Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan is pleased to honor Olivia with the most prestigious award in the world for girls: the Girl Scout Gold Award. Olivia is among 13 young women who have made a difference in each of their respective communities through sustainable, community change projects. The time and continuous effort these girls have dedicated towards their projects prove they’re true leaders, innovators, and exceptional examples for all girls to look up to.

The Gold Award is Girl Scout’s highest honor and girls are required to spend at least 80 hours investigating the problem, creating a plan, and implementing it. It is presented to Girl Scouts who address a community issue or problem they’re passionate about. Olivia chose to address mental health for her project.

Olivia created a meditation circle at the Carleton United Methodist Church for the community in Carleton, and for the rest of the county in Monroe. She wanted to provide a space for people to meditate and reflect on their thoughts peacefully following the mental toll COVID-19 took on so many. By creating a mediation circle for the community to come together, individuals could now relax and think clearly. The circle includes a concrete cross at its center and privacy barrier. She worked side by side with her pastor, Carleton United Methodist Church’s the Board of Trustees, other church members, and local volunteers to make this project a reality. It was officially welcomed into the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I was able to get out of my comfort zone for the first time and talk to people outside of my own community with confidence. Before starting this project, I always had trouble making difficult decisions, but now
I don’t have to think twice.”