Building Community
Building Community Building community and connection is at the heart of Girls' LEAP. This fall, we've expanded our community to include new relationships with other organizations. Together with Visions, Inc, MTPC, ASPIRE and Budget Buddies, we have expanded our programming for teens, connecting them to leaders who have deepened their insights and expanded their skills.
Collaborating through Cross-Racial Healing and Solidarity
H
ealing and solidarity. Those are the goals the Nellie Mae Educational Foundation set when they committed to provide support to organizations looking to continue or begin new relationships of cross-racial solidarity. We were inspired to create a new partnership with ASPIRE (Asian Sisters Participating In Reaching Excellence, Inc.)
Together we created a program focused on sharing each other’s collective histories and exploring the intersectional impact of gender, race and culture in the lives of our Asian American, Pacific Islander, Black, Latina, Multi-Racial and White participants. Respecting the complexity of this work, we engaged thought leaders across our community to lead the teens as they explore different facets of cross-racial healing.
- VISIONS, Inc facilitated A Cross Cultural Dialogue & Reflection Workshop
- Mass Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) led a Gender Inclusivity Workshop
- Dr. Raquel Saenz, taught 2 workshops: Culture & Identity and Oppression & Resistance, and led
- Weekly discussion sessions building on topics taught in the training sessions & current events relevant to Boston youth
In a time when so many of us are isolated, the teens have been grateful for this cross-cultural connection. Two of them described the impact of being in a safe space to share their experiences and explore what shapes those experiences.
For Ajanee, the safe space gave her...
"...the opportunity to articulate the types of things I go through because sometimes I need practice explaining the type of oppression I feel. We're not really encouraged to talk about it that much, especially not at school. And when things like that happen, it is very easy for us not to even understand how oppression hurts us every day but knowing it , is very important so that you can do what you can to stop it from affecting you and cope with it adequately."
Michelle described that...
"Often times, other girls in the groups and I struggle to fit in and find our identity in this country and society. We would sometimes be labelled white-washed because we were trying to fit in. It is one way or the other and no in-between. I'm Chinese and I'm not ashamed but sometimes I'm trying to fit into this society. I should not have to feel like I need to fit in but sometimes you just don't want to stand out either. "
Conversations in safe spaces have a lasting impact. Ajanee reflected how important it's been for her to understand where negative self-talk may come from and how to manage it.
"When I catch myself thinking things that are harmful to myself or harmful to others, it helps me to think where did that idea come from? Because a lot of the negative thoughts in my head don't come from myself, they come from other people, and when it comes to internalized oppression, it can be harmful to yourself. But if you just take the time to recognize that what you are thinking doesn't actually work in your favor, I think it's a very valuable skill to have."
Michelle anticipates that the discussions will help her empathize with others.
"I feel like there are things you wouldn't normally share when you were walking to school or something...but I feel like you should put yourself out there and put yourself in that vulnerable position to share what you know, to help someone, because you don't know what they have gone through."
We are grateful to Nellie Mae Foundation for making this possible and to ASPIRE for building a wonderful productive partnership.
Collaborating to Impart Critical Life Skills
Being confident in managing your finances and working toward financial independence is a fundamental life skill. Mastering personal finance is not only empowering; it helps keep you safe.
We've been thrilled to collaborate with Budget Buddies this fall. Budget Buddies builds the financial literacy, confidence, and security of low-income women and girls through a unique program that combines instructional workshops and personal, one-to-one coaching.
For our Teen Mentors, the workshops have deepened their financial literacy, helping them, for instance, understand credit and plan how to build credit histories. Working with mentors, each teen has set personal goals and analyzed how they are spending their money today. They have told us this program is building critical skills for a lifetime.
"I’m saving more than ever before – Now I ask myself do I really need this before making a purchase."
"When I tracked my spending, I saw that I was spending more on make-up than I realized and that I needed to shift to spending more on groceries and other essential items."
"The coach helped me define my needs vs my wants. I’ve started a budget in Nerdwallet so I can plan and track my spending and saving."
"I’m going to college next year and will be living on my own. I’ve been learning how to budget for all my living expenses."
"Every week I make a chart of how I plan to spend my money and that helps me make sure I stay on track."
Thank you, Budget Buddies!
Every day, we are privileged to learn with and from the youth at Girls' LEAP. They teach us, challenge us, and amaze us. We thank them, and we thank you — because it is your support and engagement that makes Girls' LEAP possible.