Philadelphia police officers met with a group of middle schoolers from the Girls Together as One program on Friday, February 3 to discuss female empowerment over french toast and donuts.

   Officers Charleen Small and Jackie Hyk of the 9th District, Julie Carpenter and Lori Jackson of the 6th District and Kidijah Velez of the Center City District joined the young girls at the Science Leadership Academy to talk about issues such as negative stereotypes of police officers and dealing with cyberbullying.

   “We’re really excited anytime we have an opportunity to work with this generation and explain what we really do,” Small said.

   Nadia Green and Savannah Manns, the two high school students who created Girls Together As One, set up the police breakfast for Najah Mouzon, Symiah Carson, Arianna Reynolds and Thanairy Martinez, who went through the four-week mentorship program.

   “I learned a lot. We talked about cyber bullying and fake friends,” Reynolds said. She added that the program made her feel more prepared for high school.

   The girls had also set up a food drive for Philabundance at their school, William H. Ziegler Elementary.

   While the girls did not reach their food drive goal, Manns and Green said the girls accomplished something just as important — they had learned how to lead, collaborate and communicate from the program.

   “I could see a difference in each one of the girls throughout the program,” Green told Spirit News. “I could see how they are able to better analyze challenging situations and become more vocal.”

  At the breakfast, the police officers spoke to the girls about issues touched upon in the program, such as the importance of having good friends.

   Carpenter, who is the community relation officer for the 6th District, told the girls how she hated public speaking but learned to get through it with the help of Officer Jackson.

  “She made me stronger by having my back all the time,” Carpenter said. “It really helps to have someone by your side. That’s why I like us girls, we always stick together.”

   Small chimed in and advised the girls to make sure they were choosing friends that were respectful of them.

  “Choose someone who picks you up,” Small said. “Someone in your life that means something to you should not make you feel sad or uncomfortable.”

   The police officers warned the girls about the dangers of social media and cyberbullying. They told the girls to be careful about what they post online, especially with the chance that future schools and jobs will be able to find what you post.

  “Nothing is private,” Velez said.

   The police officers also talked to the girls about school and the importance of studying hard, especially because the girls who were in seventh and eighth grade had to start thinking about applying to high school.

  “If you’re not doing the best that you could possibly be doing, start doing the best that you could possibly be doing,” Jackson said.

   The police officers and the girls also talked about the negative stereotypes police officers face in communities like North Philadelphia. When Mouzon asked the police officers how the stereotypes made them feel, some said they felt sad or angry, while others said they try not to let it get to them.

   Jackson asked the girls what they had first thought of the police officers upon seeing them. Martinez smiled and said, “They’re gonna be funny.”

   Ultimately, Green said the breakfast went well and was not only a learning experience for the young girls, but for Green and Manns as well.

   “I feel great after accomplishing this event,” Green said. “I’ve learned a lot from this experience and it is only helping me grow.” •