FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Teen Voices?

Teen Voices is an intensive journalism mentoring and leadership development program for teen girls in Boston."  Our mission is to support and educate teen girls to amplify their voices and create social change through media.

Through its programs, teen girls create Teen Voices and Teen Voices online, two internationally distributed social justice magazines reaching 88,000 internet visitors, with 200,000 pageviews from readers in 177 countries.

Written by, for, and about teen girls, Teen Voices is positive, powerful, and empowering, amplifying teen girls' real voices in a world filled with too much media focused on what girls look like—not what they think.

About the Organization

Who supports Teen Voices?

Teen Voices is a non-profit organization. "  We receive funding from many generous foundations, individuals and corporations supporting our mission.

Unlike many other magazines for girls and women, our priority is to fulfill our mission, which is to support and educate teen girls to amplify their voices and create social change through media."  Teen Voices magazine is only a part of the work we do.

What is Women Express, Inc.?

Women Express, Inc. is the former legal name of Teen Voices."  As of October, 2010 we have legally changed our name to Teen Voices, Inc. to align our name with our programs and our publications.

Who runs Teen Voices?

Teen Voices is managed by a small, experienced staff, and is guided by an equally dedicated Board of Directors." "  Meet our senior staff.

We also have many volunteers who make our programs possible.

Where are you located?

Our space is in downtown Boston - where girls gather to participate in our programs, and to learn from the staff, their mentors and from each other."  This is where our magazines are created, and where girls are free to ask questions, and to speak their minds.

When was Teen Voices founded?"  Could you tell me a little about your history?

Teen Voices was founded in 1988 by two young women in Cambridge, Massachusetts who believed in the power of girls to create social change through writing and art."  In 1990, they produced and published the first edition of Teen Voices.

Starting as an all-volunteer organization, Teen Voices now has a small paid staff of adults and teens, with an active Board of Directors."  Teen Voices offers a variety of programs, works with girls world-wide, and publishes Teen Voices print and online magazines.

What are the benefits of joining the Teen Voices community?

You will meet other girls who are interested in many of the same issues as you are, you'll learn practical skills to improve your writing, and you'll have fun at the same time.

Teen Voices magazine is written by, for and about teenage girls from around the world, touching upon the real life issues that affect them.

In our space, girls can openly discuss and challenge current media exploitation of the female, politics, love, health, academics, sexual identify and social conflicts.

Teen Voices' programs and publications teach girls to respect themselves and others."  It is also a practical program where young women can learn creative journalistic and career skills for the future, while bettering their lives today.

About The Magazine

What is your magazine all about? Who creates it?

Teen Voices is a print and online magazine that receives hundreds of submissions of original poetry, memoir, essays, reviews, art, and opinions annually from teens around the world.

Teens participating in our SHOUT! (Sisters Helping Other Unheard Teens) program create our magazine with the help of college-age mentors under the direction of our Editor/Publisher and Program Director.

We publish two full-color issues of our print magazine each year, and we update online content regularly.

Interesting, tell me more about your SHOUT! program...

SHOUT! is a journalism mentoring program."  Girls participate in the creation of "  Teen Voices magazine."  Offered three times a year, in Boston, SHOUT teaches teen girls to become editors, to write, research, and edit submissions under the guidance of college-level mentors.

Teens read and edit the submissions of other teens from around the world, and prepare them as features for the different sections of the magazine - which include Media Watch, Arts & Culture, Small World, Food Corner, Girl Talk, Dear D., Good Reading, and Say What?

How often do you publish your magazine?

The print edition of Teen Voices is published biannually, while the online version is published monthly.

I would like to submit my work to the magazine."  How do I do that and how many things am I allowed to send?

You may send Teen Voices as many items as you want - as long as you are between 13 and 19 years old."  Make sure your name, age, home address (with zip code), email and phone number are written on everything you send to Teen Voices."  We do have some other guidelines, so be sure to read and understand our Submission Policy before you send us anything.

If you want to see your work in print, but don't want your name known,"  be sure to say so.

You can send all submissions to us electronically or you can send them to us via snail mail at:

Teen Voices

P.O. Box 120-027

Boston, MA, 02112-0027

What kind of work do you consider for publication?

All sorts of work! We accept original poetry; memoir; essays; social commentary; book, music and movie reviews; original art; and opinions from teens all around the world." "  Teen Voices believes whatever you have to say is important.

How can I get the latest issue of your magazine?

You can subscribe and become a member today.

I would like some of your previous issues, how can I get them?

Call Teen Voices toll-free at 1-888-882-TEEN to order your back issues today! Each issue is $5.00.

Who do I contact with questions about my magazine subscription?

You can contact our Development Coordinator with any questions you may have regarding your magazine subscription at 617-426-5505 ext. 13.

How can I get involved?

How can I contribute to the work you do?

There are plenty of ways to contribute to the work we do. One of the best and easiest ways to help fulfill and further our mission would be to become a member of Teen Voices.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please click here.

You can also friend us on Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace.

I'm a teen girl and I would love to be a part of the work you do, so how can I get involved?

Simple! If you live in Boston, Massachusetts, consider joining our program as Teen Editor."  Apply right now!

If you don't live in Boston,"  you can still be involved in our magazine by submitting your original work to us."  We are always looking for teens who would like to submit their original artwork, poetry, essays, and stories to us in order to be published in the magazine!

I'm a college student - do you offer internships or job opportunities?

We welcome dedicated, hard-working individuals who will not only be effective in their work, but who will serve as role models for the Teen Editorial Board, and be a part of the greater movement for social and economic justice.

All internships are unpaid but may be used for college credit."  Currently we offer internships in administration, volunteer recruitment, art and photography, development, special events, editorial, marketing, and technology.

Our interns have moved on from Teen Voices to begin careers in publishing, journalism, and marketing. Others have joined women's rights organizations or lobbying groups.

For more information, or to apply to become part of our your group of dedicated interns, click here.

To be notified of future positions, please join our mailing list, or become a fan of us on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.

I want to change the world for myself and other girls through media but I don't know where to start... Any ideas?

If you live in Boston, Massachusetts, consider joining our program as Teen Editor."  Apply right now! .

If you don't live in Boston,"  you can still be involved in our magazine by submitting your original work to us."  We are always looking for teens who would like to submit their original artwork, poetry, essays, and stories to us in order to be published in the magazine.

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