Girls Initiatives: 2024 Fall Semester Programs

The heart of our mission at YWCA NYC lies in the profound belief that empowered girls evolve into empowered women.

Our organization provides a transformative platform for leadership, activism, and personal growth, cultivating change agents ready to challenge and dismantle racism and inequity in society. Our programs are designed to furnish young girls and gender non-conforming youths with the essential tools needed to spark the positive changes New York City yearns for.

All these empowering initiatives occur at our YWCA NYC Resource Center (RC), 500 W 56 Street, NY, NY 10019.

Our Fall 2024 Programs:

GirlBoss Ventures: A Pathway to Entrepreneurship for Young Women 
Starts Sept 16th
Mon 4:30-6pm @ RC

Entrepreneurship Program stands as a beacon of inspiration, education, and empowerment for young women poised to venture into entrepreneurship. Through a rich blend of resources, mentorship, and hands-on experiences, we’re set on honing your entrepreneurial talents and emboldening you to bring your business visions to life. Beyond narrowing the entrepreneurial gender divide, our mission is to nurture the trailblazers and changemakers of tomorrow, poised to make significant social and economic impacts. In this program you will develop real life business plan, pitch your proposal in front of a panel, be mentored by successful women and network with people in the field, learn how to manage finances, understand investment, and access funding, and become a more confident leader by developing leadership and decision-making skills.

FinLit: Unlock Your Financial Future!
Starts Sept 19th
Thurs 4:30-6pm

Join our 13-week Economic Empowerment program, designed specifically for high school girls like you! Gain practical financial skills and knowledge, develop confidence in managing finances, and connect with a supportive community and mentors. Through interactive lessons, hands-on projects, and mentorship, you’ll learn personal finance, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment. No prior financial knowledge or experience necessary! Register now and take control of your financial future!

College Knowledge
Starts Sept 18th
Wed 4:30-6pm

This program will provide resources, guidance, inspiration, and support to successfully navigate the college exploration and application process, while also promoting self-care and personal well-being. Participants will engage in a range of activities related to self-discovery, college exploration, application preparation and college preparedness. Students will learn about college selection criteria, college application essay writing, financial aid, scholarship opportunities, and mental health awareness. Participants will engage directly with college admissions officers from CUNY, SUNY, and local private institutions to help develop their network and better understand the college and university landscape.

Geek Girls
Starts Sept 17th
Tue 4:30-6pm @ RC

This course is designed to develop skills in science, technology, engineering, art, advocacy, and mathematics through our innovative, hands-on STEAAM programming. Discover inspiring women who lead in STEM, collaborate with other geek girls, and design tech solutions to cultivate a more equitable future.

Girls-Led Initiatives: Ambassadors
Starts Sept 19th
Tue 4:30-6pm @ RC

In this program, students will design, evaluate, and lead girls initiatives in their community as official representatives of the YWCA NYC program. Ambassadors work together to amplify YW’s brand presence and make a positive impact in the community while developing STEAAM and leadership skills. YWCA NYC ambassadors will understand how to use their voice to raise awareness about social issues that affect their community, demonstrate an understanding of social justice issues, empowering them to become change agents of positive change, develop essential leadership skills, design projects based on research and data- analysis, recognize that leaders use empathy to make decisions, to inform their personal actions, and to empower their community. Ambassadors will learn to understand and respect their own and others’ values and perspectives, build relationships, collaboration, and work as a team to achieve a common goal.

ARTivate
Starts Sept 16th
Mon 4:30-6pm @ RC

The YWCA NYC ARTivate is an engaging and empowering initiative aimed at inspiring and developing the artistic talents of young individuals. This program provides a platform for youth to explore various forms of art, including visual/ conceptual art, photography, new media, video, dance, theater/performance art, music, creative writing, or other forms. Through innovative art projects youth engage with issues of advocacy, justice, and community-building. 

Through a combination of workshops, trips, mentorship, and collaborative projects, the ARTivate Youth Program encourages participants to express themselves creatively, develop their artistic skills, and explore their unique perspectives on social issues. In this course participants use art to raise awareness about social and political issues and to give a voice to marginalized groups.

Participants in the ARTivate Program have the opportunity to learn from experienced artists, engage in hands-on art-making activities, and showcase their work through exhibitions, performances, and digital platforms. This program not only nurtures artistic talent but also promotes personal growth, self-confidence, and a sense of social responsibility among the youth involved.

Step In & Stop It: Bystander Intervention Training 
Starts Sept 17th
Tues 4:30-6pm @ RC

(Step In & Stop It) is a train-the-trainer program that empowers participants to teach New Yorkers effective de-escalation strategies for bias motivated harassment. As a two-part program, participants complete several months of training in preparation for Spring workshops and bystander intervention projects. Since 2016, Step In & Stop It has educated hundreds of individuals across the five boroughs with the goal of eliminating racism, gender oppression, and sexual violence.

Web Design
Starts Sept 17th
Wed 4:30-6pm @ RC

Web design is a valuable skill in many industries, including marketing, communications, and entrepreneurship. By learning web design, you can prepare yourself for a wide range of careers. Web design is a powerful tool for self-expression and creativity allowing you to bring ideas to life by sharing them with the world. Our web design program develops problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and collaboration.