Piscataqua Savings Bank is the proud supporter of over 110 Seacoast area nonprofits. We’re highlighting a few of the nonprofits doing incredible, critical work in our Seacoast community with our Seacoast Spotlight Series. Next up in our spotlight is Soul Models.
Soul Models is a nonprofit organization serving middle school aged girls in the Southern Maine and Seacoast New Hampshire region. Through activity-based programming, Soul Models guides and supports girls as they gain valuable life skills in the areas of creative expression, leadership development, stress-reduction techniques, and an ethic of service. Soul Models’ vision is that with these tools, girls will not only serve as role models in their community but continue to grow to become the confident, resilient, Soul Models of tomorrow.
Since launching in 2015, Soul Models has held after school programs at the Stratham Cooperative Middle School, Noble Middle School, York Middle School, Shapleigh School, Oyster River Middle School, and Portsmouth Middle School. They also expanded to offer their first summer program at the Museum of New Art in 2022 and have plans to continue summer programming in 2023.
For the 2023 school year, Soul Models will be offering programs at Cooperative Middle School, Noble Middle School, York Middle School, and Shapleigh School.
Soul Models After School Programming
Soul Models’ after school program curriculum follows the central themes of self-care incorporating mind, body, spirit, and heart. Girls explore these ideals through hands-on activities that focus on the practice of mindfulness, yoga, creative expression, service and leadership.
Local business women often act as facilitators in their area of expertise, introducing girls to futures in entrepreneurship, creative expression, and STEM. These programs empower girls to discover their authentic selves as they become mindful, confident, creative, and engaged leaders, while providing them with tangible role models in their community. Many participants return year after year as they grow and evolve, becoming role models for their younger peers. Upon completion of the program, participants have reported increased confidence, a greater ability to express themselves, and a greater ability to handle stress.
How to Support Soul Models
Piscataqua Savings Bank is a proud supporter of Soul Models’ mission to empower girls to discover their authentic selves as they become mindful, confident, creative, and engaged leaders. Soul Models’ Executive Director Carrie Penna credits Piscataqua President Joan Gile and Vice President Ben Wheeler’s community involvement with the beginning of Piscataqua Savings Bank’s support for Soul Models, “Whether it’s at a Rotary meeting or GoodWork gathering, Joan and Ben are on the ground in our community, making meaningful connections. It’s through interactions like this that our relationship began and continues to flourish.”
Soul Models relies on community support from both individuals and private businesses to support scholarships for after school programs, session materials, the promotion and marketing of programs, and operational overhead. Visit Soul Models online to donate; funds raised increase access to programming by allowing Soul Models to avoid passing on the expense to participants’ families.
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