Galleria Dallas
During February, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and Galleria Dallas are partnering on the campaign “Redefining Influencers,” that introduces a new age of influencers and role models of whom North Texans can be be proud.
According to a study by Common Sense Media, most American teens rely on influencers as a primary source of information. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas set out to challenge that number and how social media influencers can have a dark side.
The exhibit, open from Jan. 26 to Feb. 27, will feature three North Texas professionals and two Girl Scouts Gold Award winners, illustrating their positive impacts on the world. The Gold Award, Girl Scouts’ highest recognition, is given to those who develop lasting solutions to local and global issues.
The exhibit will open on Friday, Jan. 26 and run through Feb. 27.
Photo Courtesy of Galleria Dallas.
“Young women today are barraged with a variety of voices hoping to influence them. We are proud to collaborate with Galleria Dallas to bring real influencers for change to the forefront of that dialogue,” said Jennifer Bartkowski, CEO of GSNETX.
The exhibit over influential women includes women in the community who have been a catalyst for change including Amber Williams, Devyn Walker, Linda Garcia, Kelsey Jahnke and Anya Aggarwal.
Aggarwal, a Hockaday School sophomore and Girl Scout since second grade, teaches DISD youth about healthy habits and body image in a camp called “Beautiful Body through Beautiful Mind – Inside and Out,” addressing the root causes of various issues in teens.
“I feel especially honored to be included in this year’s exhibition because of the very timely theme of “Redefining Influencers.” I think Girl Scouts are uniquely positioned to be powerful influencers because women are often the driving force behind families, finances, and major life decisions,” Aggarwal said. “As one of those women, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity to reach so many people, of both genders, to remind them how truly special they are. I sincerely hope that viewers who engage with the mural learn of their exceptional quality to be human and to make positive differences in the world just by being so. A smile, a bow, a look of understanding, a word of gratitude – we all have this superpower to change someone’s day or even someone’s life- and it starts from knowledge of within.”
Coinciding with the Girl Scout Cookie Program, the exhibit will sell boxes at Galleria Dallas until February 25.
The Cookie Box Creations contest will also return, with this year’s theme: board games. Four Girl Scout teams will conduct a live build on February 25 from 8 a.m. to noon, creating structures using a maximum of 1,000 empty cookie boxes. A panel of judges and the public will be able to vote on the creations via a QR code.
“As a woman who benefitted from experience as a Girl Scout in the Cookie Program, being able to partner with the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas to share this important message is personally empowering,” Galleria Dallas director of marketing, Megan Townsend, said.
Area Girl Scouts who visit the mall in uniform on March 9 will receive free skate rentals and a special patch at the Galleria Dallas Ice Skating Center from noon to 9 p.m.
