Distinguished as one of the top 15 after-school arts and culture programs in the nation by The President’s Committee on Arts & Humanities, Girls Write Now (GWN) is New York’s first and only organization with a writing and mentoring model exclusively for girls. From young women exploring writing to seasoned professionals practicing their craft every day, GWN is a community of women writers dedicated to providing guidance, support, and opportunities for high school girls to develop their creative, independent voices, and write their way to a better future. We do this work through our Writing and Mentoring Program, which matches professional women writers with underserved high school girls for a one- to four-year mentorship; our Digital Media Mentoring Program, in partnership with Parsons The New School for Design and with leadership support from the MacArthur Foundation-funded Hive Digital Learning Fund in the New York Community Trust, which matches digital media professionals and New School graduate mentors with underserved high school girls for a one- to four-year mentorship; and our College Bound Program, which helps all New York City girls successfully navigate the college essay and application process through resume and college essay writing workshops and a full day informational seminar.

1998

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Foundation, In-Kind, Individuals, Government, Corporate, Board of Directors

Founded in 1998, Girls Write Now is the first organization in the country with a writing and mentoring model exclusively for girls. Girls Write Now provides guidance, support, and opportunities for at-risk and underserved girls from New York City’s public high schools to develop their creative, independent voices, explore careers in professional writing, and learn how to make healthy school, career and life choices.

The spirit of our organization is simple: every girl who is passionate about writing gets a shot at exploring it. We introduce young women writers to professional women writers from every discipline, who join GWN as mentors to pass on the specifics of their craft. As mentees work with their mentors, the rigor and flexibility of our structure turns a one-to-one relationship into a two-way street. Mentees and mentors become partners, collaborators, and lifelong friends. Our always-evolving curriculum gives experience in a range of disciplines and genres, and develops skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and performance. In partnership with our mentors, our Therapy Panel, our College Prep Panel, and our Pair Support Team, we open doors for girls to define what they want for their lives and to develop the confidence to state their case.

Creative writing, mentoring, leadership, college essay writing, admissions counseling