Studies show that teenage girls have been hardest hit by the mental health crisis affecting young people, and that social supports can make a big difference. The Trust recently made a series of grants to Westchester nonprofits focused on supporting girls and young women.
“There is no one path to resiliency or feeling agency over our lives. Some find it through a great mentor, creative expression, or physical activities and sports,” said Laura Rossi, The Trust’s executive director for Westchester. “That’s why our support of programs for girls and young women covers a range of approaches.”
Participants in Trust grantee Girls on the Run Hudson Valley’s leadership program work together to complete both a community impact project and a 5K run.
“Our programs make an impact at a critical age when girls’ confidence and physical activity levels begin to decline,” said Kim Quimby, the organization’s executive director.
Employers pay women an average of 84 cents for every dollar they pay men—just one example of persistent gender inequities in the workplace. Mentoring relationships can help young women prepare to pursue rewarding career paths, especially when the mentors are women who have built successful careers themselves.
Trust grantee Her Honor Mentoring matches young women with mentors from a range of industries to explore topics such as education, career paths, and financial literacy. With our support, the organization is expanding its financial literacy program for young women in Westchester high schools.
Trust grantee G.O.O.D for Girls incorporates leadership training into its mentoring program, which also introduces girls to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math projects.
“We believe every girl deserves a chance to succeed—and exposure and opportunity are the key,” said Lori Stephens, the program’s executive director.
Girls in the New Era Creative Space program in Peekskill, supported by a recent Trust grant, focus on autonomy and independence, healthy self esteem, and moral leadership.
With the goal of engaging in a community impact project, they explore issues that are important to them, community service, and social expression through art and literature.
The Trust is helping Girls Inc. of Westchester County expand its in-school and afterschool leadership programs to new locations throughout Westchester, with modules such as community action, academics, and healthy relationships.
“Our programming is designed to empower girls and build their confidence, enabling them to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Sharlise Smith-Rodriguez, the nonprofit’s executive director. “The benefits extend to themselves, their communities, and society at large.”
