Girls' LEAP: Summer of Growth and Gratitude
Building Girl Power in Boston with Girls' LEAP
This month, Girls' LEAP had the honor of appearing on NBC10's The Hub Today to discuss the impactful work carried out by staff members every day. From NBC10: "Kwani sat down with Executive Director May Vaughn and Teen Mentor Melanie Herrera Cardenas to discuss how the Boston non-profit empowers young girls and teaches them self defense."
During the segment, Vaughn discussed how a recent grant from NBC10 Universal has increased the programming that Girls' LEAP is able to offer, helping to support a new program called Media Mindset that will provide an additional tools to Girls' LEAP participants to keep themselves safe. (See more about this Pilot Program below!)
"I've learned so much throughout my time here," said Herrera Cardenas. "Not only the physical and emotional skills, but I learned how to work with other teens and other adults and I learned community and leadership as a big part of the role."
Media Mindset Pilot Programming
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@
Girls' LEAP says Thank You from the bottom of our hearts to all the Donors who Rose to the Challenge! With your help we raised $56,451 to support Girls' LEAP Programming!
5th Quarter Summer Learning Update
Girls' LEAP is excited to share some updates about our 5th Quarter Summer Learning camp! In conjunction with Boston Public Schools and Boston After School and Beyond, EmpowerThem helps students entering grades 3 through 6 prevent summer learning loss while building confidence, leadership, and academic skills.
In addition to the Girls' LEAP and Boston Public Scholo curricula, students take part in swimming on Wednesdays, fields trips, creative expression, and outdoor field activities!
The program will run until August 8th with a graduation for participants held on August 7th.
Help Us Celebrate our Upcoming Graduations!
Girls Inc., Lynn
August 7th, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
5th Quarter
August 7th, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Teen Mentor Summer End Ceremony
Simmons University
August 13th, 5:30 -8:00pm
Perkins Community Center - BCYF
August 15th, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Please Join Us!! Contact lynn@girlsleap.org if you would like to attend any of our graduations
Upcoming Events and Initiatives
August 14th
The Link Up, a city-wide Teen Forum
hosted by Girls' LEAP & the BCH Social Media Collaborative
(see more below)
August 27th
6:00am - 11:00pm
Teen Mentors take over NYC!
Teen Mentor Field Trip!
On July 30th from 7:00am-10:00pm, the Teen Mentors took a trip to Martha's Vineyard with Board Member Neva Coakley Grice and Executive Director May Vaughn. They learned about the rich history of Black Americans on Martha's Vineyard, toured Oak Bluffs, heard from accomplished women of color and relaxed on Inkwell Beach!
Interested in attending a city-wide teen forum on the impact of social media on youth mental health?
This event, sponsored by Girls' LEAP in collaboration with Sociedad Latina, Madison Park Development Center, Young Man with a Plan, and Friends of Children Boston, is now open to all teens. Register using the QR Code above!
Keep the good work going!
Girls' LEAP provides life-changing skills to girls and nonbinary youth. Support our mission now!
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
