Uniondale High senior represents Girls Inc.

An aspiring journalist from Uniondale, Danie Henry, has added yet another achievement to her lengthening list. She has been named a national brand ambassador for Girls Inc., an organization that champions female power and leadership, and is preparing to begin a year in her new role.

“Girls Inc. has opened the door for many opportunities (for me),” Henry said.

A senior at Uniondale High School, she was notified about the honor last month, after a lengthy application process that included a video in which she described herself and her abilities, and a Zoom interview. Now Henry is in the process of fulfilling the first responsibility of her new role: filming a video to introduce herself to the rest of the organization.

As a member of Girls Inc.’s National Brand Ambassador Council, Henry, along with 10 other new members, will be a national representative and spokeswoman for the organization until next June. She and her colleagues will attend Girls Inc. events throughout the year, serving as the faces of the organization, and will also have public speaking and networking opportunities.

As a three-year member of the Girls Inc. Long Island chapter, Henry attended the organization’s annual National Luncheon, one of its main networking events, in New York City in March. There she met one of her idols, Symone Sanders-Townsend, a political strategist and commentator.

“I was so surprised that she was an alumna of Girls Inc.,” Henry said, “and it was really inspiring to see where these girls came from.”

Sanders-Townsend told Henry that her first public speaking gig with Girls Inc. was a chance to introduce former President Bill Clinton when he spoke at a 2006 fundraiser for the organization, and Henry was inspired by what Sanders-Townsend shared with her.

“I really look up to her as a young, Black female journalist,” Henry said.

Over the past three school years, Henry and other middle and high school girls in Uniondale have attended weekly Wednesday-afternoon meetings run by Girls Inc. program coordinator Nellie Washington, who has been a mentor and another source of inspiration for Henry.

“I’ve just enjoyed my time with Miss Nellie, and she’s just been such a mentor, and she’s welcomed me with open arms ever since I came to Girls Inc., and I just want to thank her for that,” Henry said. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have gotten this position.”

Each meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was a “safe space” in which the girls talked about all kinds of things, from boys and relationships to college and career readiness, Washington explained. She said she was proud of Henry for being committed to the organization and earning her new position, and admired her strength and perseverance.

“She doesn’t let fear get in the way of different opportunities,” Washington said, “and that’s one of the key things that has allowed her to truly prosper, and to have all the different doors open and opportunities that have been laid before her because of her personality, and because of who she is and how she is, how she carries herself.”

Henry decided to join Girls Inc. as a freshman because it’s a “girl’s rite of passage,” she said, that offers learning experiences and community building.

“It helps distract you from the stresses of the week,” she said. “I’ve always felt so welcomed.”

In July 2023, Henry had the chance to attend the Washington Journalism and Media Conference, where she learned about the craft of journalism and met other high school students as passionate as she is. She was also a guest on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in February, where she met another one of her idols, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

Henry wants to study journalism in college, a lifelong dream of hers. For now, however, she feels ready to begin her new journey as a Girls Inc. brand ambassador, and embrace everything that comes with it.

“I hope to gain knowledge and opportunities from this position,” she said, “but I also want to speak for other girls that don’t have the opportunity to speak on these types of issues.”

To learn more about Girls Inc., visit GirlsInc.org.