Each year, the girls who participate with Strong Women, Strong Girls engage in a service-learning project.  They use their voices to spotlight a cause of concern, and take tangible and proactive steps to combat the problem.  In the process, they are building leadership and civic engagement skills, along with a hefty dose of self-esteem! I spoke with SWSG mentor Alana Clark, a junior who is enthusiastically leading the group of mentors at...

One of the questions I get frequently as a Chapter Director is,  “Why do you only include girls in your program?” I’ve heard it from the girls, my mentors, girls’ parents, generous donors, and other interested parties. To learn how to answer this question, I did some research as to why founder Lindsay Hyde decided to start a girls-only after-school education program. A study entitled “Shortchanging Girls,...

This year marks the anniversary of 90 years of women’s right to vote in the United States.  I happily joined in the celebrations sprinkled throughout the country to commemorate this important milestone by watching “Iron-Jawed Angels” in Boston.  The crowd was comprised of high school and college students, and diverse professional women, including the great-granddaughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  Using modern music and unique...

This week, my girls at Cathedral Grammar learned about Geraldine Ferraro, a strong competitor in the political sphere. Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president in the United States and paved the way for other women to reach positions of power in politics. After reading the biography and discussing what it means to be a strong competitor, we held a huge debate: Should school be all year round? In two teams, the girls...

If the leaves on the trees in Boston are changing, it means that Strong Women, Strong Girls field trips are happening!  This month, girls from all over Boston were able to go with the mentors on field trips to exciting destinations throughout the city. Field trips provide a unique opportunity to build on the ‘Countdown to Success Skills’ learned in program.  By exposing the 3rd-5th graders to college campuses through...