Last week, I had the opportunity to pitch Chloe Pink to the leadership team of
Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta.It truly was that pivotal moment, the culmination of a six year dream to put the cartoon of Chloe Pink to work on behalf of a girls organization. You may ask why did it take six years. And believe me. So have I.
But now I see I had work to do. I had art skills to develop and a voice to find. I had to learn how to draw hands (sort of...) and find a Chloe Pink face shape I could live with - a roundish square. Then I had to learn how to draw it about the same way every time. I had other characters to create like Brooklyn - an African American math whiz and fashionista,
JenBall - an athlete who coaches sportsmanship and the benefits of teamwork and physical fitness and finally, Maria - the Latina cupcake entrepreneur. I had a mission I needed to understand. I had to get to the core of what I was trying to do and who Chloe Pink truly is before I could find the partner that is right for both of us. Like kissing frogs, I had to search for an organization that would be worth the blood, sweat and
tears to pour my heart and energies into. Because, let's face it. Chloe Pink is above all else, a labor of love. And there's no sense in putting Micron 08 permanent ink marker to paper -- or now, stylus to iPad tablet- without a real cause, a read need, or a real appreciation for my dear, dear cartoon character, Chloe Pink (and friends) who simply want to support and empower girls.
But then one day it happened. The aha moment! I discovered the
Girls Inc Bill of Rights. It says,
Girls have the right to be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes, to express themselves with originality, to prepare for interesting work and economic independence and...
click here to read it. It's really great
stuff! If you know about Chloe Pink, you know she doesn't like being "boxed in." She is her own girl and wants every girl to be the same way. Thus, her mantra--"Follow YOUR Dreams, Girl!"
In other words, Girls Inc. Bill of Rights is all the things that Chloe Pink stands for and, quite simply, nobody says it better than Girls Inc. as they go about their business of helping 3,000 girls in Atlanta each year all the while. 3,000!
So, in closing, while Chloe Pink is a work in progress, nothing has been finalized and the promise of a partnership that helps girls even more is out there on the horizon....I'm hopeful that soon Chloe Pink will be helping
Girls Inc. "Inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold." After all, is there any doubt about it? Isn't that the way it should be.
Copyright © Sharna Fulton 2012. All Rights Reserved.
