“Girls Inc. of New York City is excited to partner with the Amplify Her Foundation to equip our high school students with the skills to advocate for meaningful change in the Bronx. Thank you to Amplify Her Foundation for supporting our Teen Leadership Circles as they forge relationships with community and elected leaders, and work with policy experts, to address challenges impacting their communities.”
— Dr. Pamela Maraldo, CEO, Girls Inc. of New York City
MISSION
Girls Inc. of NYC’s mission is to deliver life-transforming programs that inspire girl-identifying youth to be strong, smart, and bold. Through leadership development, mentoring, education, and advocacy, they prepare girls to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers to advance to a more equitable world. Their research-based curricula supports the development of the “whole girl,” with life-transforming programs spanning the topics of leadership and advocacy, college and career readiness and success, financial literacy, mental health, STEM, and more.
GRANT PURPOSE & IMPACT
Amplify Her Foundation funding will support Girls Inc. of NYC Teen Leadership Circle program in the Bronx, a transformative program designed to empower young women to become leaders in their communities. Through Teen Leadership Circle, high school girls will develop essential leadership skills, engage with local issues, and create community action projects in partnership with local stakeholders to positively impact their neighborhoods.
Launched in 2016, the Teen Leadership Circle program is built on four core pillars: leadership development, advocacy, community organizing, and 21st-century learning. The program begins with peer leader training, led by Girls Inc. of NYC staff, followed by weekly after-school sessions and a leadership retreat. In the spring, peer leaders recruit circle members, continuing bi-weekly sessions that culminate in a capstone project focused on community action.
Teen Leadership Circle peer leaders receive advocacy training, learning the power of collective action and how to connect meaningfully with local elected officials. They also gain firsthand experience by being introduced to Bronx-based leaders and officials. As participants refine their advocacy skills, they will collaborate with key institutions, such as the Bronx Borough President's Office and NYC’s My Sister’s Keeper initiative, to expand their leadership networks and deepen their engagement in collective organizing.
