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2008 Social Innovator

Girls' LEAP

Social Issue Track: Women and Girls: Addressing Their Needs by Design

Sponsored by: Anna B. Stearns Charitable Foundation

Girls’ LEAP (Lifetime Empowerment and Awareness Program) has increased the safety and well-being of over 3,500 high-risk girls in underserved areas in Boston since 1997.

By partnering with after-school agencies, Girls’ LEAP engages girls (ages 8-18) in unique programming that addresses the physical and emotional aspects of violence and focuses on building self-defense techniques, decision-making and conflict resolution skills, and personal courage.

Programs are led by all-female teaching teams of adult women with undergraduates and Teen Mentors, all of whom serve as strong role models for participants. Training and follow-up with host agency staff are other key components of the model designed to increase program effectiveness and foster enduring impact. Girls’ LEAP plans to double its capacity overthe next two years to serve 1,000 girls annually.

Social Problem:

• Girls (8-18) are increasingly and disproportionately put in challenging situations in their schools, neighborhoods, and intimate relationships.
 
• Nationally, 83 percent of girls report being sexually harassed in school.


• In Massachusetts, one in five girls experiences dating violence, and girls rank violence against women and girls as their top concern.


• In Boston, incidents of reported sexual assault are highest among girls aged 10-14.


• Girls have few safe forums to discuss issues of violence and learn how to respond constructively.


• Girls in Boston constitute only 39 percent of after-school participants, and most after-school programs do not have the expertise to address with girls the physical and emotional aspects of violence.

Key Accomplishments & Social Impact:

• 3,500 girls served since 1997


• 83 percent of participating girls felt more confident in their ability to stay safe


• 93 percent of participating girls learned how and when to use physical self-defense skills


• 74 percent of participating girls showed increased self-esteem


• Received multiple awards, including the Boston Celtics: Heroes Among Us Award (2007), Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women: Unsung Heroines Award (2006), and Best Practices Award, Girl Scouts, Swift Water Council (2003)

Two-Year Goals:

• Grow program to serve 1,000 girls annually


• Increase the number of school and after-school programs to 40 annually


• Enhance the Teen Mentor program by adding program hours and strengthening the mentors’ role in community outreach


• Increase full-time and part-time staffing


• Increase partner relationship management


• Build monitoring & evaluation system

Deborah Weaver

Executive Director