Nonprofit development manager inspired to help empower girls – SiouxFalls.Business

Report on Mia Ouma: Community Development and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Professional Profile

Mia Ouma, age 27, serves as the Development Manager at Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons. A native of Brookings, Ms. Ouma relocated to Sioux Falls to attend Augustana University and has since established her professional and personal life in the city. She attributes her decision to remain in Sioux Falls to its strong sense of community, growing career opportunities for young professionals, and high quality of life, citing the support of networks like the Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network.

Ms. Ouma’s career in the nonprofit sector is driven by a commitment to mission-oriented work focused on youth development and community engagement. Her current role is situated within a workplace she describes as collaborative, ambitious, and bold.

Core Mission and Community Contribution

The central focus of Ms. Ouma’s work is the empowerment of young girls. She identifies the most rewarding aspect of her position as the opportunity to support girls in building confidence, developing leadership skills, and contributing positively to their communities. This work directly prepares the next generation to be active and engaged citizens.

Ms. Ouma extends her commitment to community well-being through active participation on statewide boards. Her service includes roles with the following organizations:

1. National Association of Social Workers – South Dakota Chapter
2. South Dakota School-Age Care Alliance

Through these positions, she contributes to shaping policy and support systems in the fields of social work and out-of-school-time programming, thereby fostering a more resilient and connected statewide community.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Ms. Ouma’s professional and volunteer activities demonstrate a strong alignment with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• SDG 4: Quality Education: By developing leadership and life skills in young girls, her work at Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons contributes to lifelong learning opportunities. Her board service with the South Dakota School-Age Care Alliance further supports quality education in out-of-school environments.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: Her role is fundamentally centered on empowering girls, providing them with the tools and confidence to become leaders. This directly supports the mission to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Ms. Ouma’s proposal for a Mobile Mental Wellness & Meditation Studio in Sioux Falls addresses the growing need for accessible mental health resources, directly promoting well-being within the community.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Her dedication to contributing to the social fabric of Sioux Falls through professional networking and board service helps build an inclusive, safe, and resilient community.

Future Vision for Community Support

Looking forward, Ms. Ouma has identified a need for enhanced mental health and wellness resources in Sioux Falls. She proposes the establishment of a Mobile Mental Wellness & Meditation Studio. Such an enterprise would support workplace wellness programs and increase the accessibility of mindfulness practices, thereby contributing to the overall health and stress reduction of the population, in line with the objectives of SDG 3.

1. Identified Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is addressed through the suggestion to introduce a “Mobile Mental Wellness & Meditation Studio” to meet the “increasing awareness and demand for mental health resources and stress relief” in the community.

• SDG 4: Quality Education

  The article connects to this goal through Mia Ouma’s work at Girl Scouts, which focuses on non-formal education where girls “develop leadership skills.” Her involvement with the “South Dakota School-Age Care Alliance” also supports out-of-school-time programming and learning opportunities.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is a central theme of the article. Mia’s job is explicitly about the “empowerment of young girls as they build confidence” and leadership abilities, which is a core component of achieving gender equality.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article touches upon this goal by highlighting the “growing professional opportunities for young professionals” in Sioux Falls and the role of networks like the “Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network” in supporting career growth.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is relevant through Mia’s commitment to “mission-driven work that creates positive change in our communities” and her efforts to foster a “resilient, connected and thriving community” through youth development and engagement.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article highlights this goal through Mia’s active participation on the boards of non-governmental organizations like the “National Association of Social Workers – South Dakota Chapter” and the “South Dakota School-Age Care Alliance,” demonstrating a commitment to building strong, inclusive community institutions.

2. Specific SDG Targets Identified

• Target 3.4: Promote mental health and well-being

  Mia’s proposal for a “Mobile Mental Wellness & Meditation Studio” directly addresses the promotion of mental health and well-being within the community to meet a growing demand for such resources.

• Target 4.4: Increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment

  The Girl Scouts program, as described, helps girls “develop leadership skills” and learn to “make a difference in their communities,” which are relevant life and professional skills that contribute to future employability.

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership

  The core mission of Mia’s work is the “empowerment of young girls” and helping them build the confidence and skills necessary for future leadership roles, directly contributing to this target.

• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all

  The article’s mention of “growing professional opportunities for young professionals” and the support from professional networks in Sioux Falls relates to creating an environment that fosters employment and career growth for youth.

• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels

  Mia’s service on statewide boards is a direct example of participatory decision-making. By contributing to organizations that influence social work and out-of-school programming, she is participating in the governance of key community institutions.

3. Mentioned or Implied Indicators

• Indicator for Target 3.4:

  The “increasing awareness and demand for mental health resources” is an implied indicator of the community’s need. The establishment of new services, like the proposed mobile studio, would be a measurable indicator of progress.

• Indicator for Target 4.4:

  The number of girls participating in programs like Girl Scouts that focus on leadership and community engagement skills serves as an indicator of youth acquiring relevant non-formal education.

• Indicator for Target 5.5:

  The existence and active participation in organizations specifically designed for the “empowerment of young girls” is an indicator of efforts to build a pipeline for future female leaders.

• Indicator for Target 16.7:

  The active participation of community members on the boards of directors for professional and non-profit organizations, as exemplified by Mia’s roles, can be used as an indicator of participatory decision-making.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: siouxfalls.business