Empower Girls

At its very heart, Girls Inc. of NYC is about offering girls the opportunity to discover their intellectual and emotional strengths. We celebrate and empower girls!

Our remarkable programs inspire girls to be strong, smart and boldsm women living successful, productive lives.

Since 1993, our programs have successfully helped urban girls grow into urbane girls who discover how limitless their opportunities are—and then go after those opportunities.

What we do

  • Challenge girls to discover and fulfill their potential
  • Foster gender equity in a positive way
  • Show girls that they can access all worlds, from the science lab to the boardroom  
  • Inspire girls to take pride in success
  • Take a community-minded approach that inspires girls to “give back,” locally and globally


Our Programs

  • Offer a safe haven for girls aged 6 to 18
  • Are well researched and created by educators and experts in many fields
  • Are age-appropriate and include many subjects, both academic and personal
  • Offer invaluable lessons in essential life skills, including financial self-support 
  • Offer non-threatening, respectful environments in which girls take risks and learn about themselves
  • Inspire girls to be role models for other girls
  • Show girls that being supportive of each other is so much more rewarding than being competitive
  • Build on girls’ strengths—we show them that great ability is already in them
  • Help girls develop self-esteem
  • Inspire dedication to life-long learning


Girls Incorporated of New York City lifts girls up and keeps them moving forward!


mission

The Mission of Girls Inc. of New York City is to advocate for and improve the lives of underserved girls aged 6 to18 in the five boroughs.  We pursue this mission by providing gender-based educational programs in the areas of math; science; health and safety; financial literacy; and multicultural appreciation.  We provide programs directly or in partnership with other organizations.  As an independent affiliate of the Girls Inc. national organization, our commitment is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and boldsm!

We aim to accomplish our mission through the following goals:

  • Provide educational programs to underserved school-aged girls in areas where traditional curricula often fall short of encouraging girls to be their best; especially in math and science, economic literacy, and respecting and appreciating people of other cultures.
  • Encourage girls to attend college or obtain advanced technical training and develop skills that will afford them economic independence and future security, and to postpone childbearing until they are psychologically, economically, and physically prepared to care for children of their own.
  • Teach girls to identify and be discerning about both overt and subliminal negative images (ranging from a lack of leadership ability and the victim role to portraying women and girls as sex objects) that workplaces, media, and society often project on girls and women.
  • Help girls attain emotional and physical well being through programs that stress the importance of self confidence and inner strength; anger management and non-violent self-defense; and healthy nutritional and physical patterns of behavior.     
  • Deliver programs directly or in partnerships with others (community based organizations, city agencies, schools and corporations) to reach as many girls as possible, to have a a positive impact on their development.


history

Girls Incorporated of New York City is an independent affiliate of Girls Inc.® , a national youth development organization. Created in 1993 to listen to and support New York City girls, we began as the Urban Girls Initiative-New York. In 1999 we gained status as a 501(c)3 and a separate, incorporated nonprofit organization.Our organization was created to bring national expertise in youth programming to urban girls aged 6 to 18, with the following objectives:

  • Increase the number of inner city, low-income girls who benefit from Girls Inc. programming. 
  • Adapt Girls Inc. programs to the needs of urban girls.
  • Train local staff from a variety of settings in the philosophy and programming of Girls Inc.
  • Learn from our implementation efforts in a variety of settings, and provide technical assistance and networking opportunities to participating organizations.
  • Create a self-sustaining, independent affiliate, headed by an executive director working with staff and a locally appointed board.
  • Respond to the needs of urban girls through vigorous outreach, excellent programming and advocacy

The positive response and great success of our programs and services led us to incorporate as the separate, nonprofit corporation known as Girls Incorporated of New York City. We are proud to serve over 2,500 girls each year in collaboration with our network of partner organizations. Delivering our programs in 22 neighborhoods and over 30 different sites throughout the New York City, we continue to inspire girls to be strong, smart and boldsm.

Pamela Maraldo, PhD Executive Director
I see daily reminders of how resilient our girls are, no matter how challenging their circumstances. With just a little bit of attention, it's incredible how girls can transform into women with leadership qualities and a purpose that serve not only them well, but also all of us, and that is what Girls Inc. of New York City is all about.
pjmaraldo@aol.com

Jennifer Weidenbaum, Associate Executive Director
I am honored to work with an organization in which I can so clearly see the impact of participation in our girls’ lives and in our city.  In each group meeting, the transformative process of learning with a group of peers takes hold and girls grow into stronger, smarter, bolder young leaders.  It is invigorating to be a part of a team that works so diligently to empower young women and realize the Girls Inc. vision of an equitable society. jennifer@girlsincnyc.org

Liz White, Executive Assistant
It is amazing to see the immediate difference Girls Inc. makes in the lives of participants, and I am fortunate to be a part of such a great and empowering organization. Knowing that everything I do goes to meeting the needs of girls reinforces how valuable—and satisfying—my work is.
liz@girlsincnyc.org

Odette Nemes, Program Manager
There is nothing I believe in more than inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold! Girls are bombarded with negative messages and it is incredibly important to create spaces where they can be themselves and encourage each other. I am honored to help create these spaces with the staff, the girls, and their families.
odette@girlsincnyc.org

Tiffani C., Program Specialist
We give girls the tools to think for themselves and plan for the future. Through relationships with our staff and participation in our programs, girls open their eyes to possibilities that go beyond their current socioeconomic status.
tiffani@girlsincnyc.org

Tanaya Johnson, Program Specialist
The twinkle of determination and glimmer of hope I see in the eyes of girls, who face adversity every day, are truly inspirational and life-changing.
tanaya@girlsincnyc.org

Krystal C., Program Specialist
I am fortunate to have an opportunity to work with such inspiring young women. On a daily basis they are dedicated to living strong, smart, and bold lives. They consistently teach me as they triumph over pressure and adversity with grace and strength. Our girls are the driving force that motivates me to promote female empowerment with every breath I take!
krystal@girlsincnyc.org

OFFICERS

Chair
Ann Goodbody
 Vice Chair
Lisa Jacobs Blau
Secretary
Angie Karna		 Treasurer
Amanda Tepper

 

BOARD MEMBERS

Terri Austin

Jasmine Khalili Barr

Bente S. Frantz

Edith Ginsberg

Carolyn M. Mason

Joanna Patton

Pam Perskie

Charmaine Slack