By Megan Sayles,
AFRO Business Writer,
msayles@afro.com
Violet Apple, the first Black CEO of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, stepped down from her post on Jan. 31. Apple has led the organization, which serves more than 35,000 girls and adults, since 2014.
Her exit marks the first time in her career that she has not worked for a Girl Scouts council.
“I’m stepping down from this role, but that doesn’t mean I’m stepping down from Girl Scouting,” said Apple. “It’s been part of my life, and it’s going to continue to be. I really have enjoyed everything about the work I have been able to do, the people I have met and the communities I have served.”
Growing up in Lebanon, Pa., Apple was a Girl Scout herself. She, alongside a group of friends, joined a troop in the fourth grade. She recalled volunteering, holding spaghetti dinners and camping—something she said her family never would have done.
Although Apple’s time as a Girl Scout ended during her seventh grade year, several of her fellow troop members became her lifelong friends.
After Apple became her family’s first college graduate, earning a social work degree from Millersville University, she secured her first job with a Girl Scouts council in Pennsylvania
She was hired in a full-time position as membership extension coordinator, although she had only applied for a summer job.
“My job was predominantly to go into communities of color and recruit more diverse girls into the organization, and that was many moons ago,” said Apple. “That’s how I got started with the organization, but what kept me was learning about what was happening to girls in terms of academics and how they saw themselves.”
Apple came across a study from the American Association of University Women that found girls excelled in math and science until just before middle school. Then, there was a drop in achievement.
Through working with the Girl Scouts, Apple thought she could help to change these outcomes by encouraging girls to embrace science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Apple rose through the ranks in Pennsylvania before moving to Massachusetts in 2008 to serve as the chief membership services officer for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. She oversaw all membership, programming, volunteerism and camps for the council, which totaled 60,000 members at the time.
Six years later, Apple was selected to become CEO for Girls Scouts of Central Maryland. During her tenure, parents regularly approached Apple, telling her how much it meant to their daughters to see a Black woman as the top executive.
Julia Lenzer, board chair of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, described Apple as a servant leader. She said she led with integrity and intention.
“Violet is one of the hardest workers I know,” said Lenzer. “She worked day and night, often at her own personal expense.”
Volunteer Melissa Bain recalled Apple coming to an event for World Thinking Day, a celebration for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides, at the request of a Junior Girl Scout. Bain didn’t think Apple would come, but she did and stayed the entire night.
During the event, adults lined up to meet Apple, while Bain’s brownies troop waited at the back of the line until Apple spotted them.
“She put her hand up and said something along the lines of, ‘I’m enjoying talking with you all, but I’m here for the girls. They are the VIPs here,’” said Bain. “Then, she directed them to come to the front, and she spent time with them.”
Some of the work Apple’s most proud of doing as CEO involves promoting STEM education. Apple put on all-day STEM conferences for the girls and invited parents to participate in workshops that would help them understand how to support their children’s interest in the fields.
“For me, it wasn’t about just putting a program in place. It was about nurturing each girl’s interest all the way through and inspiring them to want to do something that is not a traditional career,” said Apple. “It was also about giving them the chops to not give up because it isn’t easy for women and girls to go into STEM professions.”
Looking to the future, Apple said she’s weighing a number of opportunities. But, whatever she chooses, it will be grounded in serving and uplifting individuals.
She’s also looking forward to taking a break to re-center herself.
“I just hope at the end of the day people recognize that for me it was all about making opportunities available to girls and giving girls an opportunity to find their own voice,” said Apple.
Megan Sayles is a Report For America Corps member.
