LEAP News

• Recent events/happenings for Girls LEAP
• Grants and Foundations News

10/22/08 – Through Her Eyes Conference

Girls’ LEAP Teen Mentors co-presented at this year’s Annual Through Her Eyes Conference hosted by Center for Human Development in Springfield, MA.  The keynote speaker, Dr. Jean Kilbourne, is internationally recognized for her critical analysis of images of women in advertising.  LEAP’s Teen Mentors led a workshop for adults at the conference, teaching skills in setting boundaries, conflict de-escalation and “verbal self-defense.”

Dr. Jean Kilbourne with some of our Teen Mentors

8/13/08 – Women2Women Leadership Conference and Cultural Exchange

Girls' LEAP teens and staff were honored to deliver three workshops to all participants of the Women2Women Leadership Conference. Girls took part in discussions around safety, self-defense, empowerment and boundary setting. LEAP Teen Mentors shared that it was surprising that the issues of girls' safety and empowerment were similar from country to country. The Women2Women International Leadership Conference and Cultural Exchange, sponsored by Empower Peace (http://www.empowerpeace.org), is an opportunity for young women from around the world (ages 15-19) to meet with national and international women leaders and participate in a series of leadership development workshops and panel discussions.

4/7/08 – Conversations of Courage

Girls’ LEAP was delighted to welcome First Lady of Massachusetts, Diane B. Patrick as our honored guest for this celebration of women’s courage and voices.  One hundred-fifty guests filled the Regattabar at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square to support the work of Girls’ LEAP, to participate in a lively auction emceed by Robin Young of PRI’s “Here and Now” and to listen to Mrs. Patrick’s story.  Mrs. Patrick has been very public about her own experience with domestic violence and how as an educated, professional woman, she still found herself in an abusive relationship before her marriage with Deval Patrick.  The evening concluded with a rousing performance by acclaimed singer-songwriter Patty Larkin.

Diane B. Patrick with our LEAP women at Conversations of Courage

10/4/07 - United Way’s Women’s Leadership Breakfast

The United Way of Massachusetts Bay hosted its annual Women’s Leadership Breakfast at the Copley Westin, Thursday, 10/4/07.  The event was emceed by LEAP’s own Asianna Milord.  Asianna trained with LEAP when she was nine years old; seven years later she continues to speak on behalf of LEAP.

Asianna Speaking at United Way's Women's Leadership Breakfast

9/27/07 - Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) Leading Role Award

CCTV honored Deborah Weaver with a Leading Role Award at their 10th Annual Barbeque held on 9/27/07.  The Leading Role Award recognizes individuals from each corner of Cambridge who have worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes on behalf of the community.

Summer 2007 - Cambridge Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program (MSYEP)

LEAP launched their inaugural Summer Teen Mentor Program through a partnership with MSYEP.  Six teens were trained and employed as Teen Mentors to help teach summer programs and develop their own outreach projects.

Our Summer Teen Mentors!

4/18/07 - Boston Celtics Heroes Among Us Award

Deborah Weaver, Executive Director and Founder of LEAP, was honored by the Boston Celtics “Heroes Among Us” Award in Spring of 2007.  The Heroes Among Us Award is presented to an individual or individuals who, through their unique commitment and humanitarian spirit, have made exceptional and lasting contributions to our community. This summer, the Celtics hosted a reception for award recipients at the State House.

Deborah Weaver and the team at the State House

10/1/08 - Massachusetts DOE, ASOST Quality Grant

Girls’ LEAP was awarded $26,700 to provide six programs at the Boston Centers for Youth and Families in an effort to improve recruitment and programming for girls at those sites.  We will work with school partners to attract more early adolescent girls to after school programming.  The funding was competitive; Girls’ LEAP was one of 67 proposals funded out of 213.  The RFP was open to non-profits and school districts across the state.  This is the first state funding award that Girls’ LEAP has received.

6/27/08 - Boston Foundation

For the second consecutive year, the Boston Foundation has invested in the expansion of Girls' LEAP programming.  The first year of funding allowed us to increase our Standard Programs from 20 to 26 and our total number of girls served from 490 to 700.  The Boston Foundation, with its strong understanding of community issues in Boston, has targeted youth violence in general, along with the increasing problem of girls becoming more aggressive.  School police and the MBTA both have noted a marked increase in girls fighting.  By reaching out to more girls with LEAP programming, we can teach girls to stay safe through conflict resolution.

6/11/08 - Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation

Girls' LEAP received a technology grant for laptop computers and photographic equipment for our Teen Mentor Program.  Thanks to this generous gift, our Teen Mentors will create 'digital stories' - a combination of text, pictures, music and voice overs - to document their thoughts and feelings about the violence facing girls and women.  The teens also will develop multi-media presentations for youth and adult audiences as an outgrowth of these stories.  In addition, the equipment will allow LEAP to explore another growing area of concern with our teens - internet safety.

4/30/08 - Social Innovation Forum Showcase Event

Girls' LEAP and our founder, Deborah Weaver, were recognized for being an innovative, gender-specific program that addresses violence against girls and women.  Only six organizations were chosen from a pool of 85 candidates.  As a 2008 Social Innovator, LEAP engaged in intensive strategic work designed to help grow our impact.  Then, on April 30th, Deborah presented to social investors and community stakeholders at the Annual Social Innovation Forum Showcase Event held at the MIT Faculty Club.

2/19/08 - Anna B. Stearns Foundation

The Anna B. Stearns Foundation is a long-time supporter of Girls' LEAP and other programs designed to meet the needs of girls.  LEAP is greatly appreciative that the Stearns Foundation has supported us in two ways this year.  The direct grant from the Stearns Foundation will support LEAP programs in schools.  In addition, the Stearns Foundation sponsored the 2008 gender-specific program track of the Social Innovation Forum for which LEAP was chosen as the winner.  That support will help to grow our overall social impact.

The Boston Foundation

This summer, LEAP was awarded a grant of $30,000 from the Boston Foundation for our Service Capacity Expansion project.

Thanks to this funding, LEAP added a new full-time Teacher and Outreach Coordinator; LEAP is proud to welcome Kristen Cuneo.  Through Kristen’s position, LEAP will greatly increase the number of self-defense programs and at-risk girls served throughout Greater Boston.

United Way: Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders

LEAP is honored to receive this fourth year of major support to provide programming throughout Greater Boston.  The United Way is hosting several women’s leadership events this October, at which LEAP will be represented.  Click here for photos from the latest United Way event.

The Elizabeth Glick Shoolman Foundation

LEAP received a $12,000 grant in support of our intensive efforts to recruit and train LEAP teachers and to develop new college partners.  Increasing our pool of teaching staff will contribute to LEAP’s expansion of service capacity.