Girls Inc. (established in 1864) is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which encourages girls to be "Strong, Smart, and Bold" through direct service and advocacy. The organization prioritizes equipping girls with the skills to navigate through economic, gender, and social barriers and to grow up as independent individuals. It is one of the longest continuously operating organizations offering girls-only programming. History The Girls Inc. (Girls Club of America) movement was founded in 1864 in Waterbury, Connecticut. The organization's mission was to help young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of job opportunities experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War. In 1945, fourteen charter Girls Clubs joined together to form a national organization. In 1990 the Girls Club of America changed their name to Girls Incorporated. Across the decades, they adapted to meet specific environmental challenges girls and young women faced, working in partnership with schools and communities. Notable contributors The most recognized contributor to Girls Inc. is Rachel Harris Johnson. In 1919, she became secretary of the Worcester Girls Club, which her mother helped found. She later became the club's president and in 1945 formed a national organization and served as its first president until 1952. Johnson died at the age of 95 in a nursing home. The president and CEO of Girls, Inc. is Stephanie Hull, Prior to joining Girls, Inc., she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. She succeeded Judy Vredenburgh, who had been at Girls, Inc. since 2010. Local affiliates The first Girls Club opened in 1864 and has been nationally recognized since 1945. Girls Inc. has a network of local organizations in the United States and Canada. Affiliates are found across the United States and Canada. A local organization was recently launched in Chicago. Governance Girls, Inc. is governed by a dual governance structure, composed of the National Council and the National Board. The National Council, composed of 300 voting members, makes decisions concerning the purpose, goals, and public policies of the organization. They elect the National Board, the officers of the Council and the Board Development Committee. They also vote to amend the bylaws of the organization, which requires a two-thirds majority. The council meets every two years and at least 75 delegates must be present for the meeting to be called to order 45 days before each council meeting,