Gold star girl scout’s commitment to community
Girl Scouts has long been associated with earning badges and selling cookies, but recently, one Augustana student set the record straight.
Sophomore Gabriela Morales received the Girl Scout Gold Award for creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ members. Titled the “Rainbow Project,” Morales focused on advocating for more initiatives in Sioux Falls that target LGBTQ+ youth and other vulnerable groups. Events include cooking classes, outdoor activities and trivia.
With a major in art and minors in photography and women’s studies, Morales has always been fascinated by gender – it was taking pictures that first sparked her artistic inspiration.
“When you start in kindergarten you’re a daisy, and then up until twelfth, you’re an ambassador, and as girls get older, they usually stop doing Girl Scouts,” Morales said. “So, for me, in Sioux Falls, becoming an ambassador was a really big deal.”
Most individuals do not continue Girl Scouts after high school, as it requires special projects and an application with recommendations, Morales explained.
Morales has a lifetime membership with the organization. Her sister, Angelica Morales, recalls Gabriela’s growth throughout the years.
“My sister has been a Girl Scout since she was old enough to join,” Angelica Morales said. “I still remember her and I attending meetings together when we were younger — Gabi in her Daisy vest and me in my Brownie vest.”
The Girl Scouts mission is to make impactful change in communities, and what is so special about Gabi’s project is she wants to make a positive change in her sister’s community.
“The reason for my sister's interest in [the Rainbow Project],” Angelica Morales said, “was that I came out as queer during my time in Sioux Falls, but there were not many places where LGBTQ+ youth could interact with one another. I was lucky enough to have a supportive home; however, this is not the case for many LGBTQ+ youth.”
This inspired Gabriela Morales’ Rainbow Project which hosted superhero trivia, cooking classes and outdoor events targeting LGBTQ+ youth. These were hosted in the hopes a group of individuals who usually do not have events solely targeting them could feel included, with the mission of those activities becoming a normal occurrence in Sioux Falls.
Gabriela Morales’ actions have revealed her character, her sister Angelica said. “Gabi is such a remarkable person. She’s quiet at first, but that’s because she’s always absorbing everything around her. She’s a great listener and knows how to take what she learns and turn it into real solutions for the challenges she’s passionate about.”
Maisy Anderson is a close friend of Gabriela Morales and a social worker with the Transformation Project, an organization that has promoted safe spaces in Sioux Falls, opening the first LGBTQ+ community center.
“I’ve known Gabi since she was in high school, and it’s been amazing to witness her personal and professional growth. From the very beginning, she was driven, but I’ve seen her confidence bloom as she took on more responsibility with the Rainbow Project. Most people would take a break after graduating. It’s inspiring to see how much she’s grown as a leader and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community,” Anderson said.
Anderson and Gabi both believe in the power of community, sharing resources and building a strong support network. Anderson admires Morales’ work with the Rainbow Project, saying it's a “shining example” of young peoples’ impacts on a large community.
Morales will continue her work with the Dakota Horizons chapter of Girl Scouts and further her studies with a focus on photography. Morales also plans to continue her Rainbow Project. More information can be found on the project’s Instagram page.
Snapping photos, working on her studies or proudly wearing her Girl Scout badges – the Gold Award was just a sign for Morales to keep going. Because of Morales and her sister's commitments to their community, safe and inclusive spaces begin to pop up all around Sioux Falls.
