Girls Inc. honors officials responsible for funding new High Street home

LYNN – The kitchen at Girls Inc. has been dubbed the Amelia Earhart Room, while the gymnasium is now called the Bille Jean King Room.The nicknames, bestowed in honor of Women’s History Month, made their debut at an event Thursday. Each room in the building is now dedicated to a notable woman who has left an impression on history.The ceremonial honors were shared with city and state officials who assisted in securing partial funding for the $10 million renovation and remodeling of the building which now houses the organization at 50 High St.”Without the support of our elected officials, this building wouldn’t have become a reality,” said executive director Patricia Driscoll. “We got many wonderful donations but, without federal and state and city funds, this would not have happened.”The round plaque, positioned in the lobby of the building, includes the names of U.S. Rep. John Tierney, state Sen. Thomas McGee, state Reps. Steven Walsh, Lori Ehrlich, Robert Fennell and Mark Falzone and former Mayor Edward Clancy.Tierney, who presented the organization with a book of notable women in Congress, urged girls in the program to flip through it, saying they too may find themselves in a similar book before long.”It’s a thrill to know we did something small (to help) because all of you are going to do something big,” Tierney said.Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy also came bearing gifts and presented the group with a plaque from North Shore Community College commemorating the Women’s Shoemaker Strike of 1860, when women boldly picketed for their rights from employers.”I kept trying to think of an appropriate place for the plaque and I thought the girls at Girls Inc. are strong, smart and bold and so were the women of the Shoemaker Strike,” she said. “And your new home is in the former Shoe School, so I couldn’t think of a more appropriate place for it to be.”In June 2009, Girls Inc. of Lynn moved into their new home at 50 High St. The building, which was built in 1850, originally housed the first high school in the city and was extensively renovated. A lobby, gymnasium and training center were added to the original building.”I continue to be amazed at what goes on here,” McGee said. “All of you work everyday to make sure young people make the right decisions. It’s pretty amazing.”