story by Paul Sterman
image by Jeanine Hill
As executive director of Girls Incorporated of Orange County, Lucy Santana- Ornelas helps thousands of young women make smart, positive decisions about their futures.
One of the best moves they can make is attending college — it's a place ripe with life-changing opportunities, believes Santana-Ornelas. At least, it was for her.
A criminal justice major, she intended to become a probation officer. But as part of a class she took in her senior year, Santana-Ornelas did an internship with the city of Santa Ana's gang-prevention program. The experience was the catalyst for a new career plan. "That's where I found my passion," she says. The Santa Ana native decided she'd rather try to reach young people before they spiraled into the criminal justice system. "That internship gave me the foundation for what I'm doing now," says the 36-year-old.
Girls Incorporated of Orange County, founded in 1954, is geared toward girls 5 to 18. The nonprofit served more than 3,500 girls in 2005. Programs are held weekly at schools and community centers throughout the county. "So these girls grow to depend on Girls Incorporated in their lives," Santana-Ornelas says. The enthusiastic steward of this organization has drawn wide-ranging praise for her work. The group's educational activities help young people learn financial know-how and the basics of running a business; develop computer and technological skills; try to become physically fit and aware of nutrition; prepare for college — about 90 percent of the students are the first ones in their families to attend — and consider career options.
Santana-Ornelas helps the budding women grapple with difficult issues — such as pregnancy prevention, body image, sexual assault, peer pressure, relationships, and family conflicts — head-on rather than bury them in silence. The group's ultimate goal is to turn out strong, independent women who feel good about expressing themselves and who realize their limitless potential. "I often have women who will come up to me and say, 'Where was Girls Incorporated when I was growing up?'"