What's Good For Girls

Update on Recession and Resiliency

2009-01-18T06:16:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in my last post that I was leaving the office as Rachel was trying to help someone have a safe place to stay that night...here's the email she sent out next morning. Thought I would share it with you.

To sign up for more updates-- please join the mailing list at: GEMS
If you are facebook, join our causes page GEMS FACEBOOK PAGE

and thanks for reading...

Why I'm glad to still be in the office at 2am....

Dear Friend,

Tonight we received a crisis phone call. A young woman, Stacey, was desperately trying to escape her pimp and had no-one to turn to and nowhere to go. Stacy was recruited when she was 15 years old, and is now 21. Throughout her six years as a domestic trafficking victim, Stacey has experienced daily violence and abuse and tonight was simply tired. Tired of being scared, tired of being abused, tired of being sold. Several weeks ago, Stacey saw our film on Showtime, Very Young Girls, which helped her realize that there was a way out. Tonight, she came to GEMS with only the clothes on her back and asked us to help her.

Stacey told us she was too scared to stay in New York as her pimp had threatened to kill her and she believed him. We called all over the country, looking for s helter. Finally, a wonderful survivor-led program in Minnesota, Breaking Free, told us they had a bed. We bought a plane ticket and tomorrow morning Stacey will fly to Minnesota to start a new life, free from exploitation and violence.

Tonight reminded me once again of how critical GEMS services are, particularly during these challenging times. Last week, we were hit by the state budget cuts and had to lay off three staff and close one program. Yet fortunately tonight we were able to provide Stacey with food, warm clothing, toiletries, and somewhere to sleep tonight. We were also able to purchase a plane ticket that will help Stacey make a complete break from her exploiter and give her the opportunity to begin her life. As the funding sources dry up we’re obviously concerned that our ability to help girls like Stacey will be compromised. As the only non-profit in New York State serving these girls, it’s vital that our doors stay open and that we’re able to support girls in crisis.

That’s why next week we’re launching a new campaign. In honor of our 10 year anniversary, we’ll be asking people to set up a monthly donation of $10 and to recruit 10 friends to do the same. Tonight though, prior to our official launch, I’m asking you as personal friends, colleagues, and current supporters to kick off this campaign by making your own monthly $10 commitments and rallying 10 people to support our critical work. Even in these challenging times, all of us can make a $10 monthly donation. It might not seem like a lot, but every $10 gift can make a real difference in the life of a trafficked girl.

Tonight $10 bought Stacey some Chinese food and a pair of gloves. Another night, with another girl escaping the streets, $10 might be used to buy a bag of toiletries, some underwear, or meal at McDonalds. Ten dollars from you, and your ten friends, can pay for a night of shelter for a girl in crisis, or college application fees for a girl who=E 2s in the next stage of her life. Every penny counts. Tonight I’ve kicked off the campaign by setting up my monthly $10 donation. I’m asking you to do the same.

I didn’t intend to write an email tonight. I didn’t intend to still be at the office at 2am. In fact, I thought I’d be home in bed by now! But I’m really, really thankful to be a part of this amazing, fulfilling work and to be lucky enough to serve such brave and resilient girls and young women. I’m so thankful that Stacey called us this evening. I’m thankful that she saw our movie and was touched. I’m thankful that our doors are open, that we could provide her with food, shelter, clothing, and love. I’m thankful that after 10 years in existence that GEMS continues to be a safe haven, a place of love and support for girls who feel alone.

I’m especially thankful for all the support that we have received over the ye ars from people like you, who’ve committed with us to stand against the commercial sexual exploitation of girls. Please, email all your friends and ask them to watch Very Young Girls on Showtime On Demand and to make a $10 monthly donation at www.gems-girls.org It’ll only take 10 minutes but it’ll help the next Stacey that walks through our doors in need.

Warmly,
Rachel

Rachel Lloyd
Founder/Executive Director
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services Inc

Resilience and Recession

2009-01-16T20:22:00.000-08:00

The world is crazy-- I'm home late from work as we are working on cash flow projections (and you thought my life was glamorous!) and as I left tonight, my colleagues were working to find a bed for a teen girl and every shelter they call is full. It's 10 degrees outside in New York tonight.

Its harsh realities out there, for the girls we serve and for non profits of all types to keep their doors open. It's a grim way to start the New Year.

But there's faith, and there's hard work, and there's organizing to be done. Deborah Siegel from Girl With Pen and I exchanged notes today on the subject and she turned my comment on her blog into an actual post-- read it here I promise it more uplifting than my opening line in this post.

Need things to do?

1) Watch the GEMS documentary Very Young Girls on Showtime now through Feb 23. See the GEMS website for times to set your DVR: GEMS Join our causes page on facebook: GEMS on facebook

2) In New York? Go check out Girls Write Now winter reading. I'm sorry to miss it--I'll be at my dear friend Kate's wedding. Girls Write Now

And for something fun, innovative and the brain child of one of my favorite women and girls' program supporters, Lauren Cerand:

Check out The New You Project . Join me in supporting the grassroots movement to spread word about a book that hasn't gotten its day in the sun yet. I emailed Lauren and got my copy in the mail and let me just say I think the book will be as interesting as the campaign.

Television Premiere of Very Young Girls

2008-12-10T12:09:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

Life has been twisty-turny lately, and blogging has unfortunately taken the blow. Not to worry, it won't be forever...

While you're waiting for What's Good for Girls to get back on schedule, check out the GEMS co-produced television premiere on Showtime TOMORROW..

Three ways to do it:

Live in New York City:
White & Case LLP In New York
1155 Avenue of the Americas, 29th Floor
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
6:00pm - 8:00pm

To register: click here

Admission: Gift card or movie tickets for one of our members

On Showtime:
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
8:30

Organize a home screening party: Check out details at gems

Teen Birth Control Advocate

2008-09-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Kudos to City Limits for picking up a story from Youth Communication entitled, Sarah’s Choice: After her abortion, my friend became a birth control advocate One teen tells the story of how she got an abortion at age 15, then realized how little people around her knew about birth control.

Youth Communication is a fantastic org that focuses on the real life challenges of teens (no Gossip Girl fantasies here)in their own words. Check it out.

Girls Write Now Mentor Training Today

2008-09-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Lots of very interesting things have happened since I last posted, but I'm going to let the big headlines pass for the moment (Don't worry I have thoughts on Sarah Palin queued up, by special request) and focus on mentoring, as I just got home from facilitating a segment of Girls Write Now Mentor Training.

Mentoring is one of those hot trends in programming for youth and adults and I have been involved in my lots of mentoring programming. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't, but when it does it can create lasting relationships that never would have existed otherwise. This week I talked with two women who were both involved in a mentoring program I ran a few years ago. A mentor in the program emailed to bounce some ideas around about a new mentoring program she is starting in DC through a professional organization; another was a mentee in the program looking for some advice about a fellowship she is applying for. Their calls reminded me why I loved that program so much and why I was so sad when it ended. The program had its flaws, but its greatest strength was the caliber of women who joined the program, who are still changing the world and who still rely on each other, now years after the program has ended.

At the end of the call with the mentee, she said, " I hope I am in the position to be helpful to you in the future." And I was so happy and teared up at the same time-- the young women I worked with there were so phenomenal, I can't wait until *I* am working for *them*.

It was a great moment to carry with me today as I went to the Girls Write Now Mentor Training to train on new and returning mentors. I shared my definition of mentoring and I'll post it here for comments: Mentoring is a purposeful intentional relationship that often starts out very artificially and when it works progresses towards being a meaningful relationship for both parties.

Girls Write Now does a fantastic job of nurturing new mentors and today's training was a perfect example of that. Each segment was designed with mentors' needs in mind, and the team that put the training together did a fantastic job. I left energized about the new program year-- the training was fantastic, the new group of mentors *gets* it, and I can't wait to see how their relationships develop.

What do you know about Teen Sexual Behavior?

2008-08-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

I love Child Trends-- in this issue they take on the misconceptions adults have about teens and their sexual behavior. The Child Trends quiz gives you a chance to test your knowledge-- what do you think teens are doing? How does that match up with the realities?

Take the quiz , check out how you did compared to others who took the quiz, read the fact sheet and pass it on...

Are You Ready to Rock?

2008-07-25T11:09:00.001-07:00

Posting has been light due to lots-o-work, but I lifted my head up from my budgets and contracts long enough to pass on this great opportunity. I was a volunteer for rock camp in 2006. It was a phenomenal experience to be around so many women and girls who were so creative. It's inspiring. No musical experience necessary.
(Trust me-- if there was, they would have never let me in!!!) I emerged from my volunteer experience feeling strong, independent and like new things were possible for me as well as for girls growing up today. Who doesn't want to be a part of something like that???

All the deets:
This is a full-day, full-week commitment for the week of August 18-22 that involves arriving at camp around 8:20 each day and leaving around 6. It's incredibly rewarding and generally awesome.

Counselors serve as mentors for assigned groups of girls, which involves checking in with them every morning, making sure the campers are where they need to be at all times, and offering advice and help throughout the day. Since the most important parts of the job are ensuring the campers' safety and giving them support and encouragement, non-musicians are welcome in this job. Counselors who are musicians, however, are often called upon to coach campers on their instruments.
*Must be available Monday-Friday of camp week 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

If you or someone you know is available to do this job, please get in touch with Emily below:

Emily Moeller
Program Director
Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
632 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10012
(p) 212-777-1323
(f) 866-789-7864

Girls for Gender Equity-- Stop by This Saturday

2008-07-15T06:36:00.001-07:00

3rd Annual Gender Equality Festival
Saturday July 19, 2008
10 am – 3pm, FREE!
Von King Park (Tompkins Park), Bedstuy, Brooklyn
Between Tompkins + Marcy at Lafayette

Please stop by this free public event open to all New Yorkers – over 100 community artists, organizations, and local politicians - inspirational performances, resource sharing, and the arts! Bring your family and friends to celebrate a day of Singers, Dancers, Poets, Community, Raffles, and more! I wish I could make it but I'll be working that day....

If you can't make it, (and I hope you can!) please support the latest GGE project below:

The Sisters in Strength School Safety Collaboration girls are seeking students (of all genders!) who attend school in NYC to fill out a Sexual Harassment Survey, which is available online. click HERE to download.

Rockin OUT with Willie Mae.....

2008-07-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

This just in from the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. The Rock Camp Showcase is a fantastic event. I can't quite figure out why watching girls rock out on stage strikes such an emotional cord for me, but it does. Go check out the new bands and if you get a little jealous at all the fun the girls are having, don't dismay-- sign up for Ladies Rock Camp and do it yourself. LRC is one of the most fun crazy experiences I have ever had. If you are even a little bit curious about what it would be like to be a rock star, you owe it to yourself to do it. All the proceeds of Ladies Rock Camp benefit the Rock Camp for Girls, so SERIOUSLY, what are you waiting for....

Rock Camp Showcase

Saturday July 12th
Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 N. 6th btwn Kent & Wythe, Brooklyn)

12pm doors, show at 1pm SHARP, all ages
$6-10 sliding scale
or $35 for a "booster" ticket (includes a Rock Camp Merch Pack!!)
CLICK FOR TICKETS!

**Please note that there is no seating at this show**

What is a Rock Camp Merch Pack & how do I collect it?
The Merch Pack includes a 2008 Rock Camp t-shirt, a calendar, a DVD, and a sticker. To collect your Merch Pack, bring the receipt from your Booster Ticket sale to the Merch table on the day of the show.

Info on Ladies Rock Camp

**We still have spots in Ladies Rock Camp!**
Ladies Rock Camp I: July 18 - 20
Ladies Rock Camp II: August 8 - 10
Registration forms available at willie mae rock camp

Mixing Fun and Philanthropy

2008-06-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

So, I went to Bar Nine last night for two reasons--
1. Proceeds went to Girls Write Now
2. I thought Simon would like to hear Lucy Wainwright Roche so you know, it was all about mixing in some good fun with my philanthropy.

Given that I had spent all day working on budgets (June 30th being the end of many non profit's fiscal years, including mine) I thought this was a great idea.

The bar turned out to be packed and very few folks seemed to care much about either NY Tyrant or Girls Write Now. When Lucy started singing a cappela, I thought it would calm down but no, people continued talking, drinking and whooping it up, as if someone were not trying to perform folksy-type music in front of them.

Everyone except the 7 of us (6 from Girls Write Now and 1 who has a cartoon in the new NY Tyrant) who smiled encouragingly as she sang, by herself with only her guitar to help her. She got us to sing along to her version of Hungry Heart, which I did, not that it made any difference above the din.

She called out to us-- "Who are you guys-- you know the ones who are listening?" and we yelled back "Girls Write Now" which was kind of fun, and she said she'd come chat with us after two more songs. It was lovely to meet her and I now big pink puffy heart her. Mostly though, I felt bad for her having to sweat it out up there for 7 friendly folks out of a sea of a hundred or more party-goers. I don't think it was a good time for her at all.

The experiences raises some thoughts for me on mixing fun and philanthropy. Bar nights for non profits are considered to be a good way to appeal to a younger donor who might not give through other ways. The prevailing idea is that young adults are going to pay a cover anyway, so why shouldn't it go to a non profit?

To make this strategy work, non profit organizers should consider the following:

1) Fit of venue to activity (folk singing and Saturday night bar crowd might not have been the best fit)
2 Promotion at the door (Everyone should have to pay the cover-- if you think people won't pay the cover-- go back to step 1, maybe this crowd is not the best for your event)
3) Emcee the event (Let people know who is benefitting from the event
Opportunities to sign people up for the mailing list)

And while I am at it, drink tickets for the non profit benefitting from the event wouldn't hurt, but I may be biased...

Have you run a great Bar Night? Add your comments.....

Celebrate All Women's Issue of NY Tyrant with Girls Write Now

2008-06-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

Party for Girls Write Now on Saturday. WOO HOO!

Celebrate the all-women issue of the New York Tyrant on Saturday June 28th, featuring a female artist and a female-fronted band, with a portion of the proceeds going to Girls Write Now , which all WGFG readers should know is a nonprofit devoted to encouraging NYC public school girls to develop as writers.

Saturday, June 28th, 9 pm
Bar Nine
807 Ninth Avenue, between 53rd and 54th Streets
212.BAR.NINE
C,E to 50th Street; NRQW to 57th Street

A $10 cover includes a copy of the latest issue, featuring work from:
S.G. Miller, Cezarija Abartis, Leni Zumas, Paula Bomer, Jessica Anya Blau, Nadxieli Mannello, Rachel B. Glaser, Elizabeth Koch, Leigh Newman, and Deb Olin Unferth, among others.

10 pm: Lucy Wainwright Roche
Lucy Wainwright Roche grew up in Greenwich Village, New York City. She is the daughter of two performing musicians, Loudon Wainwright and Suzzy Roche (The Roches). Her childhood was spent living out of a suitcase, either on the road, with her parents or being ferried around to different relatives in her big musical clan. Described by The New York Times as having the best qualities of both her parents and a voice "clear as a bell", Lucy is a refreshing, pure, alternative to the jive pop culture, alarmingly straightforward and unadorned. In the past year Lucy has toured the US doing solo shows and opening for many musicians from Dar Williams to her brother Rufus. In 2007 Lucy released her first recording, an EP entitled "8 Songs", and in the spring of 2008 she released her second EP, "8 More".

11 pm: The Choke
NYC's punk 'n' roll darlings The Choke filter the influences of 60s Motown, soul, and garage rock through the attack of 70s anthemic punk. Since its debut in May of 2005, the band has already performed for large audiences throughout New York and London, toured with the UK's legendary Buzzcocks, enjoyed regular rotation and performed a live set on WFMU 91.1 FM (NYC/NJ), performed for a special NYC Animal Rescue Benefit opening for The Beastie Boys, completed 2 UK Tours, and also 2 US tours of the Midwest. Punk Magazine has called them "One of the most explosive and original acts to hit these parts in years". The Choke is currently in the midst of finishing a full-length album with producer Tony Barber (bass player/producer of Buzzcocks).

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Girls Write Now:
GWN provides at-risk New York City high school girls with emerging writing talent an opportunity to be custom-matched with a professional woman writer who serves as her personal mentor and writing coach, meeting with her weekly for the duration of an entire school year, and for up to four years. Founded in 1998, GWN was the first organization to ever present this combination of powerful services, and it continues to be the only program of its kind in the eastern United States.

We believe in the power and urgency of the story and the story's ability to describe and illuminate the interior and exterior landscape: we believe in the power of narrative and its ability to make life more astonishingly alive.
New York Tyrant

3rd NYS Day to End CSEC

2008-06-20T05:58:00.000-07:00

Today is the Third Annual New York State Day to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. Make a stand against the exploitation and trafficking of children:

11 AM Rally at City Hall
6:30 PM Youth survivor panel
7:30 PM Screening of Very Young Girls (all deets in a prior post).

Also-- check the Editorial in this morning's New York Times Help for Exploited Children

Sex and the City Revisited

2008-06-18T07:33:00.001-07:00

Nikki from Give Me Space to Rock pointed me to this articlee in Venus Zine Sex and the Purse Pumps and Penthouse as a follow up to my SATC post.

In the article, Nona tackles the issue of race in this paragraph:

Perhaps the most unnerving storyline of all is that of Carrie’s personal assistant, Louise (Jennifer Hudson). Clearly the point was to throw in a woman of color, but unfortunately the only one in sight is at the beck and call of an emotionally distraught white woman, resulting in one of the most blatant Mammy figures since Queen Latifah in that Steve Martin movie. Louise coos, jokes, and nurses Carrie back to health, all the while never receiving any of Carrie’s writing expertise in return. In the end, all she really gets is a Louis Vuitton bag as a souvenir before she heads for St. Louis to marry the nice black boy she left behind.

Also-- gets a sense of what others are saying across the country at GirlDRive

Go Nona Go!

Screening of Very Young Girls this Friday June 20th

2008-06-17T08:42:00.001-07:00

This Friday GEMS is hosting a special screening (before it airs on Showtime) of Very Young Girls, with a Survivor Led Panel discussion on domestic trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation of children

Free tickets available, RSVP to makia@gems-girls.org or 212 926 8089 extension 56

Screening of VERY YOUNG GIRLS & Youth Leadership Panel

6:30 Panel/7:30 Screening

In partnership with the Fordham Institute for Women and Girls*,GEMS will host a special screening of the SHOWTIME/Swinging T documentary VERY YOUNG GIRLS. This documentary highlights the experiences of the girls that GEMS serves. This compelling film provides an opportunity to hear the girls' tell their own stories in their own words.

Join us at 7:30pm at the Fordham Graduate School of Social Service.
FREE TICKETS available: makia@gems-girls.org or 212 926 8089 ext 56

Come early at 6:30pm and hear directly from the members of GEMS as they discuss their leadership role in the movement to end CSEC. All attendees will receive a copy of GEMS White Paper on Youth Leadership in the Movement to End Commercial Sexual Exploitation, funded generously by the Ms.Foundation

Fordham University
113 W. 60th Street @ Columbus Avenue
Pope Auditorium, 1st Floor
FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH
6:30PM

GEMS will also host a Rally at City Hall Park from 11am-12pm on June 20th!
Stand with us in the fight to END Commercial Sexual Exploitation of children!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For additional questions contact: makia@gems-girls.org

Girls Educational and Mentoring Services'(GEMS) mission is to empower young women, ages 12-21, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and develop to their full potential. GEMS is committed to ending commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking of children by changing individual lives, transforming public perception, and revolutionizing the systems and policies that impact sexually exploited youth. www.gems-girls.org

Net Neutrality

2008-06-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

SOOOOOOOOO, I had a long discussion with my husband over beer this week about the blocking of child porn sites and in return I got an earful on net neutrality.

hmmmmm. So he says the comparison with ISP's and websites (if I have all of this right) is like the phone company and phone calls, do you want the phone company blocking content of phone calls?

Good question. So perhaps the libertarian vitriol as gotten to me. However, if folks have opinions I would love to hear them.

I'll be light on posting for a few days, as I am out of town for my grandmother's memorial's service. Lots to say when I come back!

Child Porn Sites Blocked!

2008-06-10T05:01:00.001-07:00

Glad I took a quick glance at the New York Times while working on a grant this morning to find out:

Three internet providers have agreed to block access to web sites and bulletin board to child pornography

Now lets all brace ourselves for the First Amendment arguments and libertarian vitiol.

SO, what about the boys?

2008-06-10T03:52:00.001-07:00

How about this?

I am.....Girls Write Now

2008-06-09T04:21:00.001-07:00

If you missed Sunday's Girls Write Now Annual Spring Reading, you missed A LOT!!! Amanda Diva was an incredible guest speaker, our emcee Penny Wright was delightful and the girls' writing was on fire! I was shocked by their honesty, candidness, and their sophistcated points of view. Congratulations girls on another great year! And lucky for you, you can still get a glimpse into the magic of our work with our new video I am Girls Write Now....

Are you Girls Write Now? You can be! Find out more about how to get involved, pick of our anthology to become a part of our community by donating at Girls Write Now

Many thanks to Kathleen Sweeney, author of Maiden USA: Girl Icons Come of Age and Advisory Board Member for her vision, commitment and hard work to make the video!

The First Woman I Voted For

2008-06-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Today I write a long post about a topic I've been thinking about for a long time, which frames my point of view in the work I do with women and girls. I hope readers will endulge me in such a long post and comment on The Answer...--Patti

Hillary Clinton acknowledged yesterday that she changed the landscape of politics forever by running for office, but also that the barriers and biases around gender and race still persist. As I log on to my laptop to read the commentaries and editorials this morning, I keep clicking to articles pointing out how landmark, how historical both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s campaigns are, discussing the difference they will make over time, how significant their runs are.

While we are sighing and expressing our gratitude to Hillary and Obama, I am wondering --how significant are their campaigns? Have they changed things forever? I’m thrilled to live in a time where these are my choices in my party. But still I wonder, does a single female candidate, or a single black male candidate, even running at the same time, change things forever about what we as a country think a woman or a black person can do? What is it that changes prejudice and breaks down barriers? How will we get from one single viable female candidate or black candidate (or can you immagine, a black female candidate!?) to ballots filled with people of different races, ethnicities and gender identifications?

A trip to Baltimore last week got me thinking about the first black woman I ever voted for, Susanne Gray Rice. When she ran for office, she was minus the "Rice" and we were both teenage girls at the time. Together with Truemenda Green, they ran for class president and vice president of our senior class at Western Senior High School. Over 20 years later and much to Susanne’s amusement I reminded her over crab cakes that she ran with the slogan "Gray and Green: The Colors of Success."

But I do remember it clearly, and as I think about it, having the opportunity to vote for a team of two black female candidates in high school was significant for me as white teenage girl growing into a white adult woman. What seemed normal and natural to me, voting for two black females in high school probably didn’t to many of peers across the country who never got the opportunity. And in this way, I do think that Hillary’s long run through all the primaries was worth it, and was landmark, because she provided the opportunity for so many people to drop the lever for a female presidential candidate. As was Obama’s for the opportunity to drop the lever for a black presidential candidate.

As significant as this is, I don’t think it’s enough to change things forever. I was 13 when Geraldine Ferraro’s made her historic run for Vice President and Reverend Jackson’s his run for President in 1984. There was this notion then, that they were opening the doors for women and minorities everywhere, the floodgates are open, the political landscape has changed forever. Optimism overflowed and at 13, I was certainly inspired. But the floodgates didn’t really open. And now here we are 24 years later talking about the historical significance of Hillary and Obama’s run for office. And yes, Obama does have the nomination, and that makes it different this time. But we also heard quotes from voters about how they can’t vote for Obama because he might be a Muslim and comments far worse. So, perhaps it’s the Gen X pessimist in me that has heard all this “significance stuff” before, what is really changing right now?

How do we move from the concepts of equality to as Hillary Clinton stated “an America that respects and embraces the potential of every last one of us”? A glimpse back to high school reminds me that I had more than the opportunity to vote for a black candidate in high school, I had the experience of seeing and knowing black females as leaders, as scholars, as individuals.

As a graduate of Western Senior High School's class of 1989, I attended a prestigious, rigorous high school which was also one of two of the country's all girls' public high schools. In the late 80's the majority of the students at Western were either black/African American, which meant I was surrounded everyday by smart black girls as classmates. This does not mean that all of my friends were black girls or that we lived in some kind of Sesame Street racial harmony. To the contrary, as a first year high school student, I quickly found a group of friends of whom the majority were white. But it did mean that in class and on graduation day, I saw black girls doing well, succeeding across all kinds of coursework, with multiple interests, living against the stereotypes on television, every school day for four years. The girls I knew weren't a white girl's side kick (Hello Dionne in Clueless!) or the token black girl at a private school (Tootie in Facts of Life, anyone?) or any other TV stereotype. In my world in high school, they were the lead in the play, the winner of the Latin Scholar Award, my team mates on the JV volleyball team, lab partners in chemistry, the girls I sat next to on graduation day, and yes, class president. As a result, it’s not a big ol’ surprise to me to see women and people of color in positions of power and authority. I don’t think I am free of prejudices—I am of the school that it’s impossible to be without them. But I do think that my real life experiences give me the basis to challenge my prejudice when it arises.

We live in a country still segregated in many places, with racism and sexism clearly alive and while, and where the barriers, whether concrete or glass, are still real. I know that my personal experiences as a racial minority as a white person was part of the anecdote to prejudice for me, it’s clearly impractical to suggest it is The Answer for everyone.

What is The Answer? I admit I don’t know it; people far smarter than I am are working on it. But I do know, that we must be vigilant in finding it, that we must watch how long this sigh of gratitude stretches, how significant we make two individual candidacies, and focus with intention on fighting racism and sexism head on. We should not get too caught up in the glow of the race and the gender of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. In 24 more years, I’ll be 61 and I hope I’ll be writing an article on how we used this time to turn the tide on racism and sexism, not reminiscing about the choices we once had.

(Susanne Gray Rice pictured above is now a guidance counselor at Western, triathlete, mother, and all around inspiration-- Go Lady Doves!)

Beat the Heat with Girls Write Now and Amanda Diva

2008-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Come join me at my favorite Girls Write Now event of the year, the Spring Reading at the New Tribeca Barnes & Noble on Sunday, June 8 from 4-6PM.

Meet and hear New York City's most talented teen female writers, along with celebrity host Amanda Diva (Def Poetry Jam, HipHopNation, MTV2, Floetry), as they read their original works from the theme Becoming Women. Pick up the anthology (our largest ever), a t-shirt from SIC (Smart is Cool!), and buys some summer reading material, and proceeds will go to Girls Write Now. As always, you can skip the loot and make a donation.

Barnes and Noble is located at 97 Warren Street in Tribeca, New York, NY 10007

(Complete disclosure-- I'm Board Chair of Girls Write Now, so I'm heavily biased about their awesomeness and deeply committed to their success. Come out on Sunday and you'll see why!)

Sex and The City Revisited

2008-06-04T04:22:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the most unnerving storyline of all is that of Carrie’s personal assistant, Louise (Jennifer Hudson). Clearly the point was to throw in a woman of color, but unfortunately the only one in sight is at the beck and call of an emotionally distraught white woman, resulting in one of the most blatant Mammy figures since Queen Latifah in that Steve Martin movie. Louise coos, jokes, and nurses Carrie back to health, all the while never receiving any of Carrie’s writing expertise in return. In the end, all she really gets is a Louis Vuitton bag as a souvenir before she heads for St. Louis to marry the nice black boy she left behind.

Also-- gets a sense of what others are saying across the country at GirlDRive

Go Nona Go!

Womens Studies Conference focuses on Girls Culture

2008-06-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I love when Women's Studies focuses on Girls' Studies!

(H/T to my friends at the Willie Mae Rock Camp)

INVITATION FOR PROPOSALS ON INTERDISCIPLINARY SCHOLARLY AND CREATIVE WORK CFP
Submission Deadline: Thursday, June 12, 2008
The 18th Annual Women's Studies Conference
"Girls' Culture & Girls' Studies: Surviving, Reviving, Celebrating Girlhood"

To be held on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, 2008

The 18th Annual Women's Studies Conference at Southern Connecticut State University
explores girlhood. What does it mean to be a girl? Who defines girlhood in an age when puberty and sexualization are happening at younger ages? How do girls assert their own identity in an increasingly medicated and consumerist culture which targets girls as a prime audience?
Why are U.S. girls preoccupied with perfection? What challenges do girls across races, classes, religions,nations, and cultures face in an ever more globalized world? What is the relationship between girls and feminism? What effect can feminism have on constructions of boyhood and masculinity and how in turn can this affect girls?

In the 18th annual SCSU Women's Studies conference, we will take a close look at girls' culture and girls' studies, among the most vibrant areas in women's
studies. The Conference Committee invites individuals, groups, scholars, feminists,
activists,girls and all to submit proposals that address topics related to all aspects of girlhood.

Proposal Format: Faculty, students, staff, administrators, community activists from all disciplines and fields are invited to submit proposals for individual papers, complete sessions,panels, or round tables. Poster sessions, performance pieces, video recordings, and other creative works are also encouraged.

For individual papers, please submit a one-page abstract. For complete panels, submit a one-page abstract for each presentation plus an overview on the
relationship among individual components. For the poster sessions and art work, submit a one-page overview. All proposals must include speakers' name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information(address, E-mail, and telephone number). Please also indicate preference for Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, or Saturday afternoon; all attempts will be made to honor schedule requests.

Panels: Each 75 minute session usually includes three presenters and a session moderator, but individual presenters may request an entire session for a more substantial paper or presentation.
Presenters are encouraged, though not required, to form their own panels. The conference committee will group individual proposals into panels and assign a moderator. Please indicate inyour contact information if you are willing to serve as a moderator.

Posters, Art Displays, and Slide Presentations: A poster presentation consists of an exhibit of materials that report research activities or informational resources in visual and summary form.
An art display consists of a depiction of feminist concerns in an artistic medium. Both types of presentations provide a unique platform that facilitates personal discussion of work with interested colleagues and allows meeting attendees to browse through highlights of current research. Please indicate in your proposal your anticipated needs in terms of space, etc.

In keeping with the conference theme, suggested topics include but are not limited to:
Girls and Pop Culture
Construction of Girlhood
Media and Girls' Culture
Girls & Cutting/Self-Mutilation
Politics of Girls' Studies
Girls & Leadership
Women's Studies & Girls' Studies
Girls & Child Labor
Race & Class in Girls' Studies
Girls & Performance
Coming of Age Globally
Gender Research & Girls
Body Image and Girls
Girls & Disabilities
Girls & Sexuality
Girls & Ink.
Human Trafficking & Girls
Girls & Religion
Indigenous Women and Girls
Human Rights of Girls
Girls & Sports
Chick Lit
Girls & Resistance
Globalization and Girlhood
Race, Ethnicity, and Class in Girls' Studies
Construction of "Tween" Agers/Girls
Violence against Girls & Women
Girls and Gangs
Girl Power and Politics
Transnational Adoption of Girls
Girls' Studies in Academe
Girl Power and Feminism/Anti-Feminism
Growing up Incarcerated
Girls and Grassroots Activism
Girls across/between Worlds
Parenting/Raising Girls
American Girls and Beyond
Girls as Parents
Reviving Ophelia, Surviving Ophelia, Resisting Ophelia
Representations of Girls

We also invite your ideas and suggestions. Conference sessions will juxtapose cultural, generational, and geopolitical perspectives in order to construct feminist renditions of girls' cultures, histories, and representations. Expect fun through meals, performance, and poetry slam, with girls and their allies speaking of their struggles and power.

Please submit proposals and supporting materials to:

Women's Studies Conference Committee
Women's Studies Program, EN B 229
Southern Connecticut State University
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515

Or via email to: womenstudies@southernct.edu with attention to Conference Committee. If you have any questions, please call the Women's Studies office at (203) 392-6133.

The Annual Women's Studies Conference at SCSU is self-supporting; all presenters can
pre-register at the discounted presenter's fee, not exceeding $110.00 for both days, $60.00 for one day. The fee includes all costs for supporting materials, entrance to keynote events, and all meals and beverage breaks.

Submission Deadline:
Postmarked by Thursday, June 12, 2008

Notification of Committee Decision:
Mailed by Friday, July 18, 2008

Sex and the City and the Teenaged Girl

2008-06-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

I may be one of very few women in New York City who does not care about the Sex and the City movie opening. When pressed to rate my interest in seeing the movie on a scale of 1 to 100, I gave it a 13, meaning maybe I will watch it on cable when I'm home sick from work and everything else on tv requires concentration. Of course, I have watched the series on HBO, but without the intensity and interest that I have watched The Wire. If there were a movie about The Wire, I'd be there.

All of the media hype around the event just shows how very alone I am as women and girls across a spectrum of ages line up for tickets. Friday's Wall Street Journal article focused on the movie's appeal to teens who missed SATC on HBO, but have been watching a watered down version on TBS and want to go see the R rated movie, but are too young. Shelley Zalis CEO of a consumer research firm is quoted in the article "Sixteen is the new 20" despite the fact that the characters are now pushing 40 and even 50.

Teens in the article mention ordering the series up for marathons on HBO on Demand and debating which character they are most like. This makes a lot of sense to me-- given that most teens "aspire up," that is, they spend a lot of time thinking/fantasizing about what life will be as adults. With all the freedom and disposable income the women on SATC seem to have, they make easy fantasy figures. And with the emphasis on sex and relationships, the show can satisfy some natural teen curiosities.

Still though, I wonder, what it's like to be a 16 year old where the life you fantasize about is also the one that your 50 year old mother and neighbor dream about too, especially when most of the content is so materialistic. It's not SATC that is the problem, but the notion that both 16 and 50 can be the new 20 is permeating the rest of the culture. These are the trends that when multiplied across media and its sister marketing rob girls of their girlhood. Should 16 year olds and 50 year olds really aspire to the same things? And how does this play out in terms of each demographics expectations of what adulthood should look like? To me, this is what leads to women in their early 20's using anti wrinkling cream as a preventative tool, and women in their 50's using botox, so that the notion of what it means to look like a woman becomes more and more stereotypical.

And this doesn't event begin to touch that this is all based on white ideals of femininity or that the 20-something character added to the movie is black..another post perhaps?

Related:
Huff Post dialogue between a 50-something British Mom and her 20-something daughter on expectations for young women

Tonight's NOW-NYC Event

2008-05-28T06:26:00.000-07:00

If you are in the NYC area and want to hear more about GEMS and our work on the Safe Harbor Act, come on out to tonight's event:

EVENT: Mean Streets: NY Teens Caught in the Sex Trade
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, May 28, 2008, 6:30 PM -8:45 PM
LOCATION: LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th Street

6:45-7:45 PM Showing of the Oxygen Network's episode on commercial sexual exploitation Who Cares About Girls?

7:45 PM-8:45 PM Panel Discussion including:
Patti Binder, Deputy Director of Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS),
Lori B. Iskowitz, Senior Trial Counsel, Assistant Deputy Borough Chief in the Family Court Division of the NYC Law Department,
Katherine Mullen, Attorney, Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Division,
Jo Rees, Deputy Executive Director of Friends of Island Academy,
Lise Zumwalt, Producer of the film.

The discussion will by moderated by NOW-NYC President, Sonia Ossorio.

Girls and Sexism

2008-05-25T07:46:00.001-07:00

Bloggers across the intertubes covered the release of the study "Perceived Experiences with Sexism Among Adolescent Girls" now in the May/June issue of Child Development, (Vol. 79, Issue 3) Of course Feministing, Our Bodies Our Blog , a blog in LA on sexual harassment attorneys covered the news, but so did WebMD and in their news section, no less, not in their blog.

So to girls and former girls everywhere, the news that girls experience sexism is not really news, but the stats about the way girls experience it across race and age are definately worth checking out (all links above go to the relevant stats).

Further, the study finds that

Girls who had been exposed to feminist ideas, either through the media or an adult such as a mother or teacher, were more likely to identify and report sexist behavior than were girls who had no information about feminism.

Many girls' programs provide girls with an opportunity to experience feminist ideas, although I'd say that the ideas are not always explicitly labeled as feminist, but certainly the notion that harassment is wrong, or that girls should be confident, should be a staple of good girls' programming. And my favorite programs address harassment and sexism head on.

Make your travel plans now for these upcoming A$$kicking events:

NYC
Third Annual Gender Equality Festival on July 19th in Brooklyn

Hawaii
The 5th Anniversary GiRL FeST Hawaii
Nov. 7th - 15th 2008!

Opinions on the Texas Polygamy Ruling

2008-05-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted about the Appeals Court in Texas overturning the custody decision. In response, I received some great comments from WGFG reader and friend, Ben. I only have a quick minute to post this morning so please check out what Ben has to say below:

I am conflicted about this whole case. I absolutely condemn the sexual abuse that is occurring in this community, as well as the mental, emotional, and (in all likelihood) physical abuse. As the survivor of a cult, I know firsthand how damaging such an experience can be. Thankfully in my case the worst things that were physically done to me in the name of religion were not getting immunized until I was a teenager, and a couple of hard spankings.

However, I do think that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services responded poorly to the situation. They have a history of mismanagement; and I'm not surprised, though I am disappointed, that they screwed this up too. Essentially, TX DFPS ran afoul of some of the core beliefs of this nation.

In this country we have decided that religious freedom permits almost any behavior. We also have decided as a nation that parents may raise their kids in whatever way they deem appropriate, short of actual physical or sexual abuse. It seems to me that trying to argue that, while child X has not yet been abused, their environment is conducive to abuse is likely very difficult to prove under current law. Yet that seems to be exactly what TX DFPS has argued, in most cases. The impression I get from the news is that the sexual abuse of FLDS girls does not really start until they are married too young. Of course one should recognize that the mental and emotional abuse of both girls and boys starts much, much earlier. Yet for the most part this early abuse does not concern the state, under our current system of law (as I understand it).

Remember also that Texas allows children as young as 16 to be married with their parents consent (easily given in this situation), and even younger with a court order. If the FLDS controls an entire town including the courts and law enforcement, as they did in Hildale Utah, how difficult would it be to legitimize these marriages (leaving aside the polygamy for the moment)?

I think this case is a very good argument for changing the way we think through these sorts of cases. But I won't pretend to know how best to formulate our response. Religious freedom is one of the ideas that have made this nation great, and consenting adults should be free to do whatever the heck they want. But when vulnerable populations are affected, who cannot consent to what is done to them, then I believe some restrictions on religious freedom are necessary. That belief is the first step. I'm not sure what the second is.

Oh No! Bad News for Girls in Texas!

2008-05-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

I just got this news from the New York Times:

Appeals Court Overturns Sect Custody Decision

Child welfare officials had no right to seize hundreds of
children from the polygamist sect, a Texas appellate court
ruled.

Read More

I am in complete disagreement with the Appeals Court. I think that going into the sect was one of the boldest moves for children, especially girls, that have been made in a long time. This is not about polygamy or freedom of religion, this is about child sexual abuse that is institutional and criminal if done under any other circumstance.

Contribute New York!

2008-05-15T18:09:00.001-07:00

Check out in the January/February issue of Contribute New York Magazine: the people and the ideas of giving. Not only does What Good for Girls get a shout out (wahoo!)under the column Benefit Blogs but the issue is packed with articles on women, girls and philanthropy-- swoon worthy stuff!

Find articles on the whether the Dove campaign is cashing in on self esteem, human trafficking in Cambodia and the Harlem based girls organization Groove With Me .

Crawl through their website for nuggets like a forum on youth and philanthropy and an interview with Abigail Disney and the Women Moving Millions campaign.

New York Womens Foundation breakfast Strikes Again

2008-05-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

Today I had the privilege to attend the New York Womens Foundation breakfast as a grantee partner representative for the second year. Given how I felt about last year's event, I wondered what they could possibly to do to top it. And I wondered-- how much will they raise? As a result of Abigail Disney's pitch, they raised over 2.65 million dollars through the event and her challenge grant.

But they did top it. Sitting proudly between my fellow grantee representatives from Fierce and Girls for Gender Equity, when I wasn't downing the coffee (7AM start!!!) I was I wiping the tears from eyes. A sucker for all things that demonstrate the connectedness among women, I was amazed at the way this event makes a room full of 2500 women, most of them who outearn me by multiples, made me feel like I was in the companion of people who care about the things I care about.

From the all girl marching band to grantee speeches to awards to Marie Wilson and Christine Amanpour, the program was incredibly moving. But the most touching was the award to the Acholi women from Meeting Point International in Uganda. In Uganda, they make their living by breaking stone into gravel. When they heard about Hurricane Katrina, they raised $1,000 and sent to displaced victims in Houston. When a few of the women received the award this moring, they said that we are all of one heart, that we belong to them because they belong to somebody. As someone loved them, they love us.

I travelled to Tanzania the July before Hurricane Katrina to work with women from Ukewere on the Girls Talk! Tanzania conference. Making a living wage through manual labor is a hard life anywhere but in rural Africa, the women I met come home to build a fire, cook a meal, feed their children with no electricity and a baby on the hip. I met an elementary school principal during my visit who told me about the hard time they have attracting and retaining teachers. When I told him, "Oh us too!" He waited a moment and chose his words, saying "I never thought that you and I would share the same problems."

Living in Manhattan, it's easy to forget that we are all connected, not by the internet or text messages, or the ability to teleconference, but by our ability to give. This morning's breakfast reminded me not why I go to work every day (that's easy for me) but why I give money and time to the organizations I love and why it's so vitally important that I do, especially when its hard and I feel stretched thin.

Romona Moore's Mother Fights for Herself

2008-05-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

It's a profoundly sad Mother's Day for Elle Carmichael, whose daughter, Romona Moore, is dead. She left for Burger King 5 years ago and instead was kidnapped, brutally tortured, killed and left under a van. The Village Voice covered her story about what it means to be young, black, and missing, and how her mother, Elle Carmichael, fought to find her.

I wish I could say that I am surprised that a young black woman can get kidnapped and that no one will notice, or that she could be seen by a visitor, and not reported, or that her mother could go to the cops, and they would not take her seriously. I am not.

Although Romona Moore was 21 when she was killed-- her story is a cautionary tale for teen girls of color, and for those who care about them. When white girls go missing, there are Amber Alerts and media frenzies. What happens when girls of color go missing? The Village Voice story is one of very few I've seen providing in depth coverage. The realities of life for girls of color, particular those in low income neighborhoods, is often drastically different from their white counterparts. When and how does girls programming take this into account? I'm interested in feedback from folks working with girls about how you handle the real differences between girls.

For more about girls and women who are black and missing
and for commentary, check out what about our daughters

And props to my own Mom, who instilled in me a sense of a social justice at a very early age. I know she'll be outraged about Romona.

Additional coverage: Elle Carmichael won the right to sue the NYPD

Check out the New York City Council briefing from 2004 on the NYPD's handling of missing person's cases which centers on Romona's case.

NY Times 2006 coverage notes Romona's case didn't draw the same media interest as Svetlana Aronov or Imette St. Guillen. It's worth noting that neither Svetala or Imette were under 21 (one of the criteria for missing persons cases as noted in the above Council briefing) but that the media covered their stories, leading to increased pressure to pursue their cases.

Quick Hit: Girl Scouts release study on Girls and Politics

2008-04-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about the Girl Scouts is the Girl Scout Research Institute (cuz I am geeked out like that) The institute goes to directly to girls and asks them their thoughts on current topics-- from what girls think about healthy living ("We want to be healthy-normal") to this report on what girls think about politics.

So timely!

Check it out here -- and watch for my comments in an upcoming post.

Or you could kick off a conversation by hitting the comments section, like my friend Ben did.

More Girl Magazines to Love

2008-04-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

Go Canada Girls! Shameless is a three times a year magazine for girls who need an alternative to the traditional magazine fare doled out to teen girls. Best thing about it-- other than its independent nature-- is its teen editorial collective.

According to the Shameless site:

Shameless is guided by a teen editorial collective who give us feedback on the magazine, share ideas, help plan events, inspire us and give us a window into the lives of real teenagers. They make sure the magazine is relevant, interesting and engaging.

Current members of our collective include: Nadia Alam, Sarah Chepesiuk, Heidi Cho, Elliot Carol Chow, Genevieve Flavelle, Lex Gill, Laura Hope, Maddie Lee, Kristin Li, Nevena Martinovic, Olivia Mussells, Linda Paolucci, Julie Sadler, Samantha Williams.

In past issues they have tackled housing, rape, equity in education, and whether the Dove Campaign for Beauty does more than sell soap. The current issue looks at size and fashion . While many girls' magazines might not think these issues matter to girls, clearly they do.

Keep Shameless up and running and keep girls' voices at the helm:

Subscribe and encourage girls you know "who get it" to submit writing

Very Young Girls at the IFC

2008-04-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

I've been working at GEMS for almost a year and a half and my time there has been life changing. We serve girls who have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. Many people aren't aware that US born girls are involved in the commercial sex industry and many get involved as early as 13. Prior to working at GEMS, I certainly didn't know. The girls are bought and sold by adult men and subjected to violence beyong my worst imagination. Say what you want about teen girls and the right to express their sexuality-- being bought and sold on the streets, in brothels, or on Craigs List is just wrong and should be criminal for the adult men who do the buying and the selling. Yet, most often its the girls who are crimininalized. I could go on, obviously, but I'd much rather you come learn about it first hand from the girls themselves.

If you are in the New York City area and you want to learn more, come check out the documentary Very Young Girls at the IFC on Tuesday April 22. The doc follows girls who have been involved in the commercial sex industry, under the control of pimps, as the struggle to get out and stay out. This screening will be followed by a Q and A with Rachel Lloyd and Carolina Cruz as well as the filmmakers.

Check out what Girlbomb author Janice Erlbaum wrote after seeing the film at our fundraiser.

Learn more through and interview with one of the filmmakers Priya Swaminathan .

Want a sense of the what the demand and the marketing of young girls is like in the US? Try googling the words "very young girls" and tell me how many porn hits you get.

From Workshop to Action

2008-04-19T05:18:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while an email comes my way that makes me happy. This week the email was from an attendee at the "Battling Backlash" panel at WAM that I participated in with Miriam Perez , Carmen Van Kerckhove and moderated by Jessica Valenti .

She noticed that so many of the comments and questions during the session were from young feminists who felt isolated and lacked a community of like-minded people. In response, she is creating a dinner party and invited her feminist friends to attend. And even better, she is asking everone to bring a guest who they consider a mentee or mentor to make the event intergenerational and to widen the circle of feminists. I'm impressed with her intentionality around making the event inclusive and inviting to people.

I think she would have done this anyway, but I am thrilled that she named the workshop as part of the impetus to start bringing together women in her life.

I Big Pink Puffy Heart Love Orb 28

2008-04-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

With the tagline "Share Your Voice, Change the World, Be the Girl Revolution" Why wouldn't I love them?

Orb28 is New Moon Girl Media's \online experience for girls ages 13 - 15+. And of course you know New Moon Media-- the magazine that brings girls voices to the world. Swoon! In addition to being a great ads-free magazine for girls (I don't know how they do it--even mags with ads have a hard time staying in the business) they were the very first publishers of now well known author Courtney Martin

Here's an example of their great work. Go check them out and share with the young teens you know!

Womens E News recognizes Teen Girl Accomplishments

2008-04-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

Womens E News 21 Leaders for the 21st Century will recognize 15 year old Iman Belali for her work starting the American Moroccan International Exchange for young women, when she was only 12!

One reason I love this event is that Womens E News has made a commitment to recognizing the work of women of all ages, including teen girls and young women in their 20's-- often left out of the running for more traditional awards.

Read more about Iman and Womens E News

Writing Girls Make the News

2008-04-15T04:47:00.000-07:00

The girls and mentors of Girls Write Now were featured in yesterday's New York Times . The article glimpses into a few of the relationships that develop between mentors and mentees and their shared passion for writing.

I'm excited that the article highlights one of the reasons for an all girls program:

Samantha White, 17, from Brownsville, Brooklyn, said the all-women environment makes a big difference in what gets talked — and written — about. “We had a workshop where we wrote about breasts and the experience of getting our first bra,” she said. “That would have never happened if there were boys in the room.”

Watch one of the mentor-mentee pairs share their bra sharing stories at the winter reading:

Want to see more? Come out to the 10th annual spring reading at the Barnes & Noble in Tribeca on Sunday, June 8, from 4-6PM. I'll be there! (Full disclosure-- I'm the Board Chair!) Click here for the details.

And while we're on Writing Girls-- check out the guest post on Deborah Siegel's Girl with Pen by 14 year old Samantha French.

Teach Girls to ASK!

2008-04-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

This book Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide changed my life. Reading example after example of research demostrating that many women don't ask for what they want, and therefore don't get what they want, helped me get over the trepidation I was feeling about negotiating for a salary for a position that I was being offered. And, I successfully negotiated for a higher salary, despite my nervous stomache, over my cell phone in the parking lot of a Dunkin Donuts, no less. Further, the woman who hired me still calls me a savvy negotiator.

I've told many women in my life to buy the book. Author and researcher Linda Babcock details how women are socialized not to ask and then shows us the startling results-- the heaps of money we'll never earn, because we did not ask. Asking is one behavior we can change-- and should-- to help us achieve financial independence and parity in the workplace. Fantastic-- as a result the individual women who start to ask (and the men and women who respond in the affirmative) will bask in the glory, all the way to the bank. But our individual successes will not change the world in which nice girls (and women!) are expected to take what's offered and not ask for what they want and deserve and penalize the girls and women who do.

Luckily--Linda Babcock is tackling some of this too. The New York Times covered her work with Progress a Program for Research and Outreach on Gender Equity in Society at Carnegie Mellon University. Progress has created a pilot badge for Girls Scouts ages 8 - 11 will learn the steps to negotiation.

From a girls' programming perspective-- this is exciting stuff that can lead to real world change for the girls involved. If girls hear a competing message to the nice girl stuff, they have a chance at developing the skills that will serve them well as they grow into teens and adults. So often girls' programming can stuff girls into the nice box, that it's good to see a partnership that actively fights against it. I hope it goes national-- with girls and women everywhere asking for better starting salaries, raised and becoming formidable negotiators in all avenues of their lives.

Progress is also taking a stab at teaching negotiation through the video game Reign of Aquaria which is a valiant attempt at reaching more girls with the negotiation message but it's a little too puppies and clouds for me. I hope some fantastic folks interested in making change through video games can lend them a hand and some dinero for an upgraded version so they can make a huge impact.

Changing the Culture: Ending Violence Against Girls and Women (of Color)

2008-04-12T18:36:00.000-07:00

Last week, Black and Male in America hosted a screening and discussion of Aishah Shahidah Simmons NO! A documentary about rape, sexual assault, and violence against women and girls.

Melissa Harris-Lacewell writes in The Root that the discussion was "astonishing." According to Harris-Lacewell-- a diverse audience across all kinds of spectrums of the human experience held an open and public discussion about rape and race. Ms Harris-Lacewell writes:

Black women raped by black male perpetrators often remain silent because they are alone. They don't want to confirm white racial stereotypes; their own families and communities tell them to shut up; they have little reason to think that authorities will take their cases seriously; they fear the devastating ramifications of a manhunt in black communities if they are believed; and in the history of lynching white women have been adversaries, not allies, on the question of rape.

Recovering from rape is burden enough without having to shoulder this vicious legacy.

I am sad and ashamed that the only solution for so many women and girls of color is to silence themselves when they need and deserve a path to recovery and healing. Thw legacy Harris-Lacewell describes won't stop without the open and honest discussions that put race and gender at the center for everyone to see and reckon with. We can't prevent new girls and boys of color inheriting the legacy without talking about it.

White women and men often overlook both the legacy and the burden of carrying it. However socially conscious some white people may be (myself included) it can be easy to gloss over the differences among us when violence is at hand. It's easy for white women to think that the trauma associated with violence bonds the victims together. Perhaps there's some truth to that. But if I, as a white woman feel I can call the cops and seek justice, and a woman of color does not because she is living the legacy, the bond I think I feel with her is one she cannot return to me.

Take Jessica Hoffman's heavy duty piece On Prisons, Borders, Safety, and Privilege: An Open Letter to White Feminists . Ms Hoffman hits on why some white people (and especially white feminists) can ignore the legacy of the race/gender combo on issues like rape and violence. I won't summarize here-- go read it.

WHY AM I WRITING ABOUT THIS?

These are the real life issues that affect the girls we work with in girls' programs. As issues with violence and violation come up in girls' lives, our programs should be able to respond to them, provide a space for them, an honest dialogue, and the opportunity to organize. My experience as an adult woman is going to profoundly affect the way I listen and the suggestions I make and are going to influence the actions the girls' take.

I don't know that I have seen this discussed in a training or discussion among professionals or volunteers working with girls.

Have you?

Many thanks to Racialicious where I originally read The Root piece.

I love Star Wars as much as the next gal

2008-04-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

As a Star Wars fan, this ad is pretty funny.

Honestly, how many times did Natalie Portman whine "Oh Ani' in the last one? (Please don't hate me Natalie-- your work on microcredit is amazing)

But is it necessary to insinuate that calling a guy a girl's name often enough will result in him wanting to destroy the goodness in the universe?

Redecorating

2008-04-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hey! I'm trying out some new background for the blog and generally just classin up the joint a bit.

One thing I am looking for is a new header that represents the tone and topic of Whats Good for Girls but I haven't found it yet, and I'd like to move beyond what's in blogger's template. I've added the pic above temporarily, but the notion of budding flowers seems a little more Tampax commercial than WGFG.

I love Deborah Siegel's header and I am all about Feminist Gamers . Both headers represent what they discuss on their blog.

If you have any ideas, I am all ears...er eyes, I guess.

Scary Conversation at Feministing

2008-04-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

Courtney Martin posted about a man masturbating in front of her while she was meeting with her mentee. Scary and unpleasant, for sure. Courtney knew how to take action in the moment.

Scarier-- read the comments section to the post. How many women has this happened to-- and how many while they were girls/teenagers?

When it happened to me, I was 16 or so and was enough of a feminist already to know it was wrong and to do something about it, even when those around me didn't believe me. (My story is under my name in the comments, for those interested.) But as a teenager I didn't have the context or perspective to understand how widespread this kind of experience was. I am sure I thought-- something is wrong with that guy. What I know now is that while harassment usually takes place on an individual to individual basis, but that if you were to add up all of the incidents of harassment-- it's like a pandemic. A single response to a single act of harassment doesn't change much.

What can we do?

One of the best ways to fight back against harassment is to talk about it and create a culture of acceptance for the harassed. Kudos to Courtney for blogging about her experience and for creating a forum for women and girls to share their stories. If you are a person working or volunteering with girls-- figure out how you might be able to open the door to talk about these experiences.

Document it. Turn the camera on the harasser. Check out Holla Back NYC. There's also the girl produced video on street harassment by girls from Girls for Gender Equity that I have blogged about before as well as a Girls Inc NYC video. How can you argue with that kind of evidence?

Start the dialogue with men and boys-- this behavior is not okay. Find a male ally to help in the fight. They are out there.

Take it to the politicans. More kudos go to the Manhattan Borough President for studying it

Where are the Gaming Girls?

2008-04-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

Roy MacKenzie and Naomi Clark rocked my world at the WAM Conference with the session "Beyond Croft and Cooking Mama: Expanding the Discussion of Sexism in Gaming Culture." I could have stayed there all day!

A gamer myself (not super hard core, but I've done my share of shredding on Guitar Hero II on our Playstation 2, and I couldn't total the hours I've played Civilization or The Sims on computers that have come and gone) and the wife of a gamer, I've certainly been aware of the sexism inherent in the ways women are portrayed in games, and the lack of people of color except for the most stereptypical depictions. Trust me, when my husband started playing Tomb Raider I had no shortage of commentary about Lara Croft.

But Roy and Naomi's session covered several topics about how few women there are in the industry, and if they are attractive and smart, the backlash is overwhelming for them. They covered the utter disdain for girls and women that exists in many online gaming environments. And then of course, there is the way games are marketed to girls, pink and sparkly Barbie games rule the corner game store shelves.

Why can't a girl enjoy a good adventure, strategy, or role playing game without it being dumb-downed and sparkled up, or feeling like she has to be one of the guys to be safe? As Roy and Naomi stated in the panel-- just at the age when girls should be getting interested in games, the hostile gaming environment turns them off.

Are you or do you know a girl gamer? Check out: Cerise Magazine

and read this article or anything else by Latoya Peterson

UPDATE
As soon as I posted this-- I read my daily email from ypulse.com and read the news that 69% of girls play and a story on what they play.

Army holds Annual Bring Your Daughter to War Day

2008-04-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

wow.....with the way the war is going, you could see someone coming up with this as an actual recruitment strategy. (oops, my politics are showing!) Also, what a great send up of Take Our Daughters to Work Day!

Thank you, Onion News Network! and Happy April's Fools Day...

(Thanks Maya for sending me the link..)

Meeting the Needs of Girls in Massachusettes

2008-03-31T05:33:00.000-07:00

“Adults should pay attention to how much they don’t know!”

This quote from an 8th grade Hispanic/Latina girl is from a new comprehensive report out of Worcester, Massachusetts sums up the viewpoints many girls have about individual adults. Her quote also speaks to something bigger. We don't know enough about what is going on with girls on the macro level-- there are so little comprehensive reports looking at the needs of girls. We should pay attention and start commissioning/funding/demanding the research.

This report--From Gaps to Opportunities: Meeting the Needs of girls in the Worcester Area fills that gap. I just received this in my in box yesterday and I'm looking forward to digging deep. At first blush-- I know its going to be good. Prepared by Kathryn Wheeler (founding ED of the Girls Coalition of Greater Boston) the work is comprehensive and is sure to be girl centered. Jessica Greenstone, co-writer of the report emailed that although the report is focused on the Central Mass region, many of the issues facing these girls are salient for a broader population.

We need more reports like this to help make the case for girls' programs and girls' needs. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few like head-- Girls Inc NYC produced a local report and the National Council for Research on Women produced a report more national in scope (although not as comprehensive in stats)

Let me know if you know of other work where girls are interviewed and stats are compiled on the needs of girls.

Read the United Way report here

I'm WAMMING!!!!!!!!

2008-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

Hey! I haven't been blogging (What's new?) but this weekend I have been WAMMING. I was incredibly thrilled and honored to speak on a panel on Battling Backlash with Jessica Valenti, Miriam Perez and Carmen Van Kerckhove. Read more about the panel at feministing.com

I also have been learning a lot and am energized to improve the blog in lots o' good ways! Now I am on my way to a session on girls and gaming where I am going to play the WII!!

Wahoo!

Protection-- it's not just for the over 18's and the married folks

2008-03-04T16:53:00.000-08:00

Many people aren't aware that domestic violence laws only cover married folks or parents. Teens experiencing violence in relationships rarely turn to adults for help (see below) and they have no protection from the law. I first learned of this problem when attending a symposium led by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Learn what you can do below-- Patti

Day One is advocating to increase the legal protection available to teenage and other victims of domestic violence in New York State. They are looking for orgs and individuals to sign onto the New York Statewide Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court and support the passage of New York State Senate Bill S.6783, which will expand the protection available to individuals in dating relationships, cohabitants and LGBTQ victims of relationship abuse.

The New York State Family Court Act restricts access to orders of protection (OPs) to individuals currently or formerly married, blood relations, or parents of the same child. As a result, individuals in dating relationships, cohabitants, LGBTQ partners and many elderly are excluded from the protection available in the civil courts. These groups must request OPs from the criminal court, a system constructed for punishment, not protection, where victims are not provided with attorneys and face a far higher standard of proof.

Most importantly for youth, the entry point for the criminal justice system is the police, and most young people will remain at risk rather than seek assistance from law enforcement. In one study, less than 3% of students reported relationship abuse to an authority figure.

As a result, youth and others lacking access to Family Court are less prone to come forward, face more challenges, and when they do choose to seek help are less likely to obtain protection from the legal system.

The Coalition will keep you apprised of activities related to the pending legislation, and action you and let you know how organization can get involved.

Contact Stephanie Nilva at snilva@dayoneny.org for more info

NOW-NYC Awards Tonight!

2008-02-21T04:19:00.000-08:00

What's Good for Girls is back!

NOW-NYC presents the Susan B. Anthony Awards tonight with three NYC girls' organizations receiving recognition. While NOW-NYC's parameters for the award are to honor grassroots activists dedicated to improving the lives of women in New York City. I'm very pleased they have chosen three girls' organizations to honor, that are all WGFG FAVES, no less.

Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
Girls for Gender Equity
and
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services

Film maker Rachel Fleit will also receive an award.

Congrats to NOW-NYC for recognizing three outstanding girls organizations!
Wanna come? Deets below:

Ceremony and Reception | February 21, 2008 | City Hall | 6 PM | RSVP 212.627.9895

Sticker Sister is AWESOME

2007-10-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? How could I have NOT known about Sticker Sister? I went chasing links the other day, and a couple of clicks lead me to Ariel Fox and her extremely cool stickers, posters, t shirts and other fun things.

My current fave thing is the Brave Girl t-shirt. I LOVE IT!

And the very very very best part is that Ariel started Sticker Sisters when she was in the 8th Grade! Read all about her here

Rockin' and 'Readin with Girls Write Now

2007-10-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun at Thursday night's Friendraiser for Girls Write Now that it took me TWO days to recover and post. At Bluestockings, mentors and mentees read their original work from their chapbooks and then we crossed the street to the Slipper Room where Janice Earlbaum and Tayari Jones read their work (GO BUY THEIR BOOKS!) and then we rocked out to my friends from Royal Pink. I actually danced onstage. plus, um, their was some burlesque, and Lauren Cerand emcee'd, so with all this going on, you can see why it took me two days to recover. Luckily tons of other peeps were all over it, immediately after the shindig! see below....

In addition to the Rockin' and Readin' we are also Raising the Money, much needed money to help more of NYC's high school girls to participate in high quality FREE programming. By the end of the program year, girls develop a 7 genre portfolio, and their writing is amazing. Girls use the portfolio to enter contests, for their college admissions essays, and for publication.

If you missed all the fun on Thursday, check out the pics and commentary and then send a check or donate at the website. You KNOW you WANT to.

Tayari blogs: OMG Girls Write Now

Janice blogs at Girlbomb

Celina interviews Maya Nussbaum on feministing

UPDATE:

more bloggin' reviews of the festivities:
From the author of Virginia Woolf: Feminism and the Reader Fernham

Celebrate 10 Years of Bold Articulate Women and Girls!

2007-10-15T05:31:00.000-07:00

Today's Opinion Section of the New York Times includes a piece by a college professor, author, and member of the NYT Editorial Board Verlyn Klinkenborg who has noticed a "polite self-negation" among his female students.

Of young womens' self doubts, he writes,

"These are poignant questions, and they always give me pause, because they allow me to see, as nothing else does, the cultural frame these young women have grown up in. I can hear them questioning the very nature of their perceptions, doubting the evidence of their senses, distrusting the clarity of their thoughts."

Read the whole piece here

It's this cultural frame that girls organizations fight against, working hard to create spaces where girls and young women regcognize and claim their own authority. One of my absolute favorites is Girls Write Now

Come see girls confidently trusting the clarity of their thoughts and the organization that supports them in action THIS THURSDAY at their 10th Anniversary Fall "Friendraiser"

October 18th, 2007

5:30-6:30pm
Mentor-Mentee Pair Reading and Chapbook Showcase at Bluestockings, the radical bookstore, fair trade café and activist center
Bluestockings Bookstore: 172 Allen Street @ Stanton & Rivington

7-9:30pm
Cross the street and party at The Slipper Room with author and "girlbomb" Janice Erlbaum, award-winning novelist Tayari Jones and hotshot indy rockers Royal Pink
NO COVER!

Check out all the deets here

(Many thanks to Dorin for an early morning email about the editorial!!!)

Girl Fighting on You Tube

2007-10-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

I'm fascinated by people's reactions to girls fighting. When girl fighting made the news in the 90's, I thought that the interest in it was more of a testament to the persistence of what it means to be a girl. You know, fighting is not feminine, so when girls fight it has been treated as some kind of aberration. Fighting and aggression is expected of boys but newsworthy when its girls.

I'm not advocating violence here, but anger, aggression, and even fighting are all parts of the human experience, for both genders. I'm not sure why its such a surprise to people when girls engage in these behaviors.

With the new girlfights making the rounds on You Tube, there's been some very smart commentary about why it draws so much attention. Check it out:

girlwithpen
newsday

21 Leaders and The Real Hot 100

2007-10-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

One of my pet peeves are youth serving orgs that say youth can be the leaders of tomorrow, when so many young people are leading projects, organizations, and making social change happen.

However, i love, love, love organizations that recognize the contributions of young people, especially girls! I'm a big fan of both Womens E News and The Real Hot 100 because they recognize the difference that young people can make NOW. I've nominated teens and young women to both. You can too! Here's how:

Deadline: October 10 Womens e News 21 leaders for the 21st century. Prior winners have included Shelby Knox who, as a teenager and a devout Christian, learned about the problems of teen pregnancy and began advocating for comprehensive sex ed in the public schools of Texas and Estafania Alves who, also as a teenager, began a radio show in Boston that empowers and respects women.

To nominate someone you know: Send the following info to 21leaders@womensenews.org by midnight on October 10, 2007.

*The nominee's name, organization, title, e-mail address, phone number, fax number and postal address (cell too, if you have it.)
*Your name, relationship to the nominee, your e-mail address, phone number, fax number and postal address (also cell, if you have one.)
*A summary--of 200 words or less--of how this Leader has made a lasting impact on behalf of women.

Deadline: October 15 The Real Hot 100 is a smart sassy project started by a group of young women who wanted to recognize young women's smarts and creativity not their bodies with this annual list. Last year's list includes too many fabulous women to name. Check out their list and use their online form to nominate someone you know.

Novel thought: Medically Accurate Sex Ed in NYC Schools

2007-10-04T05:29:00.000-07:00

My experiences working with girls in NYC from middle school on up has been quite an education (and lots of fun!) in more ways than I could imagine. But I've been shocked at how little accurate information gets to youth (girls and boys) about their bodies and sex ed. It appalls me that we live in a time where we need to qualify the term sex ed with the qualifiers "age-appropriate medically accurate." This should be a given. Come out and make sure that students get good info in New York. Thanks to Jen for the announcement-- Patti

School-based Health Centers = A Healthy Choice

Join Senator Velmanette Montgomery

Wed., October 10, 2007 at 4:00pm
at the Downtown Brooklyn Campus at LIU

to learn how YOU can help bring age-appropriate, medically accurate sex education to NYC schools AND increase state funding for school-based
health centers statewide.

In the wake of the State Health Department's rejection of federal money for abstinence-only programs, we must act now to ensure that $2.6 million in state funding, which was once used to supplement these programs, be re-directed to support real sex education that can saves lives.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. in the Campus courtyard located between the Cyber Cafe and the Library Learning Center underpass.
Enter at DeKalb Avenue and Hudson Avenue.

LIU Downtown Brooklyn Campus is accessible by the
4/5 or 2/3 trains to Nevins Street
B, M, Q or R to DeKalb Avenue
A, C or G trains to Hoyt Schemerhorn Station

For more information, call 718-643-6140 or email
sstewart@senate.state.ny.us

Gender and Hip Hop

2007-10-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

Woah-- I just saw this announcement for Friday's panel. I'm familiar with Byron Hurt made the documentary Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes and has spoken out about both his love for hip hop and the way gender roles are represented in hip hop, but I had never heard of Black Girls Rock! Check out Dj Beverly Bond Sounds amazing-- I'm looking forward to learning more.

PANEL ON MISOGYNY IN RAP CULTURE (NYC)

Friday, October 5, 7pm.

Community dialogue on the gender crisis featuring
panelists Joan Morgan, M-1, Byron Hurt, and Tracy Sharpley-Whiting
Hosted by Black Girls Rock! Founder and DJ Beverly Bond.

Moderated by
Bakari Kitwana.

The Museum of the City of New York 1220 Fifth Ave.
near E. 104th. Manhattan. Visit: mcny.org.

Free with RSVP to
212-534-1672 x3395. Source: Brian Ward.

Are Boys Happier than Girls?

2007-09-27T04:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's New York Times article He's Happier, She's Less So included a recap of studies on the difference between men and women's reported happiness from the 70's onward and includes an update of new studies. The whole article is worth the read, and I hope stirs up some good debate/analysis elsewhere, but here's a nugget that stands out for me where girls are concerned:

It’s telling that there is also a happiness gap between boys and girls in high school. As life has generally gotten better over the last generation — less crime, longer-living grandparents and much cooler gadgets — male high school seniors have gotten happier. About 25 percent say they are very satisfied with their lives, up from 16 percent in 1976. Roughly 22 percent of senior girls now give that answer, unchanged from the 1970s.

Hmmmm. One theory presented in the article is an increase in expectations for girls, in terms of grades, activities, and aspirations, while still feeling the pressure to meet unrealistic standards of beauty. The general idea is that girls were once just expected to be hot, now they are expected to be smart, ambitious, and hot at the same time.

This theory has been backed up by some research (see Girls Inc) and certainly makes sense for a certain percentage of high school girls, but doesn't go far enough. (I've been a part of many discussions about whether this applies across race and class lines) Like many topics that address the gender divide, it ignores the boys and men. Do boys and men not face the pressures and expectations around grades, activities, and how they look? Seen an Axe commerical lately? Impossible standards of masculinity are as present in our culture as femininity and it seems to follow that boys feel those pressures too.

Appearances are one thing, expectations around academics and performance are another. If boys don't feel the pressure around their futures, why is that? Is the good 'ol boys network so apparent that high school boys don't feel the need to get their act together?

My point here is that if we are seeing some kind of reversal in happiness trends between girls and boys, we should think critically about why that might be.

Thoughts? Guesses?

Feminists Abound Online and In Print

2007-09-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Fall! Where'd summer go?

A quick update:

I (FINALLY!) bought a copy of Deb Siegel's Sisterhood Interrupted From Radical Women to Girls Gone Wild and was pleasantly reminded that whatsgoodforgirls is listed as an online resource to "learn more about debates in feminism" Thanks Deb! Hear Deb speak this Thursday at the Woodhull Institute

Also-- when buying my book I decided to give Givneik a try-- an online service allows you to donate a portion of your purchase from selected stores to a non profit org. Sooo Girls Write Now will be reaping the rewards of my book shopping over the weekend. It was easier than I thought it was going to be, and hey! I was going to buy books this weekend anyway, why not show GWN a little love? And most importantly, It doesn't replace the check I write to them, it's an easy way for an organization I love to get a little something extra.

One more quickie: Courtney Martin has an article on Alternet which investigates the reports that the suicide rate is on the rise for 10 - 14 year old girls. (the increase is horribly depressing and I sincerely hope is not the beginning of a trend) Read her analysis and check out my expert quote here

Internship with GEMS

2007-09-21T04:03:00.000-07:00

This is a fantastic opportunity to work directly with teen girls, supporting them as a coach, and helping them learn job skills and build economic independence. Full Disclosure-- I work at GEMS! Please spread the word as this internship will be critical to this new program's success. Thanks-- Patti

Internship-Youth Development and Advancement
Org: Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS)
Dates: September 24-June 24
Paid: Modest Stipend and Metrocard

GEMS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower young women, ages 12-21 years, who have experienced sexual exploitation and trafficking to exit abusive and unsafe lifestyles and develop their full potential. GEMS is the only non-profit organization in New York State to provide specialized services to young women and girls who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation with counseling, crisis housing, life skills training, job training and healthcare with consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change.

As part of our commitment to youth employability and job readiness, the staff at GEMS have developed youth employment programs, including a nine-month leadership development program that meets two organizational goals: (1) to transform under-employed young women into viable candidates for full-time professional work and (2) to build a base of youth leaders within the organization who can fully participate in programming and governance. From October to June, six fellows will serve the organization in various capacities including administration, youth leadership initiatives, community organizing, fundraising and self-development/recreational programming.

Reporting to the Youth Development Coordinator, the Intern for Youth Development and Advancement will work as part of team that helps our fellow complete 21 hours of service each week. Responsibilities include:

• Support two fellows to create quarterly, monthly and weekly goals
• Review daily tasks with fellows and support them to complete them
• Give a daily progress report to the Youth Development Coordinator
• Participate in weekly meetings and trainings

Qualifications:
• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program; graduate student preferred but not required
• A very strong commitment to female victims of sexual violence, exploitation and trafficking
• Previous mentoring experience
• Working knowledge of issues and barriers facing young women of color
• Ability to create a non-judgmental but professional environment where young women can succeed
• Ability to give and receive feedback
• Must be able to work 21 hours per week

Intern will be paid a modest stipend and receive a metrocard for transportation

Application instructions:
To apply, send a cover letter and resume detailing only relevant experience to:

Chiquita Williams
Youth Development Coordinator
Girls Educational and Mentoring Services
Email: Chiquita@gems-girls.org
Fax: 212-926-7984

Alpha Girl Grants in NYC

2007-09-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

This just in from Jen at Girls Inc NYC. I love the concept of funding girls' projects. Girls get the opportunity to develop their own ideas into projects and then see the results in the real world. This isn't slacktivism-- this is the real thing!

Alpha Girls Grants of $1,000 Available for Girls ages 12 – 18!

Morgan Stanley Global Infrastructure Solutions has sponsored a "Pay It
Forward" project called Alpha Girls. Alpha Girls is all about
promoting strength in character and self esteem to young women.

Who are Alpha Girls? They are girls who:
*Want… and can… make a difference.
*Are respectful of their health, body, and mind; appreciate the "unique" you.
*Focus on achievement: do their best in academics, art, music, sports,
hobbies, work.
*Are caring: treat people fairly and kindly, help others, do not
allow anyone to bully or be bullied.
*Do the greater good: help fix the world's problems – environment,
poverty, sickness.
*Are leaders: stand up for what they believe and inspire others to do
the same

The mission of our Alpha Girls project is:
"To educate, inspire, and empower young women (ages 12-18) to become
leaders who love, respect and believe in themselves and others. We
will do this by hosting Lunch & Learn sessions with Alpha Girl role
models, and by encouraging and assisting girls to 'pay it forward' in
their communities through a mini-grant program."

What is an Alpha Girls - Pay it Forward Project?

We are collaborating with Girls Inc. of NYC to fund each girl with
$1,000.00 to implement their Alpha Girls – Pay it Forward Project that
will benefit your community.

Examples of projects:
**Buying refurbished computers, sports equipment, musical instruments,
or art supplies for your school, library, or recreation center.
**Making or buying toys for the children's ward of your local hospital.
**Planting a garden or painting your school, library, or recreation center.

All applications are due by October 15, 2007.

To learn more about Alpha Girls, view the grant guidelines and
download the grant application, please visit our website
alphagirlvalues.org or call Jennifer at 212-531-7620.

Who reads Whats Good for Girls?

2007-09-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well, my mom for one, who emailed me to say that my link to the New Paltz Women's Studies Conference on Girls doesn't work and sent me one that does.

http://www.newpaltz.edu/wmnstudies/

Sorry for any confusion-- and THANKS MOM!!!

And so does Lauren Cerand the super cool PR force behind Girls Write Now's kick off party (and colleague on the Girls Write Now Board of Directors)

So.....leave a comment if you read my blog too!

Girlbomb and Bust!

2007-09-10T23:24:00.000-07:00

Check out author of Girlbomb Janice Erlbaum's interview with Rosario Dawson in this month's Bust Magazine. Which NYC girls' organization does Rosario support? Click here to find out.

Want to hear Janice read? Mark your calendars for fundraiser/friendraiser and all-round superfun event for Girls Write Now on Oct 18th at the Slipper Room. Janice will read, so will Tayari Jones, author of The Untelling and one of my fave NYC bands Royal Pink will play.

More to come on that front!

Sister in Strength internships for teens at Girls For Gender Equity

2007-09-06T06:21:00.000-07:00

Girls for Gender Equity is looking for young women, ages 16-19 years old, for part-time, paid ($8/hr) Sisters in Strength Community
Organizing Internship. SIS confronts the multiple layers of
individual and institutional discrimination that threatens the
safety of girls and women through five core components:

1) Youth Leadership: Building and utilizing skills in
grassroots organizing to address the multiple barriers to young
women living lives of self-determination
2) Community Service: Mentoring middle school girls and boys to
build leadership skills and increase community connection
3) Consciousness Raising: Challenging one's self and
influencing others to think critically about systems of oppression
and the roles individuals and communities play in these systems
4) Social Growth and Identity: Gaining support in daily
struggles while defining and working toward future goals
5) Education and Career: Asserting the importance of education
and making education more accessible for young women of color

Interns work up to 10 hours/week from October 2007 to June 2008.
A full description of the internship duties and expectations, as
well as an application can be obtained by emailing mandy@ggenyc.org

Please put "Sisters in Strength Internship" in the subject line.

The deadline to apply is September 14, 2007 (complete and in our
office, not just postmarked). Late or incomplete applications will
not be considered!

Women's Studies Conference focuses on Girls

2007-09-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Awesome-- pull out your calendars, blackberries, or other assorted datekeepers-- SUNY New Paltz's Women's Studies Conference "Girlhood: The Challenge and Promise of Growing Up Female," will put the focus on growing up female in the United States and around the world, in contemporary society and throughout history. It looks to be more than academic women talking about girls-- both girls and young women including in the keynote panel and leading workshops.

Keynote speakers include Courtney Martin author of Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body; Mary Roodkowsky, Senior Adviser to UNICEF; and Queen Bond, Julliany Lahoz and Cristal Pimentel, SUNY New Paltz students and recent graduates of The High School of International Business and Finance in New York City. Shameless self promotion: I've blogged about both Courtney's work and featured the NYTimes article about Queen and Crystal! High fives all around--

Enough about me, register now for the conference

The preregistration deadline is Sept. 21.

Missed the Show? See the pics: Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls

2007-08-31T05:19:00.001-07:00

Missed the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls show? You can still see the pics in the New York Times! Check out this photo slide show by Lauren Lancaster. She got some really beautiful shots that bring on the feel of the rock camp shows.

Or come to the benefit show thrown by Baby In the Corner...
Baby In the Corner presents:
Brooklyn Art Blast!
@ Luna Lounge. Thursday September 6th, 8pm
381 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg
$15 charitable donation

A music & performance blow-out to benefit Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
Featuring MC Mr. Murray Hill - the hardest working middle-aged man in show business, plus
Lolita Bras
Comedienne Sue Ball
Milton
Burlesque by the lovely Cousin Birdie
The Fatales
DJ Sambarella

Fun Fun Fun.....

Fall Application Deadlines for Girls Write Now

2007-08-30T05:12:00.000-07:00

Girls Write Now is in search of NYC Teen Girl Writers looking to sharpen their skills and work one on one with a mentor in the writing professions as well as participate in monthly workshops. All girls complete a 7 genre portfolio which they can use for contest entries, college admissions, publication, and more.

Girls Write Now is also looking for teachers and administrators to add to our Teachers Network in an effort to diversify the schools, programs, and high school students we work with and to make sure we are targeting the population of under-served female emerging teen writers most in need of our help.

Student enrollment guidelines and a downloadable application can be found at: Girls Write Now

Email enrollement@girlswritenow.org for more info or with questions

Deadline: Sept 10 for mentee applications

Third Wave Foundation seeks Fall Interns

2007-08-28T04:54:00.000-07:00

The Third Wave Foundation supports programs and organizations run by and for young women and transgender activists. Truly visionary when it started 10 years ago, the Third Wave Foundation still fills a much needed void in supported young people's projects and provides funding that is a turning point for many grassroots feminist organizations. If you know a young person who would be interested in learning the inner workings of how to support an activist foundation-- pass this info on to them!

Programs Intern
Seeking one intern to work full-time (40 hrs/week) or two interns to work part-time (20 hrs/week) for the Fall and/or Spring semesters, for school credit or work-study hours, or a small stipend if other funds cannot be secured. Interns will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our programming, fundraising, and grantmaking areas. Ideal candidates have an interest in developing a birds-eye view of the feminist youth activism landscape and learning more about feminist organizations, non-profits, and foundations.
The Program Internship will focus on Third Wave’s two core grant-making areas, the Reproductive Health and Justice Initiative and the Organizing and Advocacy Fund. Interns will have the opportunity to learn more about Third Wave’s overall work and how funding decisions are made, participate in staff meetings, attend relevant events, and work on the foundation’s grantmaking and grantee capacity building processes.

The internship will involve:
•grantee trainings and event planning
•managing the abortion fund
•coordinating funding requests
•research and writing
•some administrative tasks

Individuals applying for this internship should have:
•an ability to plan and prioritize tasks to meet multiple deadlines
•web, database and library research and writing skills
•familiarity with Excel and/or other databases
•a demonstrated interest in organizing by youth and/or communities of color
•knowledge of gender justice issues

If you are interested in applying, please email your resume and a cover letter that mentions your potential start date and days for which you would be available with the following subject heading:
PROGRAM INTERN AP – YOUR NAME
to Jessica Barclay-Strobel at jessica@thirdwavefoundation.org . Third Wave will contact you in August if they are interested in scheduling an interview. They receive a lot of requests and may not be able to follow-up with each person individually.

Communications and Development Intern
Third Wave seeks Communications and Development interns to work part-time (20 hrs/week) for during the months of September through December. Interns will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our programming, fundraising, and grantmaking areas. Ideal candidates have an interest in learning more about feminist organizations, non-profits, and foundations. We offer school credit, work-study hours, or a small stipend.

The Communications and Development Intern will be involved in all aspects of fundraising, marketing, and partnership development. This is an ideal position for candidates interested in learning about how non-profit organizations raise visibility and garner support for its programs. Interns will gain insight into the foundation’s organizational infrastructure.
Interns will work with the Development Officer, Development and Communications Associate and Philanthropic Partnerships Associate.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
•conducting research on potential supporters
•assisting with website maintenance
•assisting with overall preparation and logistics for various events
•helping to write marketing, media and mailing materials such as fact sheets, program/services descriptions, and success stories
•assisting with submission of grant proposals and report packages to potential and current funders
•helping to manage a database for tracking all development and outreach activity

Individuals applying for this internship must be organized and detail-oriented. They must possess excellent writing skills and the ability to work independently. Design experience and a desire to learn fundraising skills preferred. This position has the potential to extend into the spring semester. Starting and ending dates can be flexible.

If you are interested in applying, please send your resume and cover letter to Vanessa A. Llana at vanessa@thirdwavefoundation.org .

Girls Write Now kicks off new Board of Directors

2007-08-27T05:29:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to be a part of the Board at Girls Write Now-- they have a smart program, dedicated volunteers, and the girls are learning valuable skills while creating a relationship with their mentor. My time so far with Girls Write Now has been inspirational and I'm looking forward to a great year. Please support us! Follow the link to Girls Write Now

"This is the start of an amazing new phase for Girls Write Now," said Maya Nussbaum, Co-founder and Executive Director of GWN. "Our new Board of Directors and Program Committee will work together to make Girls Write Now truly sustainable by building outstanding programming and aggressively pursue new funding opportunities." Maya will remain Executive Director of Girls Write Now and serve on the Board of Directors and the Program Committee.

The new board consists of women leaders from the worlds of nonprofit development, journalism, publishing, and education, including veteran Girls Write Now mentors, and will focus on the organization's fiscal health and development. The Program Committee consists entirely of veteran mentors and is dedicated to programming, curriculum development and membership.

"I am excited to be a part of an organization that is laser-focused on giving girls a voice in this world," said Vanessa Bush, Executive Editor of Essence magazine and new Girls Write Now board member. "When young women learn to express themselves with passion and authority, nothing can be more empowering."

ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Patti Binder is the Chair of the Board of Directors, and committed to girls and young women's leadership both in her day job and through volunteering with NYC girls organizations including Girls Write Now. Currently Patti is the Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS). Stepping into the world of writing, Patti started the blog What's Good for Girls as one way to promote the important work that girls' organizations are doing. Greatly inspired by all the young women and mentors who are a part of Girls Write Now, Patti is thrilled to be deepening her role in this community of women and girls.

Timikal Bobo works as a Programming Strategy Coordinator at Oxygen Media, where she oversees the strategic planning of programming and scheduling for alternative media platforms. She received two BA degrees from University of Cincinnati in Social Science and English Literature, as well as a Writing Certificate. Recently she completed a graduate degree in Media Studies and Certificate in Media Management from The New School University.

Vanessa Bush is Executive Editor of Essence magazine. Previously, she was senior parenting and features editor at Essence, where her duties included writing and editing the parenting columns, in addition to editing and writing center-of-book feature stories with topics ranging from education to personal growth. She also assigns and edits the "Making Love Work" column, top edits Essence's fashion and beauty columns and is a contributing writer for Essence's "Mind/Body" column. Prior to joining the magazine, she served in a variety of editorial capacities at publications such as Life Magazine and Glamour. Vanessa was awarded a 2003 Journalism Fellowship in Child and Family Policy by the University of Maryland's Phillip Merrill College of Journalism. Vanessa received her BA in English and American Literature from Harvard University, and her MS in magazine concentration from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She also received a certificate in book and magazine publishing from the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. She is the coauthor of the book Tyra Banks Beauty Inside & Out.

Lauren Cerand is an independent public relations representative and consultant in New York. Her clients are a purposefully eclectic mix of creative professionals, and she specializes in generating initial buzz and building sustained attention for projects and individuals. The Village Voice included her in its "Best of New York" issue. A graduate of Cornell University, Lauren compiles "The Smart Set," a weekly round-up of cultural happenings for premier lit-blog MaudNewton.com, and writes about art, politics and style at LuxLotus.com.

Annie J. Howell is a documentary and fiction filmmaker, and currently directs the Graduate Certificate in Documentary Media Studies at The New School in New York City. Her award-winning films have been exhibited at festivals worldwide and have screened on PBS, The Sundance Channel and the Independent Film Channel. At The New School, she has directed a large undergraduate curriculum in Media Studies; served as Assistant Professor, teaching courses in screenwriting, directing, and documentary.

Maya Nussbaum, Co-founder and Executive Director of Girls Write Now, has grown the organization from a loose association into a dynamic community for New York City women writers as diverse as the city itself. Maya has a background in writing and the visual arts. A former director of Von Lintel Gallery and Ash Fine Art, she has degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing from Columbia University. During her nearly 10 years with Girls Write Now, Maya has created and produced all programs and curricula, and trained and managed over 600 professional women writers and emerging teen authors in mentoring and creative writing.

Natasha Reilly-Moynihan is Development Director at Creative Arts Workshops (CAW). CAW is a nonprofit organization that utilizes the visual and performing arts to teach life skills to children and teens while enriching communities. CAW develops Saturday, after-school, and summer art programs that empower youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their leadership and public speaking skills, build self-confidence and deepen the relationship between art and community.

Terry Selucky is a freelance writer, playwright and screenwriter whose work has been seen onstage in New York City and Chicago. She's been a contributor to such publications as Time Out New York, Not for Tourists travel guides and Hundreds of Heads books, and has also been a writer and editor for online travel content. Through Project: Philanthropy, she has helped to develop and write marketing and publicity for several non-for-profit organizations and she is an artistic associate of Chicago's Sansculottes Theater Company, where she was founding artistic director for nearly three years. This is her second season with Girls Write Now.

Trudy Stallings is Development Director at Figure Skating in Harlem. Trudy's professional and volunteer experiences with non-profit organizations date back 12 years. Before joining Figure Skating in Harlem, Trudy held the principal responsibility for government and foundation fundraising at The Harlem School of the Arts, and was the director of development and administration at the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center, both Harlem-based organizations.

Michele Thomas works as the Assistant Managing Editor at The French Culinary Institute. Her diverse work experience includes covering health and nutrition as a freelance writer, working as the managing editor of a nationally syndicated newspaper distribution service, and writing and editing K-12 textbooks and teaching materials for Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, Harcourt School Publishers, Pearson Education, and Houghton-Mifflin. This is her third season with Girls Write Now.

Jessica Valenti is the Founder and Executive Editor of Feministing.com. She also blogs at UN Dispatch and is a contributor to the Daou Report. Jessica is a co-founder of the REAL hot 100, a national campaign that aims to change the perception of younger women in the media, and a contributing author to We Don't Need Another Wave: Young Feminist Writers Speak Out (Seal Press). Her writing has appeared in Alternet, Salon, The Guardian and Guernica magazine. Her newest book, Full Frontal Feminism : A Young Women's Guide to Why Feminism Matters (Seal Press), was published in Spring 2007.

Aleksandra Wagner, presently a Ph.D. candidate in sociology at CUNY Graduate Center and a member-in-training at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, has completed her BA in musicology and BA in comparative literature and philosophy at the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Her interests, and a dissertation theme, are in connections between sociology and psychoanalysis, particularly in the realms of method (ethnography, biography, case study) and social history. Before coming to The New School, she taught sociology at the College of Staten Island, and Hunter College (CUNY). She is a member of Editorial Staff of The Psychoanalytic Review, member of the Editorial Board of The Discourse of Sociological Practice, and a practicing psychotherapist.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Allison Heiny, Enrollment Director, recruits and enrolls Girls Write Now's mentees--NYC's talented emerging teen authors--and the sophisticated team of professional women writers who mentor them. Allison is the Foreign Rights Manager and Managing Editor for Alloy Entertainment, the teen novel packager that developed both The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series and the Gossip Girl series. She holds a BA in Journalism and Women's Studies from The University of Wisconsin-Madison, and enjoys working on her own fiction and non-fiction writing. Allison has been with Girls Write Now since 2002.

Pooja Makhijani, Curriculum Director, oversees the content of Girls Write Now's one-of-a-kind curriculum and workshops. Pooja is the editor of Under Her Skin: How Girls Experience Race in America, an anthology of essays by women that explores the complex ways in which race shapes American lives and families, and Mama's Saris, her first picture book. She has been with Girls Write Now since 2005.

Maya Nussbaum, Co-Founder and Executive Director, has served as director since the organization's formal incorporation as a nonprofit and public charity in 2005.

Maggie Pouncey, Talent Director, focuses on mentor and mentee writing development and relationship support. Maggie is pursuing a MFA in creative writing at Columbia University, where she teaches undergraduate writing. She is at work on a collection of stories and a novel. This is her second season mentoring with Girls Write Now.

Sarah Robbins, New Programs & Events Director, coordinates Girls Write Now's college prep events, field trips, and special programs including Girls Life Adventure, Ladies Write Now - the organization's mentor-only writing group - and the Freelancer's Support Circle. Sarah is a fomer senior writer for Shape Magazine and a contributing writer at TimeOut New York Kids . Her work has appeared in American Book Review, ArtNews, Glamour, Men's Journal, Newsday, and UsWeekly. Sarah has an MFA in fiction writing from the New School and dual bachelor's degrees in journalism and English writing from Northwestern University.This is her second year with Girls Write Now.

Terry Selucky, Development Director, focuses on fundraising through Girls Write Now's active membership and alumni. She first joined the organization as a mentor in 2006 after moving to New York City from Chicago.

Michele Thomas, Communications Director and Program Chair, manages media outreach and production of Girls Write Now publications and informational materials, including www.girlswritenow.org and the annual Girls Write Now anthology. This is Michele's third season mentoring with the organization.

ABOUT GIRLS WRITE NOW

Founded in 1998, Girls Write Now Inc. (GWN) provides a safe and supportive environment where girls can expand their natural writing talents, develop independent creative voices, and build confidence in making healthy choices in school, career and life. GWN is the only East Coast nonprofit that combines mentoring and creative writing training within the context of all-girl programming. GWN gives at-risk high school girls with emerging writing talent the unique opportunity to be custom matched with a professional woman writer who serves as her individual mentor and writing coach, meeting with her weekly for one entire school year, and for up to four years. GWN also enrolls each student in a vibrant writing community and professional network: all mentees and mentors gather monthly for genre-based workshops conducted at Teachers & Writers Collaborative -- the home of the oldest writers-in-the-schools program in the country -- in midtown Manhattan. The year is punctuated by three public readings, college and career prep seminars, a social awarareness program, field trips to cultural events, and endless opportunities for scholarships and publication. The magic of the program is reflected in a solid nine-year track record, a 65-percent member retention rate, a 100-percent college acceptance rate, an annual anthology of original writing, and the seven-genre portfolios each student emerges equipped with each season.

AT A GLANCE

Girls Write Now, Inc.
Founded: 1998
Headquarters: 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2020, New York, NY 10018
Website: www.girlswritenow.org
Co-Founder and Executive Director: Maya Nussbaum

Last Chance to Rock with Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls

2007-08-24T08:04:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is your last chance to see 2007's hottest new bands. Come rock out with Roadkill Rewind, The Exploding Amps, The Dangerous Mz. Pac Man, The Abominable Snowgirls, Disturbed Disney, and many more!

WILLIE MAE ROCK CAMP FOR GIRLS SESSION 2 SHOWCASE
SATURDAY AUGUST 25TH
at the HIGHLINE BALLROOM
431 W. 16th Street (bween 9th & 10th Avenues)
New York, NY 10011

Doors @ 11:30am
SHOW STARTS @ 12:00pm!!!
Suggested donation $6-$10
All ages!

Get your tickets at the door, or buy them online now at willie mae rock camp

Brunch & drinks will also be available - see the menu highlineballroom

YPulse takes on Girls Issues today

2007-08-23T13:02:00.001-07:00

Check Anastasia at YPulse. She covers some great girl-related stuff today including:

Dove's Love Your Hair Campaign (includes video) here

Teen Movies Need a Girls Night Out here

and info on a new sports mag for girls.

GOOD Mag highlights Girl Power

2007-08-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

or the lack of Girl Power in elected officials.

I'm all for the message about gender inequality in our elected representatives and I'm glad to see Good Magazine covering it. They get it right with the line "Half of us are female but only 10 of our leaders are." But I'm not crazy about the "Girl Power" heading. Just like Hillary's "I'm your girl" comment, I think adult women need to represent themselves as adult women, and NOT AS GIRLS. (For the record-- I'm with Jennifer Pozner at Women in Media and News who thinks Hillary should have said "I'm your candidate.") Watch Jennifer discuss this here

When the word "girl" is a substitute for all things female, how can we preserve what it means to be a girl, under 18, as separate and distinct from being an adult woman? I don't think we can. It's the subject I love to harp on, its true, but the more I see it especially in PRINT or by adult women running for office, the more it makes me crazy. It's one thing to be in a group of your friends and say "O'kay girls" and another to publicly represent adult women as girls.

I believe we can all help preserve girlhood for girls through our language.

Check it out: Girl Power transparency on the Good Magazine website.

Bloggers Abound: New Wave Grrrl

2007-08-20T20:08:00.001-07:00

My friend Emily has joined the blog-o-sphere, paying special attention to girls and women with disabilities. I'm so impressed! And check it: she created her own logo. Cool!

Go see what she's talking about and tell her WhatsGoodForGirls sent you: New Wave Grrrl

Rose and Isabel: Graphic Novel Girls Kick A$$

2007-08-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

I love Rose and Isabel. Maybe its because I want to unleash my inner avenger. Maybe its because I have a new fondness for graphic novels. Maybe its because I love when strong females kick serious a$$.

For excellent summer reading, check out order Ted Mathel's Rose and Isabel books (both 1 and 2. Trust me. If you only buy the first one, you'll be sorry and waiting by your mailbox until the second one arrives)

Ted is a fancy pants story supervisor over at Pixar who created two willful female characters who set out to bring their brothers back from battle during the Civil War. Its a gripping story. Rose and Isabel are two young women with amazing powers. I want to say more, I do, but then you might not get the books.

One of my fave features is the sketchbook that shows the development of the characters located in the back of the book. I love that.

Check them out: Rose and Isabel

Celina Strikes Again: Bodega Ave

2007-08-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

What would I do without feministing??? All the feminist news, headlines, and contraversies...they keep me up to date on all the stuff I don't hear on NPR or read in the Times.

This week Celina interviewed the women who make the comic Bodega Ave, a comic about pre teen characters living in Brooklyn and often in both English and Spanish. Thanks to Celina's interview, I've checked them out and now, I'm a fan. I can't wait for their graphic novel, a new genre (new to me, anyway) that I am really getting into.

Check out the interview and check out what the creators say about their characters' feminist leanings here

and the comic here

Seeking Submissions: Poems on Girlhood

2007-08-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

Anthology Call for Work:

For an anthology of contemporary poetry on girlhood aimed at high school and college level readers, co-editors Arielle Greenberg and Becca Klaver seek submission of poems on or relevant to any aspect of the experience of girlhood, from childhood to young adulthood by poets with at least one published or forthcoming poetry collection from a nationally-distributed press.

We aim to create an anthology that addresses the need young women have for challenging, intelligent, complicated literature about their lives. Possible subjects include but are not limited to experiences of family relationships, work, activism, sexuality, friendship, consumer culture, physical or mental illness, body image, domesticity, athleticism, intellectual pursuits, creativity, geography, displacement, belonging, separation, identity formation, partnership
and triumph. Poems that are not subject-driven or narrative but
might still be of particular interest to a teenage girl reader are also welcome.

In addition to submissions of your own work, we would be interested in hearing suggestions of individual poems that you know of and feel should be included in such an anthology.

As we have a very limited permissions budget, we prefer submissions
of poems that are either unpublished or to which the poet retains the rights.

Previously published poems will be considered; please indicate if the poems you are submitting have been published.

Switchback Books plans to publish the anthology in 2009.

Please send no more than three poems no later than October 1, 2007 via email Word attachment to: becca [at] switchbackbooks [dot] com

or via snail mail in care of:
Becca Klaver, Assistant Programs Director, English Department, Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605-1996.

Please include an email address. We expect to notify poets regarding submission status via email by Summer 2008.

http://www.switchbackbooks.com/anthology.html

(thanks to Maya and Girls Write Now for the info)

Harlem Fashion Show to benefit GEMS

2007-08-15T04:12:00.000-07:00

Looking for something fun to do that also benefits NYC youth? An amazing woman at Enfiniti Productions has put together a fashion show featuring Harlem boutiques. Ticket sales benefit GEMS and Brotherhood Sister Sol, two Harlem based non profit organizations.

$20 in advance $30 at the door

The New Harlem Renaissance Fashion Show
THIS THURSDAY August 16th at 8PM
145th and Riverside Drive

Tickets available online:
www.harlemfashionrow.com

Safe in Our World

2007-08-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Get ready for the Brooklyn Girls Collaborative Summit Safe in Our World on Tuesday, August 14, 2008. Spread the word you to know to girls and young women ages 12 - 20

Long Island University
Downtown Brooklyn Campus
Kumble Theater
12:00 – 5:00
includes lunch
Call 212.531.7620 for information
or visit Brooklyn Girls

4/5 or 2/3 to Nevins Street Station
B, M, Q, or R to Dekalb Avenue
A, C, or G train to Hoyt Schemerhorn Station

Conference includes includes video, dance, workshops and a forum with community leaders, including a New York State Senator and New York City Council Member!

Sign up for workshops by age group

Ages 12 to 14
Safety and Self Defense: "Safety 101" presented by Dwa Fanm
This workshop will introduce issues of self defence, including using your voice, practice blocking and being aware of your surroundings as a way to keep yourself safe.

Safety and Relationships: "Take Charge" presented by Girl Scouts
This workshop will deal with sensitive issues such as sexual harassment, dating violence, incest and similar issues.

Safety and Schools: "Get Up, Stand Up: Teasing & Bullying" by Girls Inc.
This workshop will help girls examine healthy responses to teasing and bullying in their lives.

Safety and Empowerment: "You are Phenomenal & We're Going to Tell You Why" presented by Hip Hop 4 Life. This workshop addresses the building blocks for staying emotionally and physically safe – making positive life choices and decisions for success.

Ages 15 and over
Safety and Self Defense: "Violence Prevention & Self Defense" by Center for Anti Violence Education Build self-esteem while learning violence-prevention strategies and self-defense techniques. The workshop includes awareness exercises using eyes, voices & body language; games that help build assertiveness; and discussions highlighting major safety concerns facing young women.

Safety and the Street: "Sister in Strength Strikes Back: Our Struggle with Street Harassment" presented by Girls for Gender Equity
Screening of "Hey… Shorty!" – a documentary film about street harassment from women of color's perspective made by teen women community organizers. The Director of the film will lead a discussion about how young people can fight against street harassment.

Safety and Sexuality: "EC & You" by North Shore/LIJ School Based Health Center This very informative workshop focuses on emergency contraception as a way for women to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy. Participants will learn about New York State reproductive health law which guarantees free and confidential reproductive services.

Safety and Sexuality: "Safer Sex 101" presented by Red Hook Initiative
The Red Hook Initiative Peer Health Educators will present a workshop on safer sex. Topics include sexual decision making, how to protect yourself from contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Any and all questions will be answered regarding sexuality, safe sex, and staying healthy.

Safety and Relationships: presented by Day One
This interactive workshop will give participants an understanding of dating violence, including signs and ways to get help.

Rock Out with Willie Mae Rock Camp

2007-08-10T04:28:00.001-07:00

Don't miss Saturday's Rock Showcase-- check out the bands that formed at Willie Mae's week of Rockin Out last week. It's way fun! You'll be shocked at the great music that can be created in one week and thrilled to see the power and creativity of girls on stage. It's WAY FUN!

While you are there, pick up some "merch" and support the bands, and throw a few extra bucks to the Willie Mae Rock Camp. This all volunteer org works their butts off to pull camp off every year.

For tickets (6 bucks!)
Highline Ballroom
For more info:
Willie Mae Rock Camp
Rock Camp My Space page

Glamour Magazine covers Rape in the Congo

2007-08-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

Pick up a copy of Glamour Magazine today to read up on Eve Ensler's work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ensler's V-Day, UNICEF and the women of Eastern DRC are working together on the campaign, "Stop Raping Our Greatest Resource, Power To The Women And Girls Of The Democratic Republic Of Congo”

Before I went to the Congo, I’d spent the past 10 years working on V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. I’d traveled to the rape mines of the world--places like Bosnia, Afghanistan and Haiti, where rape has been used as a tool of war. But nothing I ever experienced felt as ghastly, terrifying and complete as the sexual torture and attempted destruction of the female species here. The violence is a threat to all; young girls and village elders alike are at risk. It is not too strong to call this a femicide, to say that the future of the Congo’s women is in serious jeopardy,” Ensler states.

I'm grateful to see two worldwide organizations working together with the women in Congo to stand up for the rights of women and girls. Women and girls need allies, big and small, to support them in overcoming this violence. AND given all the stories out there, let's give some props to Glamour for covering the story. Thanks to Purva Panday at V-Day for the heads-up!

To learn more, visit http://www.vday.org/contents/drcongo
and sign up for the e-newsletter

Katina Paron! Swoon!

2007-07-07T09:03:00.001-07:00

Slow posting these days, I know...Why do teachers get summers off, many businesses and corporations take half Fridays (or whole Fridays), and yet for those of us in non profits the calendar never slows down? Grants and reports are still due, programs still run, and the girls we work with still need our support.

Yup-- I am whining. But, the point of all of this is that my posting has been almost non existant. Luckily for everyone, the women over at Feministing are still hard at work. Check out their interview with Katina Paron at Children's PressLine-- youth media rocks, of course! Katina is a powerhouse who keeps youth generated media in all kinds of outlets. SWOON! And she is completely hilarious-- I met her at a birthday party recently (HI Suzanne and Nicole!) and stayed much later than intended, in part because Katina is a total riot.

Check out her interview

and read the youth generated media over at Children's PressLine

Girls in the News

2007-06-25T04:17:00.000-07:00

Now this is what I am talking about! Last week girls were featured in the New York Times and the Village Voice for good stuff, not rises in girl violence, or girls gone wild. Instead these two articles are positively focused on girl power-- friendships that get girls through high school, and girls taking action on street harassment. Congrats to both the girls on their achievements AND to the New York Times and the Village Voice for running the stories. Check them out!

The June 24th New York Times article "The High School Kinship of Crystal and Queen" focuses on the friendship that develops between two teen girls that beat the odds and graduate ON TIME in a New York City High School (like 50% of their peers).

The Dominican boys in the back of the freshman English class at the high school in Washington Heights were making fun of the timid African-American girl, Queen Bond. One of the boys got down on one knee in front of her as if he were Romeo — they had been studying “Romeo and Juliet” — and delivered the final crushing insult.
“He was saying something about that I smelled,” recalled Queen, now 17. “I just put my head down. I started crying.”

Then something remarkable happened, she said: “Cristal stood up.” Cool, streetwise, 4-foot-11-inch Cristal Pimentel.

“This short, like, two-foot-tall person is standing up to these guys who are up to the ceiling,” Queen said. “She’s screaming, getting angry, waving her arms. She stood up, she defended me. No one ever stood up for me in that way.

“I’m, like, ‘Wow, this girl is the most beautiful person.’ ”

Read more about Crystal and Queen HERE

On June 19th the Villiage Voice printed 'Ayo, shorty!' Brooklyn girls are fighting back against the boys who harass them, detailing the work of teen girls at Girls for Gender Equity.

Even a poster declaring "Street Harassment is a Crime!" in bold letters didn't deter a group of guys standing on a Brooklyn corner from ogling 17-year-old LaTosha Belton. She was wearing knee-length shorts, a tank top, a short-sleeved sweater and she was carrying a stack of anti–sexual harassment posters.
"Read this!" she challenged, responding to their hisses and come-ons.

"What? I can't tell you, you look nice?" one man asked puzzled.

"What does this say?" she asked while pointing to the poster. "You are harassing me and I don't like it."

Read more about the teen girls stopping street harassment here

Politics doesn't have to be Boring! An interview with Lauren Long

2007-06-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

(This interview is the first in a new WGFG interview series which spotlights girls taking action on their own ideas and running their own projects. Thanks to Lauren for being the first!)

Bothered by a story on the radio about the number of kids who can't identify the 50 states on a map, much less find Iraq on a world map, Lauren (then in the fifth grade)supported by her mom, Sharon, decided to do something about it.

Their multi-media project A Kids Guide 2 Politics is a website and book project aimed at taking the boring out of politics for kids. Lauren, now finishing 8th grade and excited about high school, took the lead on the website, creating the games, graphics and text, while Mom has taken the lead on the book. Working together as partners, they realized that young people perceive politics as boring, and as removed from their lives.

I asked Lauren what she thinks about teens' interest in the latest pursuits of Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton over politics or daily events. Lauren answered,

"Even though kids can't vote, everyone has the potential to be interested in politics. Hollywood and music is really exciting for teenagers, but politics affects our lives. Politics isn't as boring as it seems. Teenagers need to realize that Hollywood is not as important the politics and get involved now"

Lauren first became interested in politics after 9/11 when her curiosity took over. She wanted to know "why things were happening" and started listening to the news on the radio, and watching John Stewart's The Daily Show (the repeats on at 8pm the next day, Lauren mentioned-- 11pm being too late to stay up on a school night, of course!) Lauren has always liked writing and reading, and before working on this project made her own books and stories. Combined with a love of video games (including The Sims), building her own website with interactive games seemed like a natural next step.

Lauren created all the games and features on the website herself, after she stumbled on an application that no one was using on her home computer. After some experimenting, she's created mazes, quizzes, and "what if" scenarios. The book, like the website, will also include quizzes and games-- and won't just be text, sticking with the idea that kids need to be actively engaged. Lauren also told me, "It's fun to do it together with my mom and know that it is going to make a difference for people."

While the book and website project have taken a lot of time and effort over the last three years, Lauren also knows that is the little everyday acts that can make a difference. Frustrated and saddened by the genocide in Darfur, she got together a few of her friends to take up a collection at her school to donate. "Kids don'thave as much power as adults to make a difference, but we have to do what we can."

Global Girls Day June 23

2007-06-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

The goal of Global Girls Day, an event of Girls International Forum, is to encourage girls to improve their lives by taking leadership roles in their home communities and around the world. Participants will develop specific tactics to tackle the issues that concern them the most. They will form support networks with other girls working on a similar issue in their communities.

Girls ages 12 - 18 will have the chance to focus on a specific global issue facing girls and women. In the morning session, they will learn more about an issue that they choose. In the afternoon, each girl will be on a team that creates an Action Project that proposes a solution to this problem.

Anyone up for a road trip to St. Paul, Minnesota?

http://www.girlsforum.org/projects.html

Rock for Young Women on June 29th

2007-06-14T21:47:00.000-07:00

Rock for Young Women will feature musical performances by Bouva, Boyskout, Tamara Fishman, Frank Hoier, and Receptor. Molly Kelleher and Maryann Schaub of Broad Comedy will present "It's Great To Wait," written by Katie Goodman. The evening will also include several spoken word performances.

The doors will open at 7 p.m. at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street). Advance tickets are $15 and may be purchased at www.knittingfactory.com. Tickets at the door will be $20 with half of the proceeds going to GEMS www.gems-girls.org and the other half to NY-YWTF www.ywtf.org

Buy these books! Sisterhood Interrupted and Full Frontal Feminism

2007-06-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

Given that I have identified with feminism, since, oh I don't know, the womb (Thanks Mom!) all of my work with girls ultimately has its underpinnings in feminism. I know for other people their work is grounded elsewhere, but for me, the sense that girls are strong capable people who deserve to wake up in the morning and think "I am going to be President one day" is a feminist one.

These two books give two different kinds of takes on feminism and where it is today. Jessica's is clearly a call to arms to young women to give up that "I'm a feminist, but" stuff and start calling themselves what they are-- feminists.

Deb takes a longer view, looking at the generational and ideological differences between feminists and how to move forward.

Both can inform and should inform work with girls. I've devoured Jessica's book and can't wait to pick up Deb's, which hit bookshelves on Tuesday.

Young Women of Color Leadership Council Deadline Friday

2007-06-13T04:43:00.000-07:00

Young Women of Color Leadership Council

Calling: young women of color between the ages of 14-24 and are African American/Black,Asian/Pacific Islander, Latina, and/or Native American.

The deadline is Friday, June 15th.

The Young Women of Color Leadership Council is composed of young
leaders and activists who come together to promote a message of
prevention and empowerment. All of the Council's work is a
collaboration of diversity and passion, in the hopes of affecting a
million more young women of color.

Due to the alarming rates of HIV and AIDS among young women of color,
the Young Women of Color Leadership Council (YWOCLC) was started to
promote HIV prevention among this at-risk population and build youth
leaders.

YWOCLC currently consists of eighteen women from all across the
country who have come together to prevent the spread of HIV in our
communities, especially among other young women of color. We are
advocating for the inclusion of young women of color in HIV prevention
programs so they will become involved in fighting HIV in their
respective communities.

MISSION

The Young Women of Color Leadership Council is composed of young women
of color, leaders and activists, who have come together to promote a
message of prevention and empowerment. All of our work is a
collaboration of diversity and passion, coming together in the hopes
of affecting a million more.

STRATEGIES

The goals of the Council are:
Educate: We raise awareness among young people, especially young women
of color, about the need for HIV prevention efforts for themselves and
other young people.
Include: We advocate for the inclusion of young women of color in the
planning, implementation, and evaluation of HIV prevention programs.
Empower: We need all young people, especially our sisters of color, to
get involved in fighting HIV and AIDS in our communities

What Do We Do?
Attend and present workshops at national/regional conferences.
Conduct presentations for community-based organizations, high schools,
colleges and other venues about the impact of HIV and AIDS on young
women of color.
Partner with youth-serving, community-based organizations to better
reach, serve, and include young women of color in HIV prevention
activities.
Establish local Young Women of Color Leadership Councils to mobilize
young women of color to get actively involved in local HIV prevention
efforts and to build local leadership among young women.
Join HIV Prevention Community Planning Groups to ensure they address
issues important to stopping HIV among youth and young women of color.
Address community leaders, decision makers, and legislators.
Provide interviews about the Council members work to magazines,
newspapers, and television stations.

For more info:
Trina Scott
Program Manager, Young Women of Color Initiatives
Advocates for Youth
2000 M Street, NE
Washington, DC 20037
202-419-3420, ext. 17
202-419-1448 fax

Meet the Third Wave!

2007-06-12T04:26:00.000-07:00

Third Wave Foundation, that is!

10 years later, the Third Wave Foundation is still the only feminist activist foundation that works nationally to support young women and transgender youth ages 15 - 30. Focusing on young people and challenging gender norms, the Third Wave Foundation moves beyond "the children are the future" and ensures that young people have a voice now and can take action on their beliefs and ideals today.

It's not too late to RSVP and come out and meet the staff and see their new space. I promise they won't card you at the door if you are 31 and up!

Read about the beginning of the Third Wave Foundation here

Brooklyn Girls Take a Stand Against Unwanted Sexual Attention

2007-06-11T04:19:00.000-07:00

HEY! This is the second girls-led event on unwanted sexual attention/street harassment in the last few months-- looks like we have a real problem on our hands. Take a few minutes today and talk to girls you know--are they facing the same issue? What can we do about it?-- Patti

Teen girls in the Brooklyn Girls Collaborative are screening their new film "USA in the USA" about unwanted sexual attention.

Meet the film makers, Kamaria, Latoya, Tyra, Erica and Bianca and check out the film:

Tuesday, June 12, 2007
7:00 – 8:30
BRIC Studio 57 Rockwell Place
Btwn. Dekalb Ave. & Fulton St.
2nd floor

call 212-531-7620 to RSVP

Final Call: Jessica Valenti and Girls Write Now

2007-06-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

Come join me Sunday at 4pm at the Barnes and Noble at Astor Place for one of my fave events of the entire year (cheesy, yes, but oh-so-true) the Girls Write Now Annual Spring Reading and Fundraiser.

Come hear the original work of NYC teen girls (they are awesome!), with special guest Jessica Valenti, author of Full Frontal Feminism, who was also on the Colbert Report this week (so cool!).

While you are there, do you book shopping with a GWN voucher, and GWN will receive between 10 - 25% of the proceeds (Great way to pick up Jessica's book! or Courtney Martin's new book, or hey-- any book- it's for a good cause!)

Not to be missed, anthologies of the girls' work and Girls Write Now t-shirts. Fun, Fashion, Feminism....all in one great day.

See you there!

Anastasia Goodstein joins Expert Advisory Board of New Moon

2007-05-24T04:35:00.000-07:00

Every morning I check out Anastasia Goodstein's site www.YPulse.com "Daily news & commentary about Generation Y for media and marketing professionals"-- because she picks up the latest news on what is happening in the teen and young adult world, distilling real trends from the hype. She's a great example of an adult who is an ally to young people, and bridges the gap that can often exist between teens and the rest of us. I love her perspective.

That is why it's good news that she announced yesterday that she has joined the expert advisory board for New Moon, a high quality for girls by girls magazine. Anastasia's fresh teen-centered focus and insight into the current state of the teen world will be great influence. Cheers on your new role, Anastasia!

Check out:

Anastasia's new BusinessWeek Online Viewpoint column about virtual paper dolls.

Her book Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens are Really Doing Online

and sign up for her daily newsletter at www.ypulse.com

Boxing and Equality

2007-05-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

Check out these two great programs/opportunities from Girls for Gender Equity:

BOXING PROGRAM - STARTS THIS SPRING
GGE is now recruiting volunteer boxing trainers and girls (ages 10-14 years old) to participate in a 10 week boxing program at Gleason's gym.

For trainers, if you would like to volunteer, email Erica at enelson@ggenyc.org or call 718-857-1568. Having a car is a plus and gas reimbursement can be supplied.

For participants, if you would like to sign up, email Erica at enelson@ggenyc.org or call 718-857-1568.

SECOND ANNUAL NYC GENDER EQUALITY FESTIVAL
Are you or your organization would want to be a part of the 2nd Annual NYC Gender Equality Festival that GGE is organizing on July 28th in Von King Park? You're welcome to run a workshop, set up an information table to tell people about what you do, or perform at the festival. Last year we had over 80 organizations participate, and despite incliment weather, over 200 people attended. This year we anticipate over 500 attendees. Please email Mandy for a Participation Request Form at mandy@ggenyc.org

GGE is also looking for volunteers (especially coaches or a girls' soccer team) to help run a Mother/Daughter Soccer clinic at the festival. To volunteer, email Erica at enelson@ggenyc.org

Fundraising for Social Change

2007-05-22T04:29:00.001-07:00

This must be my week for training, retreats and self improvement. First the writing retreat with Naomi Wolf, author of The Beauty Myth, and now a fundraising training with Kim Klein.

Kim Klein, while not a feminist icon like Naomi, has influenced my work and given me the tools to raise money for the organizations I care about, both as a volunteer and as a professional. She covers everything from community car washes to capital campaigns. I've heard she is smart and funny in person so I can't wait to find out for myself.

Check out her website: Grassroots Fundraising and sign up for her newsletter.

I'll keep you posted--

Girls On the Run

2007-05-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

Girls ages 8 - 12 have been training for the Tulip Trot--their first 5K on June 3rd with Girls on the Run. I'm excited for them-- I did this myself the first time just a few years ago! I clearly remember thinking I was going to die of exhaustion as I approached the finish line side by side with a kind old man more than twice my age, who was limping and wearing an ace bandage on one knee. This is the moment that I discovered that it takes as much, perhaps even more, bravery to come in at the end of the race, than at at the front.

No doubt girls are learning these lessons and more at Girls on the Run You can be a part of it as a Runner Buddy-- who runs with girls as they complete this great achievement and the beginning of lifelong healthy habits. They will be gathering by the Christopher Street fountain in Hudson River Park at 8:00am for an 8:30am race start.

If you are interested in being a running buddy or learning more about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities for this event, email info@gotrm.org

Mad Ritin' Skillz

2007-05-19T04:28:00.000-07:00

I am "werkin on my ritin skillz" this weekend at the Woodhull Writers Retreat with a great bunch of women (including awesome editor Ingrid) who edited my piece in Youth Media Reporter . YAY Ingrid...and YAY writers retreat. Yesterday Kristin Kemp led a session on pitches and today Naomi Wolf discusses book proposals. I'm happy to report that many of the women here are writing about gender and girls and that's exciting.

This Thursday, check out some girls and women who have been perfecting their writing all year at the Girls Write Now Mentor Reading

Thursday, May 24, 7pm
at 520 Eighth Avenue (b/w 36th & 37th sts.) on the 20th floor

Mentors, Pooja Makhijani, Maggie Pouncey, and Terry Selucky will read with special Mentee Emcees Phantasia Johnson, Lindsey Romain, and Briana Wilson.

See you there!

Tyra Banks funds NYC girls orgs

2007-05-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

I haven't followed America's Next Top Model, as the whole modeling thing doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I did watch the clip of the Tyra Banks show on You Tube , when she responded to the photos of her on vacation that made her look "fat" and was impressed that she showed in one quick turn of her body how she can look super thin in one angle, and then closer to the rest of us in another. She broke out in tears and said it had taken her years to build her self esteem. I admit to be being moved, but also confused. I'm just not clear on how the same person can give that speech and then run a reality show on modeling.

However she is putting her money where her mouth is, and you know how much I love that! Tyra Banks started a foundation to fund girls programming called TZONE and it recently awarded grants to three NYC girls programs/nonprofit organizations: Ifetayo Cultural Arts Facility, The Lower Eastside Girls Club, and Sadie Nash Leadership Project.

Ifetayo supports the creative, educational and vocational development of youth of African descent in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. TZONE’s grant will support The Sisters in Sisterhood Rites of Passage Program, which empowers girls with information to navigate their transition from adolescence into adulthood and develop strong leadership and communication skills.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club provides programming for girls and young women ages 8-23. The Girls Club will use TZONE’s grant for its ‘Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds Program’, which promotes active living, healthy eating and positive self-image.

Sadie Nash Leadership Project provides opportunities for young women to develop their self-esteem, confidence and positive self-image by teaching them to take care of themselves, each other and their communities as they take on leadership roles.

Tyra Banks is quoted in the press release:

“What these three organizations have in common is a commitment to fostering long-term, supportive female relationships through innovative programs that promote personal accountability, self-esteem, goal setting, healthy lifestyles and an appreciation for diversity. These are the defining criteria for organizations TZONE will fund, and they reflect what I’ve learned is necessary for a woman to be successful in life, in whatever career path she chooses."

T Zone

Design the Official Rock Camp t-shirt

2007-05-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

*Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls T-shirt Design Contest*

WMRC is looking for a design for the official Rock Camp shirt for this coming summer. This is your chance to run with it: the only things that MUST be on there are the name (Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls) and the year (2007). They don't have specs yet, so come up with a design and be prepared to change it slightly if it is selected. More than one color OK, but probably not a zillion.

This contest is a short one, and open to anyone. The deadline for design submission is May 31st. Please email a jpeg of your design to info@williemaerockcamp.org by 5pm on the 31st.

The reward: knowing that you did something good for the girls and women of Rock Camp. And, of course, the glory.

Applications now being accepted for
both summer sessions of Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
Deadline: May 21
For more information, go to www.williemaerockcamp.org

P.L.A.I.N Janes

2007-05-17T17:23:00.001-07:00

Here's something worth getting off my "give money to girls' programming" soap box. I can't wait to get this book-- the first graphic novel for girls from DC Comics. SWOON. A group of misfits, all named Jane, form a group called P.L.A.I.N People Loving Art in Neighborhoods to counteract "the hell that is high school."

Only $9.99!!!!!!!!! Apparently, it went on sale yesterday..

Debate and Leadership training for high school girls

2007-05-17T04:28:00.000-07:00

"Women always speak the truth about their lives…"

"Women will change the nature of power, rather than power changing
the nature of women."

"A woman's place is in the house, the House of Representatives."

These are the words of Bella S. Abzug, former U.S. Congresswoman and
20th Century leader of the national and international feminist
movement. Spread the word about the summer debate and leadership training for high school and college women started by her daughters in her honor.

CITI 2007-BALI SUMMER TRAINING
In August, BALI's first group of young women scholars will
participate in a debate & leadership training led by acclaimed
faculty from across the country administered by the #1 national
provider of debate-related mentoring services, the IMPACT
Coalition. The Improving Mentor Practices and Communication
Techniques (IMPACT) Coalition is a mentoring and educational
development organization that expands opportunities for urban
students, schools and organizational partners by providing debate
training, literacy assistance, curricula, and mentoring services to
develop informed, concerned citizens. IMPACT advocates debate as a
key to success in building healthier communities and tomorrow's
leaders. These students will come from local high schools in the
New York area and will apply this training in their school setting.

The purpose of the IMPACT training will be to prepare young women
with the critical thinking, public speaking and effective leadership
skills. Trainers will help students identify challenges, overcome
fears of public speaking and think about the roles women take in
leadership today.

INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM? Contact Tess Gilman at
tess.impact@gmail.com

Impact Coalition
More on Bella

Changing the World for GIRLS

2007-05-16T05:05:00.000-07:00

I've been Missing in Action from the blog, working hard out there in the non-virtual world, fundraising and writing in other venues. I've been writing a new bio for myself and I have started saying "Patti Binder works day and night promoting girls' leadership and gender equity" and the past few weeks that has definately been true! Must remember to sleep....

Here are some highlights from the past few weeks:

First, with many, many thanks to Ingrid Hu Dahl, I have an article in this months Youth Media Reporter. Check it out here

Second thanks to those who spread the word or bid on items for the Willie Mae Rock Camp Online Auction which was way-cool and way-fun!

Third, I was awed and inspired at the New York Women's Foundation Breakfast. Abigail Disney is officially my new hero (sharing the honor with Helen Lakelly Hunt who is also a visionary). Helen Lakelly Hunt said all the things that I have longed for someone to say to women at a fundraising event-- that your money is powerful and that it is up to us to make the difference for women and girls, that together our money can be a tidal wave for girls and women's organizations and CHANGE THINGS. I was moved and inspired by her passion for women's fundraising and thought it couldn't get any better. I had no idea that Abigail Disney would follow, that she would bring me to tears telling her own story about living in two worlds-- traveling to Liberia and seeing starving children, then coming back to the US to bake sales, wealth management, and issues of childhood obesity.

Then Abigail Disney did an incredible thing. She told the women in the room to give until it hurts, to choose something they want (new shoes, new purse, new house...) and instead of getting that thing, to make a stretch gift to an organization that they care deeply about, and if they also make a donation to the New York Womens Foundation, she will match both gifts with a donation to the New York Women's Foundation, up to $1 million.

You can read her whole speech at womens e news and it is almost as moving as being in the room with her. (not quite, but almost!)

And please, think about taking Abigail up on her challenge by choosing a girls' organization (again-- some great ones are listed here on the WGFG site) to give a stretch gift to and by making a donation to the New York Womens Foundation, who has been a steadfast friend to girls and girls' organizations in New York. With your gift and Abigail's, we can turn the tide, increase the funding and therefore the programming for girls who need it here in the city-- or wherever you may be reading from.

College Shower for NYC Girls

2007-05-02T20:25:00.000-07:00

WGFG usually devotes its space to smaller non-profits NOT associated with mational orgs, but this event holds a special place in my girls-lovin' heart. I am so impressed that Girls Inc NYC puts it resources into rewarding girls for college admission. Please support them and replicate this idea in your program-- Patti

In a city where only half of the public school students graduate on time, Girls Inc. of NYC recognizes the importance of celebrating those girls who are beating the odds. Over the past 8 years, we have honored the girls of Girls Incorporated of New York City programs who have been accepted to college through our Annual College Shower.

Please help Girls Inc NYC celebrate their achievements and support them as they continue to prove that they are strong, smart and bold!

You can help NYC girls by purchasing shower gifts or making a financial donation to the scholarship fund.

you can purchase gifts online at
www.wishlist.com
or
www.bedbathandbeyond.com

first name: Girls Inc
last name: New York City