SWSG News

Strong Women, Strong Girls Boston Announces New Program Manager

Strong Women, Strong Girls is pleased to announce that Julia Garcia will be coordinating its Boston programming as the Boston Program Manager.  Julia Garcia has extensive experience in education, non for profit management and youth mentoring.  Prior to joining the SWSG team, Julia held the position of Literacy Curriculum and Training Manager for the Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy in Boston.  In this position, Julia was responsible for training and supervising over 600 volunteer tutors, as well as overseeing relationships with over 40 Boston area schools!  Julia graduated from Lesley University with a degree in Human Development in 2001.  Welcome Julia! 

Hello!  I am so excited to be here at Strong Women Strong Girls as the new Boston Program Manager.  I have spent my entire career focused on providing top quality educational care and mentoring to children in and around Boston, and I am thrilled now to have the opportunity to work with the 250 wonderful young girls and dedicated college women that participate in Strong Women, Strong Girls.

Over the next few months, I will be busy meeting our partners and planning training and programming for the upcoming program year, as well as adding new school and community partners as our program grows.  I look forward to getting to know all of you, so please feel free to call or email to introduce yourselves and share your great ideas with me!

Yours,
Julia

Julia can be reached at (617) 224-1304 or jgarcia@swsg.org.

SWSG Service Learning Highlights from Pittsburgh!

Carnegie Mellon University mentors and girls joined together to create a 4'x4' mural for the Women's Shelter as a way to inspire the women living at the shelter to find their strength within.  The Duquesne University mentors and girls created friendship bracelets and cards for youth at Children's Hospital.  The girls wanted to share their thoughts and best wishes to those in long term care.  The mentors and girls from the University of Pittsburgh's sites decided bullying was an issue. As a way to create awareness they created posters to decorate the hallway and share the importance of friendships.

Strong Women, Strong Girls Pittsburgh Hosts Mentor Conference

The Pittsburgh program year recognition event for mentors included the final Mentor2Mentor program: "Strong Opportunities", a roundtable discussion of opportunities in Pittsburgh in the for-profit, non-profit, government and education sectors.  Following lunch, the mentors heard from the dynamic authors/artists Tiffany Ludwig and Renee Piechocki presenting highlights from their work: Trappings: Stories of Women, Power, and Clothing.  Tiffany and Renee are certainly two strong women themselves!  Also at the Mentor Conference, parents and guardians of participating girls were invited to participate in a "Parent/Guardian Circle" to provide input and feedback on SWSG's parent/guardian engagement initiative.

Pittsburgh Executive Director Recognized as "Woman of Achievement"

This spring, Lynne Garfinkel received the "Woman of Achievement" award given by 'Celebrate and Share' within the non-profit community.  Over 300 supporters attended a breakfast to celebrate the honorees.  SWSG Pittsburgh Advisory Council member Georgia Berner was also recognized at the award ceremony.  Congratulations Lynne and Georgia!

Strong Women, Strong Girls Boston Hosts Jump into Spring!

On Sunday, April 12th, 300 participating girls, mentors, parents and community members gathered in Boston’s Downtown Crossing for an afternoon of fun jump roping challenges.  Girls showed off their trick jumping, competed in a "marathon jumping" event, and even tried out styles of jump roping from around the world!


Senator John Kerry opened the festivities with a few words about the importance of the mentoring work that is done by Strong Women, Strong Girls.  "You know what I see when I look at this group of talented and tough, determined girls?" Senator Kerry said. "I see CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, gold medal winners and Nobel Prize winners, senators, presidents and the future mothers of strong girls."

Thank you to all our Jump into Spring sponsors and supporters for making this incredible event possible!

Jump into Spring Leading Sponsors
Big Apple Circus

Presenting Sponsor
Especially Yours: Hair and Fashion for Black Women

Double Dutch Sponsors
POWERade
QRST's
Thomson CompuMark

Hop to It Sponsors
Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group
Staples Foundation for Learning

Team Sponsors
Catherine Thurston
Goodwin Procter
Openview Venture Partners
Jespersen & Associates

Pairs Sponsors
Accounting Management Solutions
Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co.
Chris & Carla McCall
Debra & Mark Greenberg
Foley Hoag LLP
Gail & Michael Long
Gayle Breitbard Klusky
Michael & Sara Bernstein
Valerie Friedman

Participant Sponsors
Alkon & Levine
Chris Richmond
Dell Mitchell Architects
David Powers
John Leclaire & Ruth Hodges
John Tatum
Kathleen Klesh & Nidhal Rashid
Nancy Hegarty
Newton Montessori School
Mark & Marie Schwartz
Women's Sports Foundation

Lindsay Hyde Interviewed by Mission Recognition!

On March 13th, Strong Women, Strong Girls Founder and President Lindsay Hyde was interviewed by Mission Recognition, a blog dedicated to nonprofits and social entrepreneurs. Lindsay described how Strong Women, Strong Girls uses history to help foster confidence and leadership in girls and young women. She also discussed the importance of media and community champions for advancing the cause of social entrepeneurs.

To hear a podcast of Lindsay's interview, visit the Mission Recognition website.