Girls Preparatory School will host MBD: Girl Edition beginning Friday afternoon with the arrival of about 30 11th and 12th grade girls from across the Chattanooga area on campus to participate in the 24Hour Generator component of the event.
Presented with use of the CO.STARTERS curriculum, the 24Hour Generator pairs teams of juniors and seniors with a mentor and facilitator to help the girls solve a real problem a local business or organization is facing. Eight teams will spend the next 24 hours coming up with a solution they will then pitch to a panel of judges and spectators in GPS Frierson Theatre on Saturday at 5 p.m. The winning team will share a monetary prize given by First Tennessee. The second-place award is given by The Jump Fund, which also donated the prize given to the winning Girls’ Marketplace vendor.
The Girls’ Marketplace showcases the talents and wares of more than 60 girl-powered businesses. Set up in the main gym at GPS, the Marketplace is open for business on Saturday from 1-6:30 p.m., with the girls taking a brief break from 5-6 p.m. to watch the 24Hour Generator pitch presentations.
Saturday’s events begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and led by GPS Head of School Dr. Autumn Graves, at 12:50 p.m. in GPS Athletic Commons. At 1 p.m. the day launches with the opening of the Girls' Marketplace, workshops for parents, learning sessions just for girls, a TinkerLab where girls can get creative, and a CO.STARTERS Canvas workshop for girls and those who support them.
MBD: Girl Edition (powered by GPS, Co.Lab and PEF) benefits from donations from area organizations; the time given by volunteer mentors, facilitators, judges, hosts, and presenters; and the support of parents and other adults who encourage their girls’ entrepreneurial spirits.
For more information or details, contact Ronna-Renee Jackson at 994-0007 or rjackson@gps.edu.