Jen Ross is no stranger to Girls Inc.

You’ve seen her pictures for close to a decade as she captures the true moments of our girls.

Jen, who grew up in the small agricultural town of Salinas, California, comes from the same birthplace as famous American writer, John Steinbeck. Her parents, who worked in the army and in retail for the oil and gas industry, modeled the type of work ethic that Jen upholds to this day.

Lest every strong woman was once a young girl. And when Jen was a little girl, her parents gifted her with a Christmas present that would spark the kind of joy that would go far beyond Christmas morning: a 110mm camera.

“I would beg my mom to get prints and film at the local pharmacy,” she tells us with a laugh. “I was always bopping around, taking pictures of friends, family, and pets. I even won a photography competition when I was younger, and I have four or five albums of just my cats!”

That inner girl’s excitement for creative and powerful imagery would remain with her for decades, and upon graduating college and exploring where her career could take her, Jen eventually landed in Denver – a place she has called home for the last fifteen years. Not long after, she realized just how much more powerful her impact could be as a volunteer in the nonprofit industry.

Enter: Girls Inc. of Metro Denver.

“I’ve been a long-time volunteer of Girls Inc.,” she shares. “I was always the girl showing up with a camera to the after-school programs, field trips and special events. I’ve always admired the impact Girls Inc. has on the community and I just knew I wanted to help take it to the next level.”

Seeing the impact of Girls Inc. of Metro Denver on the community and the power that board members had to generate money for and influence the organization began to inspire and empower her to go beyond volunteerism.

“I love the relationships I’ve built with fellow board members. We’re all here for the same reason, but regardless of whether you’re a volunteer or a board member, the best part about this work is interacting with the girls themselves.”

Those interactions were true full circle moments for Jen as the organization’s photographer, especially after taking photos of them over the span of their time at Girls Inc. For Jen, watching each girl start off as a young girl and eventually graduating or moving on to college reminds her of just how quickly their growth can transpire into long-term success, thanks to the organization’s mission, vision, and values.

“When we say strong, smart, and bold, we mean building up resilience for girls, so they have the proper tools and opportunities to thrive,” she explains. “I remember as a kid I was thankful to have had people in my life who supported me in the same ways Girls Inc. does, but many people do not. I always say if I had access to STEM classes as a young girl, I would probably be in an entirely different career!”

That access to career exploration, scholarships, and supplemental learning uniquely positions Girls Inc. as a catalyst for change across the Denver region, specifically through their whole-girl programming. This approach, which supports girls socially, academically, and from a health perspective, creates space for development that is truly transformational. Girls Inc. generates sustainable outcomes for girls so they can champion themselves using the skills they learn through their programming that go far beyond their time with the organization.

But being strong, smart, and bold isn’t limited to the girls of Girls Inc. In fact, Jen tells us that even in her current season of life, each of these words carries significance to her identity and how she sees herself fit into the world.

“Staying smart for me means constantly learning and staying curious, being strong means leaving your comfort zone sometimes, and being bold means continuing to take risks,” she explains. “I put trust in being a ‘Jen of all trades’ and continuously progressing, even when it is scary.”

As our time together came to a close, we asked Jen what she would tell her inner girl about her future if she could go back in time and speak to her. Her answer serves as a reminder for all of us to live stronger, smarter, and bolder lives through our inherent inner strengths.

“I want to tell her she is stronger and more capable than she realizes. I’d remind her not to let fear hold her back. That some of the best moments in life come from stepping out of your comfort zone and it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. I want to say to my inner girl that her future is bright and to believe and trust in herself.”