Young Women’s Project, a composite of four different departments, all focused on creating girl-only safe spaces for young women. Each department utilizes Goddess as a forum for self-expression and empowerment. When young women are given the freedom and safety of a girl-only space, they can begin to explore what it means to be a young women, express their hopes and fears, and begin to work on the self-development needed to become strong and self-sufficient leaders, both in their personal lives and within the community.
Any young woman in Lowell, ages 13-20, can participate for free in any of these programs! She can choose to participate in one, several, or all elements.
Young Women’s Activism: Young Women’s Activism trains young women to research, identify, and prioritize those community issues which are of the greatest concern to their own development as young women. This year-long project involves in-depth education on issues the young women identify as important to young women in their community & several workshops around power, civics and public speaking. After the education piece is completed, the participants identify one specific issue they would like to work closely on. The 2003 YWA has decided to work on a magazine for young women, by young women, entitled Goddess. This magazine will allow the young women to research different topics within their community, and express their findings, experiences and concerns in a publication that will be shared with the community, and hopefully across the web.
Inner Beauty Awards :
The Inner Beauty Awards is an annual eight-week program that seeks to educate young women on reversing the damaging effects of the media, and assist the young women in challenging the sexism, racism, heterosexism and stereotypes they subconsciously ingest on a daily basis. The program culminates in an evening of dinner, awards, performances and celebration of each young woman's inner beauty.
Creative Writing : Creative Writing is a weekly class that allows young women to explore their voices in a safe, girl-only space. Each quarter, the young women plan an event, whether it's the annual Food for Thought, a poetry reading to benefit Lowell's hungry, or reading as part of Lowell's Women's Week celebration. The young women also recently published their first book, "Phenomenal Women," a collection of their original, personal writings.
Double Dutch : Double Dutch, under the instruction of Nancy Moore Diaz, meets weekly to work on jumping skills, personal development & personal goals. Nancy works closely with each girl to make sure her personal needs are met, while guiding them to make positive decisions and choices in their own lives. The UTEC Double Dutch team are regular performers at local events, and compete yearly at different state competitions.
Upcoming programs: Voice, Piano, Dance Choreography. (Want to volunteer to teach a class?)
Upcoming programs: Digital Photography, Desktop Publishing. (Want to volunteer to teach a class?)
Upcoming programs: Young Women’s Support Network
