Girls Write Now Through The Years
Celebrating 25 Years of Girls Write Now History
As a grassroots collective, Girls Write Now was made up entirely of volunteers dedicated to mentoring the next generation of writers and leaders, with founder Maya Nussbaum at the helm.
Girls Write Now is formally incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit, thanks to the leadership of a pro-bono group of lawyers and supporters.
Girls Write Now celebrates our 10th anniversary and the publication of our first print anthology, Becoming Women: The 2008 Girls Write Now Anthology.
The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities recognizes Girls Write Now as an outstanding arts program for youth. Girls Write Now is also recognized with the Coming Up Taller Award.
Founder and Executive Director Maya Nussbaum is named one of the Feminist Press’ “40 Under 40” women who are the future of feminism.
Attending The New School media workshops with my mentor Karen is one of my favorite memories from my time as a Girls Write Now mentee. I remember how one given Saturday, after our workshop, we went outside to capture footage. Karen followed me around with the camera as I enacted scenes from my short story. We laughed at our bloopers and revisited our vision for the video at every corner. It was so special to bring a project to life with a mentor I looked up to, and who believed in me and in my project. I’m especially grateful that our friendship continues today, stronger than ever.
— georgia soares, mentee, 2011
Girls Write Now is recognized as a White House Champion of Change for our work on creative youth leadership.
At the end of our 3d year together, my mentee Winkie was chosen to be the mentee co-host for one of the public readings, which were held in the New-York Historical Society auditorium. Each host spoke about her experience of Girls Write Now, and Winkie thanked me, her “wonderful mentor” in front of all those people. I was so excited and touched that I nearly dropped my phone. Winkie got a full-ride scholarship to Emory University and is now a PhD student in experimental psychology at UC Davis. I’ve been so proud of her!
STEPHANIE GOLDEN, MENTOR, 2017
In collaboration with Tin House Books, Girls Write Now releases Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices, celebrating our 20th anniversary.
Virtual programs launch at Girls Write Now as we adapt to the conditions of a new world. For the first time in Girls Write Now history, mentees join the program from over 36 states across America.
I had no idea what to fully expect from the Girls Write Now program. I was 24 when I applied and didn’t know if it was going to be a great fit considering my age and staunch focus on my career path in journalism. I had just graduated with my master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies and was looking for a mentor who could guide me as I deepened my place in the workforce. That was when I was paired with Jinnie Lee. She taught me how to sharpen my pitching and broadened my view of what working in journalism as a freelancer and staff writer looks like. Through that experience, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Girls Write Now wasn’t just about writing. The organization truly cares about its mentees and mentors by offering a wide range of resources from general career help, wellness, social justice frameworks and follow-through on projects, to a network of people to connect with. Mentors are ready and able to accommodate the needs and interests of their mentees regardless of what trajectory they’re on. Girls Write Now goes above and beyond teaching women-identifying, trans* and gender-expansive youth and young adults how to improve their communication skills. It offers equity, community, and hope.
GABBY FERRELL, MENTOR, 2022
Girls Write Now enters its 25th year, kicking off our Radical Gratitude Campaign, which launches with a special publication in collaboration with HarperCollins, Girls Write Now On the Art of the Craft: A Guidebook to Collaborative Storytelling.