Youth Leadership
We run two youth programs, Gender Expansive Youth (GEY) and Gold, to develop, nurture, and support leadership and advocacy skills for youth ages 11-18.
We have weekly conversations and activities like playing games, creating memes, and talking about racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, social justice, our identities, and more!
Both programs have similar curriculums but center on the experiences of youth with different identities.
Contact:
[email protected]
Are you interested in intersectional feminism, social justice, talking about social media, gender, activism, and meeting new friends? Gold is a virtual program centering girls and femmes who are Black, Brown, and/or of color but is open to anyone in middle or high school!
Contact:
[email protected]
Schedule:
Gold will meet in person on Tuesdays from 5 - 7 pm at YWCA Cambridge (7 Temple St, Cambridge, MA).
Register for Gold at bit.ly/Goldywca23
GEY will be meeting in person on Wednesdays from 5 - 7 pm at (Cambridge, MA).
GEY will also meet virtually on Thursdays from 4 - 6 pm.
Register for GEY in-person or virtually at bit.ly/geyywca23
We are hosting GEY in-person and virtually to increase accessibility and include participants in a wider geographical area.
Gold and GEY will start the week of October 17th, 2023, and meet weekly until June 202
Some of Our Teen Lead Topics:
- Gender Stereotypes and Media (Trans and non-binary representation)
- Incarceration & LGBTQ Rights
- Gender Stereotypes and Media Representation
- Art, History, & Identity: What is Art for
- Powerful Women in History
- Mental Health and Self-Care
- History of Feminism and Intersectional Feminism
“I joined Gold in January 2021 at a time when I was feeling very isolated from others during online school. Ever since I’ve had a welcoming space to join every week. Having the opportunity to share your ideas and have a leadership role is something I feel is lacking for young people in schools and politics. This program empowers youth to fight for marginalized identities as well as providing a space for conversation on intersectional feminism and other social justice issues. Being a part of Gold has given me the chance to meet new people, share my experiences, and step out of my comfort zone.”
- Rising 9th grader at CRLS, 2nd-year Gold participant.
“There is something so beautiful in knowing that you aren’t alone in your experiences. Feelings of isolation are common among queer youth- most of us don’t see ourselves in our families, our schools, and our larger community. It can seem to us as though we are irrevocably different from everyone we know. It’s a lonely feeling. Through GEY, we are able to build a community of teens like us. There is so much baggage that comes with being an LGBTQ+ person in our racist, hetero-patriarchal society, but it feels much safer to weather through it arm in arm with other people. In addition to the community building and friendships formed through the program, it’s truly educational. Throughout the year that I have been involved with GEY we have discussed issues ranging from the inequalities of the criminal justice system to the origins of fatphobia to the representation of queer characters in media. I have learned so much from this program- everyone who participated always had something thoughtful to share that brought another layer of meaning to the class. For queer teens (and allies who understand that this isn’t a space that will center them), I cannot recommend GEY enough.”
- Rising 9th grader at The Commonwealth School, 1st-year GEY participant.