The results are in! We had an impact.
Updated: Sep 17, 2023
Year in Review 2022-2023
As we head into a new school year, we aim to reach 11,000 girls across New York City, building on the achievements we saw last year.
Project Accelerate: College Shower and Project REACH
The new college cohort begins this fall. 98% of girls in our programs are admitted to college, and 92% stay in college.
During 2022-2023, we reached 615 high school and college students with college and career programming. In the spring, we honored 26 college-bound seniors with scholarships and dorm supplies at our annual Gala and College Shower. After participating in our college preparedness program, students continue receiving programmatic support from Girls Inc. of NYC while they are in college.
Delivering the keynote to 400 guests at the College Shower, Emmanuela B. declared that she is attending Brown University on full scholarship this fall. The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, Emmanuela managed her schoolwork and led school initiatives as the Student Government Vice President, all while taking care of household tasks and her younger siblings. Through the College Shower program, Emmanuela learned about the complexities of applying for, financing, and navigating college. Now, she is majoring in economics and aspires to help immigrants, like her parents, establish successful businesses.
Mind Body Matters
Responding to the mental health crisis among teen girls, this program prepares girls to take charge of their mental health.
In the midst of a dire shortage of mental health clinicians and services, our program
was delivered to 5,753 girls and gender-expansive youth at 75 schools throughout New York City.
A majority of girls realized a significant reduction in stress levels as a result of stress management techniques.
Students also demonstrated increased energy levels, healthy eating habits, motivation, and a sense of belonging in community.
Her Future
Coming soon as a mobile app, our new financial literacy program demystifies finance for girls.
Reached 2,085 girls and gender-expansive youth at 29 schools
Compared to the beginning of the year, we observed increases in students' financial knowledge (81% to 85%), financial responsibility (81% to 85%), and financial practices (40% to 57%)
Evidence shows that youth who receive financial literacy education are more likely to have: lower cost borrowing options, higher graduation rates, increased savings and budgeting habits, lower likelihood of outstanding debt, and better familial financial habits.
Our financial literacy curriculum encourages students to create goals and devise saving and budgeting strategies to meet them. Great thanks to Google.org for its support, and stay tuned for our mobile app.
G3: Generation Giga Girls
This unique data analytics program has inspired a third of our participants to go on to college to major in STEM.
Reached 575 girls and gender-expansive youth at 20 schools
Students applied their data analytics skills to investigate the socioeconomic issues challenging their communities. They analyzed real data and presented their findings on:
The impacts of gentrification on communities in New York City.
Factors contributing to food insecurity in the Bronx.
Climate change in coastal regions, emphasizing impacts on New York City.
The effects of gun violence on NYC students, inside and outside of school.
In addition, students increased their confidence and interest in math over the past year.
Confidence: 64% to 71%
Interest: 37% to 58%
In February, we welcomed participants to our Data Justice Expo where they honed their data analytics skills and learned about tools for helping effect change within their school communities.
Signature Programs Teacher Training Institute
A key strategy for expanding our unique signature programs, we train teachers from schools across the city where girls are in need of our programs, especially in mental health.
Throughout the school year and summer, we trained teachers on our mental health, financial literacy, and data analytics curricula so they can deliver our programming at their schools. We host ongoing workshops and provide one-on-one coaching sessions with GINYC content experts.
During 2022-2023, we trained 194 educators in our signature programs:
126 in Mind Body Matters
44 in Her Future
24 in G3: Data for Social Justice
This past summer, we welcomed 79 new and 16 returning teachers to our office for workshops on bringing our signature programs to their classrooms.
Teen Leadership Circles (TLC)
Another strategy for program expansion, students develop leadership skills and deliver our signature programs to their peers.
Reached 1,010 girls and gender-expansive youth at 32 high schools:
142 peer leaders organized clubs comprising 868 circle members.
In March, we reached an additional 1,000 girls through our first, in-person citywide conference focused on advocacy.
By the end of 2022-2023:
85% of participants saw themselves as leaders, felt responsible for their community, made informed decisions, and accepted the consequences of their choices.
79% understood community organizing and social justice issues, including those related to national origin, sexual orientation, and religion.
Peer leaders learned about advocating for issues important to them through an expert-led advocacy training and a meeting with local policy makers.
Community action projects included advocating for free period products in public spaces and creating menstrual hygiene kits for women's shelters, thanks to product donations from The Honey Pot Company.
TLC peer leaders participated in workshops at a weekend retreat in New Jersey, preparing to launch or reconvene clubs at their high schools.
Conference participants engaged in workshops that explored music, fashion, and art as tactics for raising awareness about advocacy issues.
Summer Programs
Girl Boss Summer Camp
Middle school students get down to business.
Over four weeks, middle school students designed businesses to address real-world problems. Students reflected on their leadership styles, practiced effective collaboration with business partners, researched market trends, and noted the customer service elements necessary for a successful business. In August, these young entrepreneurs pitched their business plans and prototypes to professionals at an exhibition and Shark Tank style competition.
Business concepts included versatile clothing for persons with disabilities, stylish glucose monitors, bug-repellent moisturizers for diverse skin tones, recycled footwear, and self-defense products.
Coming up this fall
Speed Networking: October 18
High school and college students will meet with professionals to learn about their education and career paths. If you work for a company that might be interested in partnering with Girls Inc. of NYC on an opportunity like this, please contact Director of Development Suzanne Igarteburu at sigarteburu@girlsincnyc.org.
Teen Leadership Circles (TLC) Retreat: October 27-29
Peer leaders from high schools across NYC will convene for teambuilding and leadership training.
TCS New York City Marathon: November 5
Six athletes will run the marathon as part of Team Strong, Smart, and Bold. You can support the team's fundraiser here. If you would like to volunteer to cheer on our team, please email development@girlsincnyc.org for more information.
