Carol Ayoob is leading a new youth venture in Aroostook County aimed at empowering the next generation of women in rural communities.
Young women from 10 middle and high schools gathered at the University of Maine Presque Isle for the Mainely Girls conference on June 3, 2016 in a day that included group sessions on chemistry, microscopic nature photography, yoga, relaxation and healthy relationships.
“Sometimes it’s good for girls to get together without guys around. They tend to share more authentically,” said Ayoob, executive director of Mainely Girls.
“They’re given information about what it means to be a girl by society. But we’re trying to challenge it, and start a conversation about what makes them special and how to stand up against things that disempower people.”
Started in Maine’s midcoast area 20 years ago, Mainely Girls is somewhat new to Aroostook County, said Ayoob, an artist and educator originally from Fort Fairfield. “It was originally set up to provide all kinds of activities to empower rural girls,” and the board of directors allowed Ayoob to move the program to focusing on Aroostook County and northern Maine, the largest rural area in the state.
Ayoob said that Mainely Girl’s ongoing programming will include book clubs, nature trips, and interactive media and theatre performances. The organization also is offering a mentorship program to high school students through UMPI and a statewide book club for elementary and middle-schoolers, with a collection of books at the Presque Isle library.
“We’re dreaming big about anything to empower girls and have space and time together to connect,” Ayoob said. “We’re trying to reroot in Aroostook and we’re going to grow it from here.”
