Participants of Girls in Government's 2008 Fall Leadership Conference

Welcome to Girls in Government

Girls in Government is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization, that promotes, broadens, and cultivates civic engagement and leadership among girls of all ages.

Our programming encourages and empowers girls to boldly run for leadership roles in their schools and communities, mobilizes them to create positive social and political change in their lives, and helps them identify and nurture the responsible global citizen within them.

fun quote

   Give a girl the right shoes and
   she can conquer the world.
   - Bette Midler

Curious about our programming? A description of one of our 12 workshops follows:

 

Fall 2008 Run for Office & WIN! graduatesRun for Office & WIN!
In this workshop we share practical advice for students considering a run for student council or other leadership roles within their school or community. Program offers students real-life examples, compares student elections to political elections, and highlights achievements of past leaders. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions from the facilitators and each other.

Materials handouts provided include:

  • Sample campaign plans and stickers
  • Workbook: Public Speaking Tips
  • Workbook: Run for Office & WIN!
  • "What Kind of Leader Are You?" Fun and informative assessment tool

Facilitators:
(2) Adult facilitators
(1) Current or past High School Class President
 

 

 

Booklet: Run for Office & WIN! (teen guide)What else do we do? In 2008 and 2009 Girls in Government produced and distributed over 1,000 of our printed publications including:

  • Run for Office & WIN! Teen and youth guides
  • Organizing Young Voters – A Guide for Old People Like You
  • Cheat Sheet: The Presidential Candidates & Where They Stand
  • Be Heard: A Girl’s Guide to Speaking Her Mind
  • A Young Woman’s Political Primer
  • President YOU Coloring Book

 

 

Alana: Girls in Government member, current 3rd Grade Class President, and future 2040 presidential candidate in the 64th Presidential Election of the United States of America

In 2008 and 2009 Girls in Government and its members:

 

  • Led 5 Voter Registration Drives
  • Submitted youth-produced videos for inclusion in the YouTube Presidential Debates
  • Met with young leaders from Iraq (including a Village Mayor from the Ninewah Province, a Committee Head of the Kurdistan Student Development Organization, and a Secretary-General for Northern Iraq, Kurdistan Students and Youth Renaissance Organization). During the 3-hour meeting, they discussed important issues such as strategies for effecting social, political and economic change and the health and welfare of the citizens of Iraq.
  • Over 100 girls and young women across the country participated (online and in-person) in our biannual "If I Were President..." video project.

 

Co-branded campaigns & events included:

  • "Take a Girl to the Polls" campaign (in partnership with New York Department of Education)
  • International Visitor Leadership Program (under the auspices of the Department of State)
  • "Voting Vixens" (in partnership with the Younger Women’s Task Force)
  • CLSO’s Biannual Leadership Seminar (in partnership with the Department of Education)

Plans for 2010 include continued production of our "If I Were President..." video series, multiple trips to Albany with student leaders to meet with, and lobby, state legislatures, continued participation in the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program and much more.

 

At Girls in Government, we understand that girls aren't merely the leaders of tomorrow. The girls we work with are leading the way today!

Want to learn about our plans for 2010, workshops, camps or mentoring programs? Contact us.