GIRLS & WOMXN
The future belongs to she who creates it!
The future belongs to she who creates it!
ABOUT GIRLS & WOMXN
Our programs work to empower, inspire, and uplift Black, Indigenous, Latine/a, multiracial and Asian Pacific Islander/Asian American Pacific Islander girls and femme-identifying girls and womxn to create worlds of belonging through storytelling and community building. We believe that storytelling is paramount to shifting culture and allowing those who often go unheard and underserved to find the power of their voice in changing the worlds. Learn more about our programming below!
SHELECTRICITY
Illustration of Shelectricity members discussing the importance of storytelling. Illustration created by TheAntoinetteThomas.
Shelectricity is a program of the Big We Foundation, a fiscally sponsored project of Movement Strategy Center. It is an empowerment ecosystem designed with Black, Indigenous, Latine/a, multiracial, and API/AAPI girls and femme-identifying youth at the center that brings together technology, culture, and community to create a safe and nurturing online environment for girls to learn, grow, innovate, and lead. Current Shelectricity programs include SheDreams, SheLeads, and SheLearns.
SheDreams
SheDreams is an in-person and virtual program facilitated by community partners for Black, Indigenous, Latine/a, multiracial, and API/AAPI girls and femme-identifying youth ages 14-21. Throughout programming, participants have the opportunity to engage with Shelectricity’s curriculum, workbooks, and online platform.
In Spring 2023, we launched a pilot of our curriculum in partnership with Kooler Kids at the Memphis Business Academy! During their experience, students enjoyed being in community with their peers as leaders and young womxn of color while discussing topics like womanism, creating worlds of belonging, challenging systems of oppression, and radical self-love.
To learn more about the SheDreams or explore having this programming at your school/ community please email communications@thebigwe.com
Shelectricity x Kooler Kids Spring 2023 Cohort!
SHELEADS
SheLeads is an online program made up of Black, Indigenous, Latine/a, multiracial and API/AAPI girls and femme-identifying youth designed to empower and uplift members by providing opportunities for leadership skill-building, and develop content for the entire Shelectricity community. Members provide feedback and guidance to the Lead Organizer for Girls and Womxn and the BIG We Foundation on the direction and needs of programming. During SheLeads programming we learn and engage in topics such as personal development, podcast development, entrepreneurship, human rights, restorative economics, and more. Members of SheLeads are leaders who are excited to create and engage in safe and fun spaces for young girls and femmes of color ages 16-24.
In Spring 2023, SheLeaders participated in programming and discussions around topics such as participatory grantmaking, restorative economics, and podcast development. This cohort also allocated $15k in partnership with the Women’s Foundation of Greater Memphis through a participatory regranting process to Memphis-based orgs providing exemplary services to womxn and girls. In the wake of the historic decision to reverse Roe V Wade, SheLeaders chose to allocate grants to SisterReach and Choices Center for Reproductive Health in support of making reproductive healthcare accessible in Memphis. Throughout programming, our members have allocated a total $30K to BRIDGES, Girls Inc., SisterReach, and Choices Center for Reproductive Health.
This year SheLeads programming will focus on topics including sustainable development goals, human rights, radical self-love, and launch their very own podcast!
SHESTORIES
SheStories is a program which cultivates deep personal exploration that compels women to express love for themselves, their work, and their lives while being candid about the challenges, pitfalls and hardships they face personally, in their communities, and in the world.
This year BWF launched SheStories with four grants to assist Black and Indigenous womxn creating projects rooted in lasting and meaningful change through storytelling. SheStories is an innovative program that has received funding from Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda French Gates company. The SheStories grant is open to talented Black, Indigenous, Latina/e, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, multiracial, and femme-identifying womxn storytellers with passion, vision, and a desire to elevate their voices and change the world. Now, we are currently looking for the next group of talented storytellers to join these womxn.
SHELECTRICITY’S VIRTUAL PLATFORM
One of our core offerings is the Shelectricity digital community platform. A safe and unique space being developed and informed by Shelectricity’s Youth Leadership Council (YLC). The platform is designed to amplify Black, Indigenous, Latine/a, multiracial and API/AAPI girls and femme-identifying youth voices by connecting youth to each other across space and time and offering a place for them to learn, grow, and build power together. As a platform member you will get to engage with young leaders around the country, access informative and fun enrichment resources, attend virtual engagements, and more!
This is YOUR space to:
Just kick back and be yourself
Make friends with folks who share your interests
CREATE!! Share your thoughts, dreams, and vision for the future
Share your feelings about life with other girls who understand where you are coming from
Learn new things from new people
Watch videos and listen to music that celebrates you
Use your talents, skills, and passions to make a difference in the world
Request to join Shelectricity’s virtual platform today!