Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey (GSHNJ) unveiled a major organizational realignment Tuesday, designed to modernize program delivery and deepen its footprint across the state. The strategic shift introduces two primary structural changes: the renaming of the “Girl Experience” team to Mission Alignment and the launch of a dedicated External Affairs Department.
The realignment follows a period of significant growth for the council, most notably the successful 2025 opening of the Girl Scout Leadership Center (GSLC) in Newark—the first urban-based leadership center of its kind in the nation.
The newly minted Mission Alignment Department will oversee the “Girl Scout Leadership Experience,” ensuring that programming remains consistent and high-quality across all touchpoints, including:
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Summer Camps: Operations at Camp Hoover, Camp DeWitt, and The OVAL.
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Highest Awards: Support for Girl Scouts pursuing the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards.
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Council Properties: Modernizing facilities to meet the needs of today’s youth.
“This realignment is designed to enhance how we operate today while positioning us to meet the needs of our members and communities in the future,” Natasha Hemmings-Durant, CEO of GSHNJ said.
The creation of the External Affairs Department marks a bold step toward statewide advocacy. Tenisha Malcolm-Wint, Ph.D., who previously led the development of the Newark GSLC, has been named the department’s first vice president.
In her new role, Malcolm-Wint will not only lead GSHNJ’s strategic partnerships but will also serve as a vital link for all four Girl Scout councils in New Jersey. Her mandate includes:
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Statewide Advocacy: Managing relationships with key stakeholders and advocating for policies that support youth development.
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Community Visibility: Increasing the profile of Girl Scouting through initiatives like the Girl Scouts on the Go! Mobile Classroom, powered by Kean University.
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Data-Driven Impact: Utilizing the New Jersey Girl Report to inform donors and public-sector partners about the challenges and opportunities facing youth today.
“Launching the Girl Scout Leadership Center exemplified what is possible when strategic partnerships and community engagement are aligned,” said Tenisha Malcolm-Wint. “In this new role, I am committed to sustaining this momentum.”
The realignment solidifies the Girl Scout Leadership Center in Newark as a fully operational hub. Since its ribbon-cutting in April 2025, the 5,400-square-foot facility has seen membership in Newark surge by over 750%, providing thousands of girls with access to STEM workshops, entrepreneurship education, and community-driven murals created by local artists.
As the council moves into its 2026-2028 Strategic Plan, these structural changes are expected to diversify revenue streams beyond the traditional cookie program and ensure that every Girl Scout has a cohesive, “relational” journey within the movement.
