[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 51 (Thursday, March 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS' 30TH ANNIVERSARY ON THE DATE 
                     OF ITS 2017 ROLE MODEL DINNER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 23, 2017

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alternatives for 
Girls on the date of its 2017 Role Model dinner. Alternatives for Girls 
provides critical outreach and support to at-risk youth to help them 
grow strong and make positive choices to improve their lives.
  Founded in 1987 to provide shelter and care for at-risk girls in 
Detroit, Alternatives for Girls began as an all-volunteer organization 
that operated a five-bed emergency shelter in a Detroit-area church. As 
a result of the organization's success and impact, AFG has grown 
significantly in an attempt to fulfill its mission to empower and 
improve the lives of disadvantaged young women. Today, Alternatives for 
Girls has over 50 employees and operates multiple services on behalf of 
Detroit's at-risk youth. These include after-school programs for young 
women in elementary school, several shelter programs to provide stable 
homes and counseling, and outreach services to help teens and young 
women engaged in high-risk activities like gang involvement and drug 
use. This comprehensive approach to supporting young women in need has 
been effective in empowering these individuals to make positive choices 
and create a brighter future for themselves.
  Over the past 25 years, AFG has served over 105,000 at-risk girls, 
women and family members. Additionally, 99 percent of the young women 
participating in AFG's Prevention Program have graduated high school 
and gone on to college. These results underscore the impact that AFG's 
multidisciplinary and evidence-based approaches to reducing harmful 
behavior have had for at-risk youth involved in the program. 
Additionally, AFG's outreach efforts have been critical to raising 
awareness of the issues these young women face and driving action in 
state and local government. The progress that AFG has made in improving 
the lives of young girls has been remarkable and inspiring, and it is 
my hope that the organization continues its critical work in the coming 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Alternatives 
for Girls' 30th anniversary on the date of its 2017 Role Model Dinner. 
The efforts of the group have impacted the lives of countless young 
women in metro Detroit.

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