Girls Initiatives - YWCA of the City of New York

Girls Initiatives

The Girls Initiatives at GAWA NYC embody our core belief that empowered girls grow into empowered women. Aimed at informing, engaging, and inspiring young people to become self-advocates, our mission is to equip every girl with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to pursue their chosen education, career, and life paths.

The Girls Initiatives programs are open to all high-school-aged, self-identified, and gender non-conforming youth in New York City. There are no academic requirements for enrollment, and participation is completely free of charge.

Girls Initiatives: 2025 Spring Semester Programs

At GAWA NYC, the core of our mission is rooted in the strong belief that empowered girls transform into empowered women.

Our organization offers a transformative platform for leadership, activism, and personal growth, empowering change agents who are ready to challenge and dismantle racism and inequity in society. Our programs are designed to equip young girls and gender non-conforming youth with the essential tools to ignite the positive changes that New York City seeks.

All of these empowering initiatives take place at our GAWA NYC Resource Center, 462 Avenue P, NY, NY 10019.

Our Spring 2025 Programs:

GirlBoss Ventures 2: A Pathway to Entrepreneurship
Starts Feb 10th
Mon 4:30-6pm @ RC

Ready to start your own business? Join this program to gain the skills needed to create a business plan, pitch your ideas, manage finances, and access mentorship and funding to turn your dreams into reality.

FinLit: Youth Economic Empowerment
Starts Feb 13th
Thurs 4:30-6pm @RC

Take control of your financial future in this program, where you’ll learn personal finance, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment through engaging, hands-on activities and mentorship.

College Knowledge
Starts Feb 12th
Wed 4:00-6pm @RC

Get all the tools, tips, and support you need to explore colleges, write essays, apply for scholarships, and connect with admissions officers, all while prioritizing your well-being.

Girls-Led Initiatives: Ambassadors
Starts Feb 13th
Tue 4:30-6pm @ RC

Be a voice for change in your community as a YW-NYC Ambassador! Work alongside peers to raise awareness about social issues, design impactful projects based on research and data, and develop leadership skills grounded in empathy and action.

ARTivate: Music Production
Starts Feb 10th
Mon 4:30-6pm @ RC

Unleash your creativity by learning the fundamentals of music production, discovering the history behind how music is made, and mastering the skills to bring your sound to life as a music producer..

Geek Girls: Web Design
Starts Feb 12th
Wed 4:30-6pm @ RC

Dive into the world of web design and develop the skills to create your own websites, solve real-world problems, and unleash your creativity for both career growth and self-expression.

Special Events

Hack-A-Thon
February 8th

We’re excited to announce the GAWA NYC Hackathon on Saturday, February 8th! Prepare for an action-packed day filled with coding, app development, and innovation. This one-day competition marks the start of an incredible journey into tech and creativity. We can’t wait to kick off this adventure with our Girls Initiatives, Geek Girls program, and tech professionals from the New York City area!.

Girls Symposium
March 28th

Get ready to feel the energy and inspiration at our upcoming event!Girls Symposium 2025! This year’s theme, Evolve to Excel, It will ignite empowerment and growth for everyone who attends. Join us on March 28th, 2025, at BNY Mellon Join us for a day filled with inspiring speakers, powerful connections, and opportunities to excel in every way. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable event — we can’t wait to see you there!

The Pitch Competition
April 2025

Are you a high school girl with a passion for innovation and entrepreneurship? Do you have a groundbreaking business idea you’re eager to bring to life? The GAWA NYC Girls Initiatives Pitch Competition is your opportunity to shine!

The GAWA NYC Girls Initiatives Pitch Competition is an empowering event aimed at inspiring and supporting the next generation of female entrepreneurs. This exciting competition gives high school girls the chance to present their innovative business ideas to a panel of esteemed judges, receive valuable feedback, and compete for funding and mentorship opportunities to turn their visions into reality..