Girls Write Now
I first learned about Girls Write Now through friends in the MFA writing program at my alma mater, Goddard College. Since then I’ve been following them on social media, reading their blog and can’t get enough. It’s been named twice as one of the nations top after school programs by the white house, and 100% of the seniors in the program graduate and go onto college. Adventure Nannies has committed to support GWN by launching a fundraising drive.
Girls Write Now mentors under-served young women to find their voices through the power of writing and community. Founded in 1998, Girls Write Now is New York’s first and only writing and mentoring organization for girls, and one of the nation’s top after school programs as distinguished twice by the White House and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Girls Write Now has been honored twice by the Nonprofit Excellence Awards as one of New York City’s top ten nonprofits, and twice by the New York City Council as one of the city’s top girl only initiative.
Why They Matter
Girls are growing up in a time when educational inequalities and gender disparities prevail. Only 27% of seniors nationally have proficient writing skills and one in five American youths do not have caring adults in their lives.
Reach and Impact
By providing writing programs and personalized mentorship, GWN is breaking through barriers of gender, race, and poverty, cultivating the writers of tomorrow and demonstrating that girls’ voices can shape the world.
- 5,000+ teen girls mentored and served
- 100% of GWN seniors graduate and go on to college
- GWN teens are 90% high need and 95% girls of color
- 100% of teens feel GWN exposed them to strong female leaders
- Girls’ technical proficiency in writing increased from 17% to 90%
In the past year we have undergone an intensive strategic planning process involving more than 100 community stakeholders. The result is a refreshed mission statement and a three-year plan to double the number of girls served by our mentoring programs, as well as to enrich and extend our college prep and alumnae services to further support the girls we serve in college, career, and beyond.
GWN Programs
Writing & Mentoring Program
The flagship Writing & Mentoring Program matches teen girls with professional women writers for an intensive mentoring relationship that lasts from one to four years. Alongside her mentor, each student hones her writing, editing, and public speaking skills; in the process, she becomes part of an inter-generational community of writers and builds self-confidence to make empowered choices in her school, career, and life.
Digital Media Mentoring Program
In partnership with The New School University, the Digital Media Mentoring Program is a cutting-edge program at the intersection of writing and digital media. Building on the Writing & Mentoring Program’s model, the students are matched with digital media professionals as their mentors. Through weekly meetings and monthly studio-style workshops, they learn skills related to video and audio production, interaction design, creative programming, and animation, among others.
College Bound Program
The College Bound Program provides free programming to a wider audience of under-served high school girls across New York City. It offers essay writing workshops, where participants draft and revise their personal state-ments, seminars on college life, and customized support in the college application process.
Beyond Writing
GWN teens experience depression, eating disorders, domestic violence, among other issues. GWN’s Therapy Panel–pro bono, licensed mental health professionals–is on call throughout the year to support staff, mentors, and mentees.
The GWN Youth Board is our primary platform for girls to demonstrate leadership and gain insight into how a nonprofit organization runs. Youth Board members work with staff to develop and lead curriculum, organize readings, support college prep activities, and assist with mentee enrollment.
The GWN College Prep Panel of teaching artists, financial aid experts, admissions officers, freshmen advisors, high school guidance counselors, and mentor alum help our girls navigate the college application process, making sure they get into the right school and thrive there.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“In giving young women in the five boroughs this biggest of all gifts, Girls Write Now is giving the rest of us the gift of those girls.”
— GLORIA STEINEM, FEMINIST, ACTIVIST, & AUTHOR
“It’s hard not to be inspired.”
—PEOPLE
“Girls Write Now makes the extraordinary possible.”
— ROXANE GAY, AUTHOR OF BAD FEMINIST
Adventure Nannies has launched fundraiser to support Girls Write Now. Over the next few weeks will will be updating you with our progress! If you are inspired, please donate to this wonderful program.