Girls Empowerment Network involvement in The Texas 88th legislative session (22-23) was monumental regarding both the level of investment in advocacy as an organization and bills that will deeply impact the life of youth across Texas. Read the legislative wrap-up report detailing the actions taken during this session and the plans for the future for our Policy and Advocacy team as they continue to advocate for Texas teen girls.
Read MoreSpark Change Project Teen Facilitators take the stand at the Texas State Capitol and testify on issues affecting Texas girls today. Teen facilitators have been tracking, researching, and testifying during the Texas legislative session when possible ob bills regarding mental health, menstrual products accessibility, and hair autonomy.
Read MoreWhat happens when you combine young female leaders of color who want to spark change in their community with equally passionate mentors? You get the Spark Change Project, a joint Central Texas collaboration between The Excellence and Advancement Foundation and Girls Empowerment Network.
Read MoreTexas girls and youth in grades 6-12 are invited to attend Spark Change Day at the Texas Capitol on March 25, 2023 to learn more about advocacy, civic engagement and leadership.
Read MoreGirls Empowerment Network’s Ami Kane was recently interviewed by the Afterschool Alliance about the impact an Aim High grant made on the Spark Change Project. The Spark Change Project, a collaboration with Excellence & Advancement Foundation, empowers Texas BIPOC girls to become advocates and changemakers for equity and social good.
Advocacy work is in close alignment with Girls Empowerment Network's mission to ignite the power in girls. Through the Spark Change Project and the Hogg Foundation’s Mental Health Policy Fellowship, we are helping create a Texas that girls deserve. Current Mental Health Policy Fellow, Ana O’Quin, interviews our former fellow, Vanessa Beltran on her experience in DC, at Girls Empowerment Network, and advocating for policy in the Texas legislature.
Read MoreThe Annual Spark Change Day which took place at Hutson-Tillotston University. This was the second event this year held by the Spark Change Project, a partnership between the Exellence & Advancement Foundation and Girls Empowerment Network. The teenage Spark Change Facilitators led the attendees through training sessions on the topics of advocacy, activism and civic engagement.
Read MoreSpark Change Day is a day-long advocacy event for Texas youth in grades 6 – 12 to learn about civic engagement and how they can raise their voices to bring about positive change for issues they care about. Jointly held by the Excellence & Advancement Foundation and Girls Empowerment Network, the in-person event will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 10am – 4pm at the Texas Capitol.
Read MoreEthical storytelling can be a gateway to gender justice. Girls Empowerment Network will publish an e-Zine to amplify the voices of girls ages 8-18. New Deadline for submissions is April 18th!
Read MoreMental health is a state of well-being in which a girl can cope with the normal stresses of life, participate effectively in activities like school, and contribute to her community. While mental illness can affect all children and youth, research shows girls are at greater risk for certain mental health conditions. Self-efficacy, a girl’s belief in her ability to succeed, enhances a girl’s sense of well-being and promotes good mental health.
Read MoreRelatable role models for girls can impact girls’ sense of belonging and success according to one study. Because Girls Empowerment Network is committed to helping all girls feel unstoppable, we invited the history-making Judge Lina Hidalgo of Harris County who served as a keynote speaker for Spark Change Day, a virtual advocacy day for girls across Texas.
Read MoreAdvocacy and activism for girls is best done in partnership. This August, Girls Empowerment Network collaborated with our friends at The Excellence & Advancement Foundation to host Spark Change Camp, a free virtual camp designed to empower girls of color by providing a space for them to gain confidence in their identities and abilities.
Read MoreThe inaugural class of high school girls from Austin, San Antonio, and Houston were hired as Spark Change Project Facilitators for the 2020-2021 school year to introduce them to advocacy. This team of girls were mentored as part of the Spark Change Project, a collaborative project of the Excellence & Advancement Foundation and Girls Empowerment Network.
Read MorePartnering with schools is a smart way to advocate for girls and give them the support they need to thrive.
Read MoreSpark Change Day is a half-day, interactive virtual event that will inspire Texas girls in grades 6 – 12 to develop their unique voice so they can effectively advocate for themselves and issues they care about. The event, which is offered at no charge, will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021, from 1-5pm. Pre-registration is required.
Read MoreSpark Change Project is excited to announce our first Town Hall event was a huge success! Our five high school age Peer Facilitators; Alison, Aryana, Dhiya, Isyss and Keearah had their first opportunity to serve as panelists and present their research on chosen social justice issues to their peers.
Read MoreGirls Empowerment Network’s Hogg Foundation for Mental Health grant will allow us to change the landscape of Texas girls' mental health policy.
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