#STFSummer

Celebrating #STFSummer and Our Amazing Volunteers

It’s been a groundbreaking, beyond-our-wildest-dream summer for She’s the First! We got our first office, partnered with The Young Women’s Leadership Network for summer camp, and our volunteers visited both Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in India AND Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda. To celebrate these successes and many more, we gathered our fantastic volunteers for a party and Olympics-inspired awards ceremony at 121 Fulton.

Here’s a look at the festivities and some of the award winners:

Megan O'Connor, Remarkable Marketing Award

Kristen Healey, Cupcake Coordination Award

Azure Antoinette, All-Around Good Award

Carla Blumenthal, Alison Tamer and Taylor Conklin, Awe-Inspiring Adventure Award

The full list of #STFSummer rockstars (look out for more award winners in the Fall!):

Remarkable Marketing
• Meaghan O’Connor

Groundbreaking Leadership
• Kate Schwarz

Rockstar Rookie
• Brooke Sassman

Magnificent Multitasking
• Danielle Deschaine

Awe-Inspiring Adventure
• Carla Blumenthal, Taylor Conklin, Alison Tamer

Heartwarming Hospitality
• Select Office Suites

Cupcake Coordination
• Kristen Healey

All-Around Good
• Azure Antoinette

Epic Event Production
• Opal Vadhan

Nimble Number Crunching
• Ezinne Kwubiri

Dynamic Documentary-Making
• Kate Lord

Thanks to everyone (volunteers, students and supporters, that includes you!) for making this such an incredible #STFSummer to remember! What was your favorite memory?

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@ExplorersTYWLS Camp Ends with Bead Making for Fundraiser

Camp has come to an end and She’s the First is left with lots of new friends, tons of amazing photos, and some great ideas for the future. Every day that we spent with the TYWLS Explorers was wonderful, but I found our final workshop to be the most fun and inspiring.

Last Wednesday we decided to let the girls experience the heart of She’s the First: giving the gift of education to a girl across the world. We talked to the girls about Uganda and how a huge percentage of their population is living on less than $1 per day. We told them about organizations like BeadforLife, started by Torkin Wakefield and Ginny Jordan in 2003, which allow the women of Uganda to break the poverty cycle by making magazine beads to be sold in North America and Europe.

Next, we told the campers about Hellen, a 15 year old girl studying at the Arlington Academy of Hope. Last year STF sponsored Hellen for the first time and this year the TYWLS Explorers have the opportunity to give Hellen another year of education by making and selling magazine beads, just like the women of Uganda!

Nabulwala Hellen, student at AAH

After teaching them how to make the beads, the girls were off and running. They were so excited about helping Hellen that they started tweeting right away!

Not only did the girls get to see how it feels to directly help someone across the world, but they got to bond with the STF volunteers!

Photo by Kate Lord

Photo by Kate Lord

Photo by Kate Lord
Photo by Kate Lord
Photo by Kate Lord
Photo by Kate Lord
Photo by Kate Lord
Photo by Kate Lord

Thank you to the @ExplorersTYWLS for letting us share your camp experience, we had an absolute blast. We have seen firsthand how much of an impact you are capable of making, and we can’t wait to see what other great things you will do!

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@ExplorersTYWLS Take On Bryant Park, Part II!


Photo by Richard Scott

It was another great day in the city for the @ExplorersTYWLS girls! Shortly after lunch on July 17th, we rounded up the explorers in Bryant Park to let them in on their latest challenge.

But of course, we couldn’t start the day without checking in to see how our little social media pros have been doing! Seeing almost every girl raise her hand acknowledging her recent use and love of social media was very encouraging to say the least. This was huge progress for all of the girls, especially the ones that in the beginning only had a basic understanding of social media. To drum up a little more motivation, we explained the wonders of Storify.com, and how we’ve been using it here at She’s the First to spotlight the incredible amount of work the campers have been doing!

But we couldn’t forget about our courageous Tumblr Editors! We made sure to check in with them as well, to see how they felt the blog was doing. They’re always busy blogging away, so make sure you check out their Tumblr to stay up to date on the latest @ExplorersTYWLS action!

If you read Kate’s post from July 14th, you are probably familiar with the breakdown of the workshop. On Friday, July 13th, Kate let half the @ExplorersTYWLS loose in Bryant Park to interview people about their own “firsts.” But on July 17th, it was finally my turn!

Before sending them off on their own, we gave them three questions to ask their interviewees:
1. What are you the first to do?
2. What would you like to be the first to do?
3. What inspires you?

…and then they were off!

Photo by Richard Scott

Photo by Richard Scott

A Notebook Designed by a TYWLS Explorer: Photo by Richard Scott

The campers certainly hit the ground running! When I checked up on the girls to see how they were doing, each girl had at least a page full of answers. This would soon prove to be useful for the writing portion of the challenge.

After 30 minutes of interviewing, the girls were instructed to meet back at the steps for a group photo, and start to draft their Tumblr blog posts about their interview challenge. Our budding journalists were certainly hard at work today, and have already started to post to Tumblr their inspiring answers.

Make sure you check out the rest of the @ExplorersTYWLS inspirational posts by visiting their Tumblr blog!

Photo by Richard Scott

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Meet Our New Tumblr Editor!

Our Tumblr blog got a mini-makeover this summer! We last used Tumblr as part of April’s Voice Your Verse campaign, to inspire our If the World Were My Classroom… poets. Under the leadership of our new editor, Mileva Brunson, who is the founding president of our She’s the First*{St. Mary’s} chapter, the blog is more refreshing than ever in these hot summer months! I was able to ask Mileva a few questions about herself and her vision for the blog.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Also, where do you attend school and what are you studying?
A: My name is Mileva Brunson and I am originally from Hammond, Indiana, which is 20 minutes outside Chicago. I am a rising junior at Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. Saint Mary’s is actually right across the street from the University of Notre Dame, where Lindsay Brown attends, and home of the tie-dye cupcake craze! I am a communications major with minors in public relations and women’s studies (and maybe intercultural studies – who knows!). I love my school and love being involved; I am working on founding a chapter of She’s the First at Saint Mary’s, and I am also the advertising co-editor for the campus magazine, Bellezine, and an Admissions Office volunteer.

Q: What are some of your interests?
A: I enjoy traveling, baking, and blogging. I also started some DIY projects this summer and have fallen in love with it (thanks, Pinterest!). I am an avid coffee drinker, and obsessed with all things television and film — which is evident by my ever-growing DVD collection and stacks of Entertainment Weekly!

Q: What are your visions/goals for the Tumblr blog?
A: I hope to make it an interactive place for She’s the First supporters to come to for inspiration, updates, and information on all things She’s the First. Tumblr is an amazing platform that really allows us to show our creativity and passion and to reach young people in a whole new way, and I am so excited to be a part of that.

Q: What has been your biggest “first”?
A: I would say traveling by myself for the first time. This past semester, I spent the semester abroad in Rome, Italy. That was such a life changing experience for me. It made me much more independent, self-sufficient, and ready to take on all of life’s adventures. Getting on the plane to Rome was my first time on plane and I remember feeling so unsure about myself. But in my three months abroad, I saw myself grow in so many ways and experience such amazing things that I can’t wait to see where life will take me next!

Q: What are you the first in your family to do?
A: Well, neither of my parents attended college — my dad went back to school about 6 years ago and is currently working on his masters. But that was a huge first in my family. And all of the experiences I am having in college — from studying abroad, to starting my own club with She’s the First, to even attending a Notre Dame football game! — have been amazing first’s that I know they are so happy to see me accomplish.

Q: What tips would you give to other non-profits to engage their younger audience better?
A: I would say to get creative! With social media, your appearance on the Internet is everything and making your platforms not only be interactive but aesthetically appealing is a huge plus and will really draw people in to see what you are all about. So making your internet presence stylish and sleek is a great way to grab attention.

Also, I think to not be afraid to new social media platforms. Sites and apps like Instagram and Pinterest have become very popular recently and are definitely a fresh, original way to reach young people for non-profits. Just look at Elizabeth Arden’s #PinItToGiveIt campaign and our board to support Lindsay Brown and the Seventeen Magazine Pretty Amazing Contest!

Stay up to date on the latest She’s the First action by visiting our Tumblr!

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Look What @ExplorersTYWLS Did in Bryant Park!

Since camp began five days ago, the @ExplorersTYWLS have been tweeting away (check out our Storify to see how great they’re doing!) So for today’s workshop, we decided to give them a  little break from pure social media and let them brush up on their offline reporting skills, which they’ll then post to their Tumblr. We armed them with these basic questions…

  • What are you the first to do?
  • What would you like to be the first to do?
  • What inspires you?

…and then we set them loose in Bryant Park!

We all gathered on the steps of The New York Public Library to regroup and talk about their experiences (and, of course, for a photo opp!)

I was particularly proud of the Explorers today because they stepped outside of their comfort zones to connect with people from all walks of life. In-person interviews can be very intimidating, especially when approaching people on the street. The girls were nervous, but not one of them backed down; no one said “I can’t” or “I’m too scared.” They worked through their fears and had incredible success, interviewing tons of people. That, my friends, is courage.

Look out for the articles that the Explorers will be posting about their interviewing experiences on the Tumblr blog: ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com.

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@ExplorersTYWLS Camp: Tumblr Training with Nanette Lepore!

On day two of @ExplorersTYWLS camp, we invited the 15 campers who had volunteered to be editors for the Tumblr Blog to come to She’s the First HQ for an hour long training session.

Tammy gets the Explorers excited about editing the Tumblr blog! Photo by Justice Ami

Tammy taught the Explorers how important it is to have their own “Editorial Voice.” They brainstormed about what they want the voice of their blog to be, and together they came up with the words, “adventure, exploration, and inspiring.”

The girls brainstorm together to come up with the "voice" of their blog. Photo by Justice Ami.

Next, Tammy handed the girls over to two very special guest speakers from Nanette Lepore- Jimmy Lepore Hagan (Social Media Strategist) and Nicole Loher (Social Media Blogger and summer intern). Jimmy and Nicole taught the girls about real life application for their blogging skills, and how they can turn Social Media into a career.

Jimmy Lepore Hagan (social media strategist) and Nicole Loher (social media blogger and summer intern) from Nanette Lepore. Photo by Justice Ami.

Nicole and Jimmy teach the girls how to turn their social media skills into an exciting career. Photo by Justice Ami.

The girls left feeling VERY excited about their new skills, or as we are calling them, their new superpowers!

Our favorite tweet about the training session: “We had two awesome speakers from @Nanettelepore today! It was beyond epic (: #MyImpact“ –@IsraKhaled

We are extremely proud of the girls so far,  join the @ExplorersTYWLS for the rest of their summer adventures by following their Tumblr Blog:  ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com.

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What Happened on Our First Day at @ExplorersTYWLS Camp!

Photo by Kate Lord

Flash back! It seemed as if I were back at school for the first day all over again. As nervous and excited girls crowded the elevator, we had already started off on the right note as one of our youngest campers pointed out that being packed so closely together was instantly creating a “bonding experience” among the rest of us. When the elevator finally reached the 7th floor, I could feel the excitement just pouring out of the gym.

As I poked my head inside the gym to simply get a taste of the energy that had clearly taken over the atmosphere, my adrenaline had already started soaring at the thought of working with these 140 excited and energetic girls.

Within about 20 minutes, our first group of girls started to file in and sit down in anticipation for the start of our workshop. Attentive, engaged faces were all we needed to see in order to recognize that class was now in session.

Photo by Kate Lord

A warm welcome seemed to be the only thing that was needed for the girls to feel comfortable and ready to learn. We then introduced ourselves and began to break down what exactly it means to be “a first.” When we opened up discussion with the girls, I can say on behalf of all of us, we were thoroughly impressed with their answers. Girls saying that they wanted to be the first in their families to be journalists, judges, doctors, and even attend graduate school. The depth and complexity of their answers were not only impressive, but also empowering to us and the rest of the girls sitting in the room.

@KateSchwarzNYC - Photo by Kate Lord

After getting down on their level and really diving into their goals for their own futures, we then went ahead and passed out a survey. The survey would include questions about social media, and their usage or feelings on it. For handing in the survey the girls were rewarded with a lovely She’s the First sticker, and a handout that mapped out the instructional information of the challenges we would present to them in weeks to come. After Kate went through the handout, together with the girls we creatively brainstormed a Social Media Code of Conduct, and discussed the do’s and dont’s of their tremendous new superpowers.

 

Photo by Kate Lord

@BrookeSassman - Photo by Kate Lord

In the coming weeks, the girls will be hard at work creating Tweets, submitting content for the Tumblr blog (ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com), and taking pictures to post to Instagram. They’ll learn not only how to harness their creative energy, but to use it for good as their strongest superhero power. With that being said, it couldn’t have been more perfect than to leave the girls with a special quote from the Spiderman movie. Kate closed the workshop by leaving the girls with this powerful statement: “…with great power comes great responsibility.”

Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts as we continue our journey with the @ExplorerTYWLS girls!

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#STFSummer: Introducing You to @ExplorersTYWLS

Hi friends! How’s your #STFSummer going? I’m excited to tell you about a special part of ours and introduce a new Twitter handle you should know: @ExplorersTYWLS. It’ll be powered by 140 teen girls from NYC who are going to make an impact on the world, right before our very eyes.

At She’s the First, we are always looking for ways to reach students globally and locally with our mission. We fundraise for girls’ sponsorships in our 8 partner countries (253 girls and counting!), and we’re innovating new ways to inspire girls around us to break barriers, too. The latest experiment: Bringing a three-week social media enrichment program to the Young Women’s Leadership Schools’ summer camp in NYC.

I’m going to answer some FAQs you might have below, and then I invite you to keep the convo going with us on Twitter! (@shesthefirst, @ExplorersTYWLS, and camp hashtag is #MyImpact)

Where are the Young Women’s Leadership Network Schools?

Referred to as “TYWLS,” (like “twills”), these public schools are based in Queens, Brooklyn, East Harlem, and soon, the Bronx. They empower low-income students to break the cycle of poverty through education. Nearly all will be accepted into college and 80% will become first-generation college students. Even Oprah’s inspired by them!

What happens at summer camp?

The Young Women’s Leadership Network runs Summer Explorers, a three-week experiential learning summer camp for girls to enhance their connections to the wider world beyond the school year and a summer bridge program for incoming 6th graders.

What is She’s the First doing?

We’re mentoring the girls on social media use, giving them “challenge assignments” for their Twitter (@ExplorersTYWLS) and Tumblr (ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com).

What are your goals?

  • Teach students how to build a community during the summer, to last into the new school year.
  • Challenge students to be perceptive of the world around them.
  • Enable students to build a conversation with girls globally and compare their daily lives; guide them in creating an arts & crafts fundraiser for a girl’s sponsorship.
  • Establish guidelines for social media etiquette that will support students’ professional ambitions in the future.
  • Empower students to share the world through their eyes–what it is like to be a teen girl living, loving, and learning during the summer–with fellow New Yorkers.

 

How will you know if STF succeeded?

The social media will speak for itself, and we’ll be doing pre-and post-surveys with the girls, to measure success with data. The girls will also give us feedback, which we’ll share with you!

Who at She’s the First is involved?

To name a few, during the day, our summer crew, @KateSchwarzNYC and @BrookeSassman, are in the drivers’ seats! They’ll blog each day after camp to keep you informed. The talented @KateLordPhoto and @beeebro (Brittany Brothers) will also be popping in to capture photo and video. @GoGenny (Genevieve Tabios) made the graphic designs. @AzureAntoinette, the acclaimed poet we worked with on #VoiceYourVerse (and share office space with now!), works for the Young Women’s Leadership Schools and she’s hosting the Explorers camp along with an extraordinary league of camp counselors. YOU can be involved, too. (Keep on reading!)

How will we make a global impact?

In the third week of camp, the girls are going to dedicate their time to an arts ‘n crafts activity–making magazine bead necklaces and bracelets, similar to these that women in Uganda are known for–and then in August, they’ll sell them, hoping to raise $360 to sponsor a girl in Uganda at the Arlington Academy of Hope. (Want them to sell at YOUR office? Email me! tammy@shesthefirst.org)

What can I do to help?

Follow the campers’ Twitter (@ExplorersTYWLS) & Tumblr and leave comments and feedback so that they know you are listening…and their voices matter!

This program would not have been possible without the incredible support and forward-thinking staff of the Young Women’s Leadership Network. It’s a brave project–the Department of Ed has never done something like this before and you can imagine the ways it could backfire. But we’ve never been about those negative “what if’s” here at She’s the First. We’re about the “I can” and “I will.” Breaking barriers. This is their world. Let’s give them the tools and watch them shape it.

What do you think? Talk to us! Comment below, or tweet me or @shesthefirst!

Message to the Explorers:

     

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#STFSummer: We’re Going to Camp!

What is She’s the First summer camp, you ask? Allow me to explain…

The Young Women’s Leadership Network (TYWLS) runs Summer Explorers, an experiential learning summer camp for girls to enhance their connections to the world.

The Young Women's Leadership Schools Crest

She’s the First is joining TYWLS this year as their social media partner. We will teach the students how to use social media to support their professional ambitions, to establish community (both locally and globally), and to share the world through their own eyes.

TYWLS students writing at camp in 2011.

STF’s “social media mentors” will give the girls specific challenges relating to the different types of social media (i.e. an Instagram scavenger hunt, Twitter contests, and writing to their past/present/future selves through a Tumblr blog). The girls will also be writing poetry with Azure Antoinette each day, culminating in an anthology that will be published at the end!

"You Should Know This About Me," TYWLS Explorers 2011 Anthology

And of course, we are going to find a creative way to tie in a girl’s sponsorship- we will help the girls hold a fundraiser with crafts that they have made (if you have any fun DIY craft ideas please share!). Towards the end of camp we will even connect the students with some of the girls we sponsor via Skype!

At the end of camp, our goal is for the girls to understand and believe these three things:

  • My voice is powerful
  • My point of view matters
  • Social media can make social change

2011 campers on stage with their anthology - just look at that pride!

You can show your support by following and interacting with the TYWLS Explorers through their Twitter and Tumblr pages, launching in July:

  • @TYWLSExplorers
  • Hash Tag: #MyImpact
  • TYWLSExplorers.Tumblr.com

Through this type of support you can help us show these girls that what they have to say IS being read, heard, and considered.

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#STFSummer: Intro to My Summer Internship

For many of us, that long-awaited summer break is just around the corner! Beaches, bathing suits, barbecues…what’s not to be excited about?

Finals couldn’t come and go soon enough! On May 9th at 7:30A.M. I had two finals left to conquer. But knowing that I had a Summer Internship with She’s the First waiting for me at the end of the finish line was all it took to pack my things and race out of my dorm.

My name is Brooke Sassman, and I’m a rising sophomore studying Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers University. On campus I work at the Rutgers University Television Station as the Creative Services Supervisor, and serve as the President of my sophomore class. In my opinion, videos are very powerful pieces of art. I got my first video camera around the age of ten, and I haven’t been able to put it down since. So, using the skills that I’ve been building at school, I’m happy to say that throughout the summer I will be blogging and posting little videos of my experiences as a summer intern for She’s the First!

I know that Kate (the other STF Summer Intern) and I are beyond excited to be spending our summer at the official She’s the First headquarters! Lucky for us, we’re also both in the office on Thursdays. So as a nice little way for Kate, Tammy & I to get out and creatively brainstorm, we’ve decided to take little adventures on Thursdays!

In celebration of #STFSummer, and a summer of firsts, it was only right for us to start at the Shake Shack! I had no idea what I was in for, but when I saw the line wrapped around Madison Square Park, I knew it had to be something good.

Over a lovely lunch in Madison Square Park, Tammy, Kate & I sat and brainstormed plans for our involvement in The Young Women’s Leadership Network Schools Summer Camp. During the month of July we will be teaching workshops on social media, and giving the girls little challenges along the way. We sure had a table full of excitement, and enough energy to fill the entire park. We discussed our individual challenge plans, ways to motivate and inspire the girls, ideas for prizes, and our goals at large for what we hope the girls will take away from our workshops. Kate will be responsible for Tumblr challenges, Tammy will be providing Instagram challenges, and I will be responsible for the Video challenge! So you’re probably asking yourself…hmm, what’s a video challenge? Well… here’s my challenge to the campers:

“Impact. I’m Not Too Young to Make One.”

Your Challenge: In a 1-2 minute video PSA, show us how social media can help you make an impact on the world. It’s your chance to make a powerful statement, and remember; just one tweet can change the world!

Personally, I couldn’t be more excited to see what the girls come up with. I really feel like this summer has the potential to be a groundbreaking one. In so many ways, we’re encouraging the girls to think outside of the box and raise their own voices. It’s about teaching them to never underestimate the power of their own social media impact, and showing them that social media does matter.

But whether you’re eating a burger for the first time, or happen to be the first in your family to graduate, it should all be celebrated because ‘firsts’ are moments in time that only happen once.

Don’t forget to use the #STFSummer hashtag in your own tweets whenever you’re doing something for the first time, or doing something to make a difference in your community.

Kate & I with our first Shake Shack burgers ever! #STFSummer

 

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