Hi! I’m Janie, the lead teacher of Girls Club Bakersfield.

I’m a wife, a mom to three girls, and someone who has always had a heart for encouraging girls and women.

My own experience growing up, combined with raising daughters of my own, is what made this work feel so important to me. I remember what it was like to go through the changes of puberty without always feeling comfortable talking about them or knowing what questions to ask.

As a mom, I want something different for my daughters and for the girls growing up alongside them.

I believe girls deserve to:
- Understand their bodies before the changes begin
- Know the correct names for their anatomy
- Feel comfortable asking questions
- Learn about puberty in an honest, age-appropriate way
- Know how to recognize and communicate boundaries
- Feel confident and proud of who they are
- Have women in their lives who encourage them and remind them of their worth

When I discovered the Girls Club program, I immediately connected with its mission and knew I wanted to bring something like it to girls in Bakersfield.

As a mom, I know it takes trust to send your daughter into a space where personal topics are being discussed. I don’t take that lightly.

My goal is to create the kind of environment I would want for my own girls:
- Safe enough to ask questions
- Comfortable enough to be themselves
- Fun enough that learning never feels clinical or intimidating
- Age-appropriate and matter-of-fact
- Encouraging of every girl and where she is in her own journey!

More than anything, I hope every girl leaves Girls Club understanding her body a little better and feeling seen, prepared, confident, and proud of exactly who she is! Thanks for being here!