Girls’ Initiatives
Girls Initiatives at the YWCA NYC reflect our core belief that empowered girls become empowered women. Designed to inform, engage, and inspire young people to become self- advocates, our goal is to ensure that every girl gains the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue the education, career, and life options of their choice.
Girls Initiatives programs are open to all high-school aged (14-18) self-identified girls, and gender non-conforming youth in New York City. There is no academic requirement to enroll and no enrollment costs.
Step In and Stop It: Bystander Intervention Program
At the YWCA-NYC, our opportunities for leadership, activism, and personal growth help to create change agents for a society poised to take on the work of eliminating racism and inequity. This program equips young people with the tools to be the change NYC needs today by standing up and speaking out for what’s right. After intensive training on bystander intervention, participants share what they know by facilitating workshops across the city on what it means to be an upstander. This is a paid opportunity for young activists to become advocates of social change in their communities.
Apply Today!
College and Career Prep Program
This 10-month program will meet in person for workshops weekly from May through July and September through April 2024. Participants will begin the program by meeting Wednesdays for two hours and will engage in a range of activities related to college and career exploration, application preparation, resume-building workshops, and life after High School preparedness.
Join our upcoming cohort. Apply Today!
Sullivan and Cromwell Legal Internship
Sullivan and Cromwell Firm and the YWCA are joining together this summer to offer high school students the opportunity to truly experience and understand life as an attorney through this virtual program. Do you have a passion for law and community building? This summer you will learn how to turn your passion into a profession through this virtual program!
Apply Today!
YWCA-NYC x NYSID Summer 2023 Program
The New York School of Interior Design and the YWCA are joining together this summer to offer high school students the opportunity to truly experience and understand life as an interior designer. Do you have a passion for making the spaces around you beautiful and functional? This summer you will learn how to turn your passion into a profession!
This opportunity through the YW is open to self-identified femmes, girls, and nonconforming youth, who are rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and 2022 recent graduates. There is NO academic requirement or costs to participate. Participants are eligible to receive a stipend and certificate upon completion of the program.
Participants will have live classes at the New York School of Interior Design for the first two weeks of class. The location of the third week is still to be determined.
In this course, you will:
• Create a design concept
• Put together a color scheme
• Select furniture, flooring and other materials
• Learn to understand floor plans
• AND MORE!
You do not need any experience in drawing or design to register for this course!
SPACE IS LIMITED – Apply Below! Deadline is April 30th.
Girls Symposium: A Force for the Future
The YWCA of the City of New York (YWCA NYC) works to eliminate racism, empower women, and stand up for social justice by providing leadership and advocacy training for young women in culturally diverse communities. Our Women’s History Month Girls Symposium is truly a “Force for the Future”.
The main event took place in-person on Friday, March 31, 2023. Together, attendees engaged in dialogue around the theme of “A Force for the Future,” which aims to drive conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusivity across all facets of life.
Please visit ywcanyc.org/force for more information! Stay tuned for more information on next year’s event!