By Zoe Lachow
As the new Fall Intern with the Global Co Lab Network and Love the Skin You’re In, I have already started to see the effects these organizations have on the Northern Virginia community. I met Linda Staheli, the founder of the Global Co Lab Network, and Brie Mathers, the founder of Love the Skin You’re In, at Brie’s motivational talk at Washington-Lee High School. I instantly felt connected to their message of connecting generations together to promote female empowerment. After bringing Brie to McLean High School, where I attend, I was able to see first-hand how having adult female role models can change teenage girls’ way of thinking. I am looking forward to bringing Brie’s message to more girls and bringing generations together at Linda’s salons.
On August 17th we hosted a salon with Brie Mathers and the Global Co Lab to keep up the momentum of this past year’s exciting work, which included bringing Love the Skin You’re In to Arlington and Fairfax teen females in Virginia.  There were over 15 women of different ages in Linda’s living room talking about our work and what we are planning.  We discussed many issues including sexual assault, rape culture and Title IX. We agreed to work hard this year on bringing Brie to multiple schools in order to get her message to more girls. We also wanted to focus on encouraging girls to join or create supportive clubs at their schools.
I’m also working with my high school on bringing girls together as a community. As an officer of the Girls’ Leadership Committee, we promote girls being role models for each other and making the school community a safe space. I am working to help set up new chapters of the Girls’ Leadership Committee at other schools, which will help us create a network of girls in Northern Virginia. I’m excited about the new initiatives that Brie and Linda are developing with the amazing mothers in Northern Virginia, many of whom helped us bring Brie to Arlington and Fairfax.
Please support our efforts!  Let us know what you can do at info@globalcolab.net