The Lead Incubator is a crucial extension of the Lead Community Change journey, offering mentees the space, resources, and support needed to implement their project plans and drive meaningful change in their communities. It acts as a dynamic platform where they can turn their ideas into action.
Mentees participating in the Lead Incubator focus on advancing their community-based social activism projects with the support of their mentors and Girls Write Now’s resources. They will take on leadership roles, facilitate a community studio, and develop an episode of the Lead Podcast, interviewing an expert relevant to their project’s cause.
Prerequisite: You are eligible for this journey if (either of the following)
- You completed the Lead Community Change journey, previously called Lead360 in the 2023/24 programming.
- You already developed/are engaged in a community activism project, are partnering with an organization, and would like to advance your project with the support of GWN resources.
Learning Objectives
- Advance Project Goals: Develop and implement strategies to advance community-based social activism projects with the support of Girls Write Now’s resources.
- Apply Storytelling and Media Techniques: Use storytelling methods and media strategies, including producing a Lead Podcast episode, to effectively convey your project’s message and engage your community.
- Exercise Leadership and Facilitate Engagement: Take on leadership roles, manage project initiatives, and facilitate a community studio to foster collaboration and support for your cause.
- Execute and Manage Community Projects: Implement and oversee your community project, applying organizational skills and leadership to drive progress and address community needs.
- Evaluate Impact and Enhance Skills: Assess the effectiveness and outcomes of your project, evaluate its impact on the community, and strengthen your leadership and activism skills through practical experience and mentorship.
Apply Now
Applications are closed for the Fall 2024 cycle!
Cycle(s) Offered:
Fall 2024 (October 21 – January 21)
Spring 2025 (March – May)
Please note that this journey runs over 2 cycles and concludes in May 2025.
Time:
4 hours per month
Areas of Focus:
Social Justice, Community Change, Public Health and Policy, Advocacy, DEIB, Civic Engagement, Grassroots Organizing, Intersectionality, Environmental Justice, Human Rights, Economic Justice
Requirements:
- Attend journey live sessions
- Have at least 2 pair sessions per month
- Complete the asynchronous coursework for the journey
- Deliver a project presentation, including an impact assessment report and a sustainability plan
- Maintain continuous project implementation
- Collaborate with a partnering organization
- Develop a Progress Report
- Create an episode for the Lead Podcast, featuring an interview with an expert in your project’s cause.
- Provide guidance to new participants in the Lead Community Change Journey and facilitate a community studio.
Lead Incubator Journey Package
As a participant in the Lead Incubator Journey, you’ll have access to two courses: one to support the development of your community-based social activism project and another to assist you in facilitating a community studio. You will be paired for two full cycles and are expected to meet with your mentee/mentor for at least two pair sessions each month. Mentees will work on their community-based social activism projects, attend one journey meeting per month, and facilitate three community studios per cycle, with support from their mentors.
Lead Incubator Courses
The Lead Incubator Journey offers two courses designed to support you in developing your community-based social activism project plan.
Courses:
- Lead: Maintaining a Social Activism Project
This course focuses on providing participants with strategies and tools to effectively sustain and manage their community-based social activism initiatives. It covers topics such as project planning, resource management, and strategies for long-term impact and growth. - Teach GWN: Facilitating Community Studios
This course provides training in the techniques and best practices for leading and managing community studio sessions. It focuses on creating engaging and productive environments that support learning and collaboration among participants. - Podcasting Fundamentals
An introductory course that covers the essential skills and tools needed to create and launch a podcast. Participants will learn about podcast planning, recording techniques, and editing, providing them with a solid foundation in podcasting.
These courses are offered as a part of the Lead Incubator Journey package. If you’d like to take a course without joining a journey, click here.
Lead Incubator Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in the Lead Incubator will be paired for a minimum of two cycles, with each pair meeting for at least two hour-long sessions per month. Mentees will advance their community-based social activism projects, while mentors will offer support and guidance throughout the process. This journey is open to both mentor-mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.
This Journey requires a two-cycle long commitment to a mentorship relationship. If you’d like to mentor but cannot commit to a full cycle, click here.
Lead Incubator Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in the Lead Incubator Journey are required to attend monthly meetings, held on Saturdays from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Additionally, mentees facilitate one monthly community studio (3 sessions/cycle), preferably with a focus on leadership. The weekday, time, and exact dates for your facilitated studio sessions will be determined based on your schedule before the journey begins.
Community Studio Weeks
Fall ’24 cycle:
- November studio: 11/12-11/25
- December studio: 12/9-12/20
- January studio: 1/13- 1/27
Spring ’25 cycle:
- March studio: 3/10-3/21
- April studio: 4/14-4/26
- May studio: 5/12- 5/23
Lead Incubator Orientation (Mentees & Mentors) :
- Lead Incubator Orientation: Wednesday, 10/9/2024, 6 pm
- Studio Facilitator Training: Tuesday, 10/15/2024, 7 pm ET
Lead Incubator Virtual Journey Meetings (Mentees only):
- November: Saturday, 11/16/2024, 1 pm ET
- December: Saturday, 12/14/2024, 1 pm ET
- January: Saturday, 1/18/2025, 1 pm ET
- March: Saturday, 3/15/2025, 1 pm ET
- April: Saturday, 4/19/2025, 1 pm ET
- May: Saturday, 5/17/2025, 1 pm ET
This Journey requires a two-cycle commitment to attending the listed journey’s community engagement experiences. If you’d like to attend engagement experiences but cannot commit to a full cycle, click here.
Lead 360 Adventure
The Lead Incubator is a Journey in the Lead 360 Adventure.
All journeys within this Adventure emphasize leadership, aiming to help mentees and mentors develop their leadership skills and work together to create a better future. Explore the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below to learn more.
Not ready for a Journey?
If you want to be a part of the Girls Write Now Collaboratory but you aren’t ready to join a Journey, you can participate in individual writing courses, short-term mentoring services, and select community engagement experiences. See all of the options available to you below!
Writing
Take a course without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or attending community engagement experiences.
Mentoring
Meet with a mentee or mentor without joining a journey, accessing writing courses, or attending community engagement experiences.
Community
Attend community engagement experiences without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or accessing writing courses.