(above) Erica Bell and her daughter participating with the Girls on the Run New Jersey East for a 5K race.
Girls on the Run New Jersey East Welcomes Erica Bell to Board of Directors
Submitted by Lori Kapferer
Girls on the Run New Jersey East is proud to welcome Union resident Erica Bell to its Board of Directors. Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a nonprofit youth development program that inspires girls in 3rd through 8th grade to recognize their limitless potential and boldly pursue their dreams.
Erica Bell provides a wealth of experience through her service to several community organizations including the Township of Union, Kean University, the NJ State Assembly, Urban League of Union County, the National Council of Negro Women, and Atlantic Healthcare System. Bell is the Branch Manager at the Vauxhall Branch of the Union Public Library, where she has been employed for 25 years. A Certified Life and Career Coach and owner of Pathways Learning Institute, LLC, Bell also brings her knowledge as a local business owner. Bell has served as a volunteer coach at the Union-based GOTR program site for two seasons.
Describing her journey to the GOTR Board, Bell said, “I was introduced to Girls on the Run through my daughter, who is a program participant. While she was attending practice, interacting freely and joyfully with a diverse population of girls, I was learning about the importance of carving out me time so I began walking and gradually running. When we crossed the finish line of our first 5K race together, we felt accomplished and wanted more. I was invited to learn more about the organization and from that point on I was all in, fully invested and telling everyone about GOTR. I love that we are empowering young girls and teaching them how to let their star power shine!”
Girls on the Run New Jersey East has used physical activity to empower girls throughout Essex, Morris, Union, Burlington, and Mercer Counties since 2000. The council is generously supported by presenting sponsor R. Seelaus & Company, Inc., a Summit, NJ-based financial services firm. With the help of the Board of Directors and volunteers, the program continues to grow each year, inspiring more girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.
Girls on the Run currently seeks volunteers and girls to participate in the upcoming fall season. To learn more visit girlsontherunnj.org.
About Girls on the Run
More than a running program, Girls on the Run inspires girls in 3rd – 8th grades to recognize their inner strength and celebrate what makes them one of a kind. Participants learn critical life skills such as helping others, resolving conflict, managing emotions, and making intentional decisions. Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches who mentor the girls. The ten-week program concludes with all participants completing a celebratory 5K event, which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Since its inception in 1996, Girls on the Run has served more than 1.6 million girls across all 50 states.
(above) Union resident Erica Bell joins the Girls on the Run New Jersey East Board of Directors.
