A Thanksgiving Note of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings I enjoy—food on the table, the warmth of family, and the security of a roof over my head. These simple but essential privileges are easy to take for granted, yet they provide the foundation for stability and well-being. This year, my thoughts have also turned to how these privileges shaped my life as a girl. My family’s access to resources protected me from being pulled deeper into systems that often fail to help young girls. Instead, I had access to community services that understood my needs and behaviors, preventing the kind of punitive responses that many of our girls face.

I realize now how fortunate I was. Like many girls, I dealt with challenges in my life by relying on the survival strategies I knew. Some of those strategies may have seemed risky or even destructive to adults, but they helped me cope. In other circumstances, these behaviors could have been labeled as problematic or even illegal. What made the difference for me was my family’s ability to see me beyond my behaviors. They saw me for who I truly was and never stopped showing up for me. I remember my father driving me an hour each way to therapy and a support group—just one example of how my family’s support and access to resources changed the course of my life. I had the privilege of a stable home, transportation, food, and services that helped me heal and grow.

Through my work at the Policy Center, I now have the honor of working with girls whose lives often lack this same safety and stability. Many of the girls we serve don’t have regular access to healthy food, a secure home, or a family with the means to provide what they need. The Thanksgiving season serves as a stark reminder of this reality. While we celebrate our blessings, too many girls struggle just to survive.

As I write this note to you, I am filled with immense gratitude for the community that surrounds and supports our work. It’s through powerful partnerships that we can push for policy changes and transform practices to improve safety and fair treatment for girls. These partnerships also allow me the privilege of working alongside an extraordinary team of women—the Policy Center’s dedicated staff. Their resilience, passion, and unwavering commitment to our mission are truly inspiring. Every day, they show up with empathy and determination, making a profound difference in the lives of the girls we serve. Without their hard work, the Policy Center simply wouldn’t exist.

We are also deeply thankful for our valued investors, donors, and partners. Their support, whether through financial contributions or collaborative efforts, ensures that we can continue providing critical services, conducting research, and teach other partners how to best serve vulnerable girls. Our community supporters fill the gaps, often going above and beyond, and their impact is felt in every corner of our work. At every step, you continue to see girls for their true potential, not their present circumstances.

Most importantly, I am grateful for the privilege to serve girls and families in our community. Their courage, strength, and resilience inspires me every day. Their stories remind our team why this work matters, and their futures fuel our commitment to fighting for justice and opportunity for all girls.

As we approach this holiday season, please remember the disparities that persist in our society. Let’s continue build communities where every girl has the chance to thrive—where food, family, shelter and safety are not privileges but basic rights that everyone can access.

This Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the opportunity to create communities where girls are safe, respected, and valued. We are profoundly grateful for your support to make this vision a reality. From all of us at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center, Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for your commitment to See the Girl.

Sincerely,
Vicky
President & CEO