In a program where advocacy meets innovation, the story of Cassandra Martinez shines as a beacon of hope and inspiration as she is looking to change the game of esports. Since joining Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, she has transformed from an intern into a dynamic leader, merging her passion for gaming with a mission to empower young girls.

Starting as an intern while pursuing her Bachelor of Family Studies at Texas Woman’s University, Martinez was driven by a deep-seated desire to strengthen confidence in young girls and advocate for positive change. 

“I have always wanted to have a job or gain experience in the advocacy field because I have always wanted to do nothing but help families be stronger. Once I heard of Girls Inc. and what their mission and goals were I immediately applied to be an intern.” 

Girls Inc.’s mission—to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold—resonated profoundly with her. “To me, the mission means helping girls become resilient (strong), confident and knowledgeable (smart), and assertive and proactive (bold),” she explains. She believes this environment helps girls believe in and never doubt themselves, which is where her love for video games and helping others began to take shape.

In June 2024, Truist Financial Corporation donated $30,000 to GITC to launch an esports program. During her internship, Martinez was asked if she played video games and that’s when she seized the opportunity to combine her advocacy work with her passion, marking the birth of an all-girls esports team. 

“Once I was given the thumbs up about being able to create an all-girls group it was like my younger self came out. My younger self screamed in happiness because I got to play games for a good cause, and I’m excited to show other girls what gaming can do for their lives.”

If you don’t know, esports, short for electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming where individuals or teams compete against each other, often organized into leagues or tournaments. The industry’s community has been expanding rapidly over the years, but with mostly boys who are dominating the sport. Martinez wants to change that narrative with the Girls Inc. team.

“Being an all-girls team in the esports community could create an impact of significant consequence to challenge gender stereotypes and promote more inclusivity.” She continues by saying this could also “motivate a new generation of female gamers, bring more visibility to women within the industry, and push toward more varied representation.”

The mashup of Girls Inc. of Tarrant County and the esports world does more than just allow girls to compete in new opportunities but challenges them on a deeper level. Martinez said it best when she called it the “bridging of communities that can challenge or question the use of traditional gender norms to elicit confidence and open pathways to technology and competitive gaming for girls.”

According to NASEF, the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations, “video games are a product of all STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) concepts coming together to form an interactive medium that forces gamers to actively learn new skills and solve problems in unique situations.” 

Girls Inc. of Tarrant County is a huge advocate for supporting girls in STEM programs and furthering their education beyond high school. This is seen through their various STEM programs, like Eureka! and Maker Mavens, as well as their brand-new STEM-focused Makerspace and lab, where girls have opportunities to get their hands on new technology in a safe space, one of which will be for video games. 

Martinez’s story is a testament to the power of merging passion with purpose, and her journey with Girls Inc. of Tarrant County just exemplifies how dedication and enthusiasm can drive meaningful change.

“The cool thing about this merge is that it manages to send out a message that girls are everywhere, even in esports, and they must not be afraid to pursue their passions boldly. It’s about creating an environment that’s inclusive for young girls who can see themselves represented and celebrated through gaming and beyond and magnifying the influence and reach for advocacy and social change through esports.”