidence, self-esteem, and other life skills.”
Lemon Aide Society launched a few weeks before the pandemic, but that did not stop Debbie and Julie. In response, they created an online summer camp. “We ran the camp in 3 sessions for a total of 9 weeks. We did everything you do at a regular camp: science, cooking, and the whole camp was a service project.”
Debbie says they donated all the money they made and let the girls choose where it went at the end of every session. “We raised $11,000 and donated it around town, which was really important during COVID. Here was the foundation for Lemon Aide Society.”
The Lemon Aide Society is based upon three pillars: empowerment, leadership, and service. The organization grows strong and confident leaders by empowering girls to actively learn about themselves and their ability to make a difference in their community through mentorship, project leadership, teamwork, and community service.
Through its unique tiered mentorship program, the organization fosters leadership identity. As the girls grow, so does their role in the program, with opportunities to continue membership as mentors. Positive female mentorship is proven to foster independent and confident women. Lemon Aides are guided by Teen Mentors, who themselves are also guided by Adult Mentors. Teen mentors develop their own leadership skills through practical experience mentoring Lemon Aides and having their own adult mentorship, in addition to building their college portfolios and fulfilling community service hours.
Service is the vehicle by which the Lemon Aides cultivate their leadership skills. The organization provides opportunities to lead social justice initiatives from program development to project execution. Led by a project leader, Lemon Aides gather monthly to learn about a specific need in our community, identify ways to address that need, and participate in the project.
Girls rotate as project leaders, giving them the opportunity to take ownership of a service project. Lemon Aides discover personal strengths by guiding their group in planning, decision-making, implementing, and evaluating their service projects. By the time the girls enter high school, they have a unique leadership style and the skill set to work with diverse sets of individuals and groups effectively. Through meaningful engagement with one another and their community, Lemon Aides gain a deeper understanding of social justice from a young age.
“When we do a service project, everyone has a role. One or two girls are designated project leaders, and they spend the month before planning the project with their mentors. In one session, they’re planning the project. In another, they’re working on their presentation. In another, they’re creating a script for the project.”
Debbie now has the impressive approach down to a science. The focus for 2nd and 3rd graders is public speaking and presentation skills. Students learn how to describe the service project and partner agency in short paragraph form, with 3rd graders also learning how to summarize with bullet points and create slideshows. For 4th and 5th graders, students plan their own detailed script during presentations. By 6th grade, students have learned how to create their own presentations independently.
Past service projects have included donating over 10,000 items to North Dallas Shared Ministries, making nearly 650 Passover food packages for Jewish Family Services, and gifting 600 books to After 8 to Educate this summer.
“When we set up the delivery, almost every organization gives us a tour and chats with us. The girls really learn how what they’re doing makes an impact. The kids leave these organizations inspired because they know they’ve made a difference.”
Debbie now has the impressive approach down to a science. The focus for 2nd and 3rd graders is public speaking and presentation skills. Students learn how to describe the service project and partner agency in short paragraph form, with 3rd graders also learning how to summarize with bullet points and create slideshows. For 4th and 5th graders, students plan their own detailed script during presentations. By 6th grade, students have learned how to create their own presentations independently.
Past service projects have included donating over 10,000 items to North Dallas Shared Ministries, making nearly 650 Passover food packages for Jewish Family Services, and gifting 600 books to After 8 to Educate this summer.
“When we set up the delivery, almost every organization gives us a tour and chats with us. The girls really learn how what they’re doing makes an impact. The kids leave these organizations inspired because they know they’ve made a difference.”
After surveying their teachers, Debbie received positive feedback like increased empathy, getting along better with their peers, and more confidence when speaking in class.
“Imagine if we catch these girls in elementary school instead of waiting. So many programs address high school girls in lower-income areas, and it’s too late,” Debbie says. “Let’s catch them while they’re still impressionable, while they want to be successful and approved by their teachers when they see a mentor because the mentor believes in them.”
Girls who desire to learn about themselves, their communities, and how to make a difference are encouraged to apply. Girls in 2nd to 9th grades are invited to apply as Lemon Aides, while teens in grades 10th-12th and adult mentors are also welcome to join the fun in empowering the next generation of female leaders.
“My philosophy for this is that I want girls to learn how to be leaders in their community,” Debbie shares. “My girls from a Title I community have different needs than my girls from the North Dallas community. But if somebody came to me from another community, I would help them start a chapter and help them find projects that speak to them and their community.”
Debbie adds this has been a learning process, but the effects are already evident. “I can tell the kids that have been with us since the beginning. I can see the change in them. When girls have an adult who believes in them, they can do anything.”
Lemon Aide Society is participating in North Texas Giving Day this year. Click here to donate or learn more. You can also check out Lemon Aide Society’s website here.
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