Girls' LEAP: Strength in Adversity
Celebrating Ajanee Igharo's Acceptance to the Harvard Aspire Institute Leaders' Program
Ajanee first joined Girls' LEAP as a freshman in high school and still continues with us now as a junior in college. She has held positions including Teen Mentor, Lead Teen Mentor, Board Member, and currently is a Project Manager while an undergraduate at UMass Boston and in their accelerated MBA program. Ajanee says "Girls' LEAP transforms fear into courage, silence into self-advocacy, and uncertainty into confidence. It has done that for the girls and nonbinary youth it serves, and it has done that for me."
Please join us in celebrating Ajanee's acceptance into the Harvard Aspire Leaders Program, an academic and professional development program for low income and first generation college students! This is a selective program with applicants from 100+ countries that is supported by Harvard coursework and Harvard University faculty. Coursework includes certificates in project management and data analytics. We are so proud of Ajanee and all her hard work!
"LEAP taught me to embrace my voice. From leading discussions with young people to designing curriculum, I learned how to take the skills I already had and channel them into something impactful. And now, as I’ve stepped into a more administrative role, LEAP is mentoring me in new ways, giving me the opportunity to learn the behind-the-scenes work that keeps a nonprofit like this thriving. From team leadership to project management to public speaking—skills I’m practicing at this very moment—LEAP is helping me develop the foundation I’ll need for my future." - Ajanee
Fifth Quarter Summer Learning Camp with Girls' LEAP!!
Girls' LEAP is proud to announce that we were selected to receive a grant to run a 5th Quarter Summer Learning camp in conjunction with Boston Public Schools and Boston After School and Beyond! EmpowerThem is a free five-week summer program (July 8 – August 8, 2025, Monday–Friday 9am-3pm) that helps students entering grades 4 through 6 prevent summer learning loss while building confidence, leadership, and academic skills. Students engage in ELA and Math, self-defense training, and hands-on projects. A supportive, intergenerational team guides them with weekly field trips to enrich their learning.
Families can apply for this five-week program by scanning the QR code on the right or by emailing summerregistrationsupport@
Congratulations to our Graduating Youth
Somerville Parks and Recreation
JFK Elementary School
Boston Center for Youth & Families,
Blackstone Community Center
Mother Caroline Academy
Riverdale Elementary School
We are so proud of you!!
International Women's Day at Simmons University!
On March 7th, 2025, Girls' LEAP co-sponsored Mass NOW's International Women's Day breakfast at Simmon's University. Panelists included Rev. Clementina Chery of Louis D. Brown Institute, Fredie Kay, Esq. of the MA Women's History Center, Pamela Leins of the Boston Education Fund, and Colette Phillips of Colette Phillips Communications, moderated by Karen Homes Ward, host of CityLine at WCVB. FGirls' LEAP staff members joined the event, including the Executive Director, May Vaughn, Program Director, Jennyde Dessius, Board member Neva Coakley Grice, and Girls' LEAP intern Lathifa Mohamed.
From left to right: Girls' LEAP Board Member Neva Coakley, Intern Lathifa Mohamed, Executive Director May Vaughn, and Program Director Jennyde Dessius at the International Women's Day Breakfast at Simmons University
For Women's History Month in March, Girls' LEAP worked to highlight influential women throughout history. If you want to see more, follow @girlsleap_boston on Instagram!
Board Member Profile: Neva Coakley Grice
Neva is a force, a leader who helps young people in Boston build a better future. She’s in constant motion, finding resources, creating partnerships, creating positive change. Neva recenctly retired as the Executive Director of Student Safety for Boston Public Schools. Prior to that she held many roles with the BPD. Neva initiated and participated in nationally recognized programs and was featured in the PBS documentary ‘A Girl’s Life’, and in ‘Hope Matters, The Untold Story of How Faith Works in America,’ by Jack Calhoun. In 2019, Neva was awarded the prestigious Spirit of MAWLE Mentoring Award and in 2022, the Suffolk County DA’s Role Model Award.
Neva is a long-time partner and now a committed Girls' LEAP Board Member. We are so grateful for Neva’s enduring support!!
“Every one of our children deserves a second chance. The sheer definition of youth is to be able to make mistakes and recover. As adults, it is our role and responsibility to champion for resources and support that foster opportunities for all our children to be the best that they can be.” - Neva Coakley
Keep the good work going!
In the words of Ajanee, "LEAP’s impact doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens because of the support of people like you—those who believe in its mission, who give their time, their resources, and their hearts to make sure this vital work continues. Today, I ask you to help us keep that work going. Every donation, every connection, every bit of support makes a difference in the lives of the youth LEAP serves—and, as you’ve heard, in the lives of people like me, too.
Thank you for being here and for believing in the power of Girls’ LEAP. Together, we’re creating a stronger, safer, and more empowered community, one step at a time."
Support Girls' LEAP
Help Us to Rise to the Challenge! All donations up to $25,000 this Spring will be matched!!
We need your help to navigate these challenging times!
Treasure for Mom: A Mother's Day Online Auction
Join us for an unforgettable celebration of the amazing women who shape our lives at the "Treasure for Moms" Online Auction, held in honor of Mother's Day. This special event promises an opportunity to honor your mother and provide the joy of giving back to your community!
We had an unforgettable celebration of the amazing women who shape our lives at the "Treasure for Moms" Online Auction, held in honor of Mother's Day. This special event promises an opportunity to honor your mother and provide the joy of giving back to your community!!
Please visit our Mother's Day Auction to see these wonderful items and more!
About Girls’ LEAP
Girls’ LEAP has over 25 years experience delivering out-of-school programming to all girls and gender-expansive youth in the Greater Boston area. Our mission is to disrupt the violence that surrounds girls by amplifying their voices, emboldening their courage, and providing critical life and self-defense skills. Our programs, for youth ages 8-22, include physical self-defense and social-emotional skill building. Through physical self-defense training, youth recognize and develop their physical strength. They build confidence to use their voices, set boundaries, create healthy relationships, and develop as leaders. We believe the synergy between physical and emotional intelligence can be transformative in the lives of our program graduates.
"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. It is your support and engagement that makes Girls' LEAP possible."
-Girls' LEAP Team