A Lifelong Commitment to Accessibility and Leadership
Sometimes, the smallest moments leave the biggest imprint.
For Jamie Shopland, that moment came in the 1980s when she was a Brownie. Among the pages of songs, crafts, and badges in her handbook, she discovered the American Sign Language (ASL) alphabet. It might have seemed like just another skill to try, but for Jamie, it became a way to connect. After learning that a classmate had Deaf parents, she set out to memorize every letter, determined to communicate and include.
That simple act of inclusion sparked a lifelong lesson: every person’s voice matters, even if it’s expressed differently.
Years later, that early skill would take on a new meaning. Jamie’s daughter, Marren, has ataxic cerebral palsy and is non-speaking, and Jamie has taught her more than 70 ASL signs. Through signing, Marren has a way to share her thoughts and feelings with the world, and Jamie is witnessing the power of giving every child the tools to lead in their own way.
Today, Jamie is a Daisy troop leader for Marren and her twin sister, Marlowe. She is building a troop culture where leadership reflects every Girl Scout of every ability, background, and dream.
“I see firsthand how Girl Scouts builds a leadership pipeline rooted in courage, confidence, and character,” she says.
Jamie’s commitment doesn’t stop at her troop. She also serves as Chair of the Frederick County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee, advocating for students with disabilities and their families. The same spark that was lit in her Brownie years continues to drive her today, shaping the way she parents, leads, and creates space for others to thrive.
“My Brownie sash may be long gone, but the spark it lit still drives me: when we teach girls the power of inclusion and give them the tools to lead, they grow into women who change the world,” she said. “I’m building the next generation of leaders, starting with my own daughters, and I know the ripple effect will reach far beyond our troop.”
Her story is a reminder of what makes Girl Scouts so powerful. A Brownie handbook from decades ago planted the seeds of inclusion, courage, and advocacy. Those seeds grew into a lifetime of leadership and are now being passed on to the next generation. As Jamie’s story shows, inclusive leadership reaches far beyond one troop, one family, or one community. It’s the kind of impact that changes the world.
