Programs

Program Goals

• To develop core language arts, communication and media skills in Boston area, low-income teen girls of color.
• To educate participating teen girls and their audiences on critical issues of concern to teen girls in a manner that promotes social justice.
• To publish and disseminate the voices of teen girls through self-generated media and other communication vehicles.
• To develop a growing cadre of feminist leaders.

Our Programs

To accomplish our mission, we run an out-of-school time program, a leadership program, publish a magazine and web site, and host public forums. Our full list of programs and services includes:

• Sisters Helping Other Unheard Teens (SHOUT!) "“ the journalism mentoring program that creates Teen Voices magazine. Offered three times per year, SHOUT! allows Teen Editors to write, research, and edit submissions under the guidance of college-level mentors. School year cycles last 11 to 12 weeks and Teen Editors are paid $110 per month stipends."  On Fridays, the girls attend workshops led by experts on sexual health, domestic violence, substance abuse, career exposure, college preparation, and others. During the summer, girls work 25 hours a week for 6 weeks and are paid minimum wage through grants provided by summer funders. Teen Editors complete at least 210 hours per session of workshops that train them to be journalists, update their technological skills, and allow all them to discuss personal and social issues
• PEER LEADERS "“ 5 former Teen Editors increase their leadership skills by facilitating workshops, planning events, designing curricula, and presenting at conferences, community events, and to the media. They are paid minimum wage for their work, which also includes assisting the Teen Editors and helping with the administrative tasks of SHOUT!
• TEEN VOICES - 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. The Teen Editors work on the submissions and prepare them as features for the different sections of the magazine, which includes Media Watch, Arts & Culture, Small World, Food Corner, Girl Talk, Dear D., Good Reading, and Say What? The print edition of Teen Voices is published biannually while the online version is published monthly.
• BOSTON GIRLS WRITING COMMUNITY - a public forum that brings together low-income teen girls of color who are writers and poets. This gathering is fast becoming the destination of choice for Boston-area girls who write.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - this program allows our staff and Peer Leaders to provide expertise, consultation, and leadership on various issues to youth workers, media staff, and academicians, with 8-10 presentations, interviews, and/or workshops annually.