Affinity Group Landscape
What are Affinity Groups?
Affinity Groups are gatherings of people linked by a common identity or ideology. Participants can connect, share experiences, and advocate for their shared interests. Affinity Groups are essential in creating an inclusive environment where everyone is valued and empowered to succeed.
The Diversity of Our Community
Girls Write Now is dedicated to supporting our endelessly diverse community of mentors, mentees, members, and volunteers. Below you can see the full landscape from which select Affinity Groups will be formed. Affinity Groups will be strategically rolled out over the next number of years.
Mentee-Only Affinity Groups
In the Fall of 2024, and with the guidance of our current Fellows and mentee alum, we begin with mentees-only Affinity Groups out of our dedication for creating youth-led experiences. It’s important to our young people to have spaces where they can discuss self-identified topics, leading to self-discovery, group advocacy and a sense of belonging without feeling undue pressure from an older age group.
Intersectional Voices in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
In the future, we aim to offer Affinity Groups to Mentors and other members of the community. Meanwhile, we encourage our Mentor community to engage with our Diversity Committee, called Intersectional Voices in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging. This body is open to mentees as well!
Race & Ethnicity
Groups organized by race and ethnicity create a space for individuals to come together based on their racial or ethnic backgrounds, allowing members to share experiences, challenges, and cultural heritage.
This includes
- Black: Fostering community among individuals of Black American heritage and African descent, exploring shared cultural experiences and addressing common issues.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: Providing support and connection for individuals with Native American or Alaskan roots, focusing on cultural preservation and shared experiences.
- Hispanic/Latine: Uniting those with backgrounds from Spanish-speaking countries or Latin America, celebrating cultural diversity and addressing unique challenges.
- Asian/Asian American: Connecting individuals with roots in Asian countries, exploring cultural heritage and common experiences within the context of their identities.
- Pacific Islander or Hawaiian: Supporting individuals from Pacific Island nations or Hawaii, emphasizing cultural traditions and collective experiences.
- Multiracial: Offering a space for those with mixed racial backgrounds to explore their unique identities and experiences.
Belief
Belief-based groups bring together individuals based on their religious or spiritual beliefs, offering a space to share, support, and discuss their faiths or philosophies.
This includes
- Jewish: Providing a community for individuals of Jewish faith to connect, share cultural and religious practices, and support each other.
- Hindu: Supporting individuals who practice Hinduism, focusing on cultural traditions, spirituality, and shared experiences.
- Buddhist: Creating a space for those who follow Buddhism to discuss their practices, beliefs, and experiences.
- Muslim: Offering support and community for individuals of the Islamic faith, sharing religious practices and addressing common challenges.
- Christian: Connecting individuals of Christian faith to share their beliefs, practices, and experiences.
- Sikh: Providing a space for individuals who practice Sikhism to connect and support each other.
- Spiritual: Uniting individuals with various spiritual practices or beliefs outside traditional religious structures.
- Atheist/Agnostic: Supporting those who identify as atheist or agnostic, offering a space to discuss their views and experiences.
- Other Beliefs: Supporting individuals who practice Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Bahá’í, Taoism, and Confucianism, and more.
Sexual Orientation
These groups foster a supportive environment for individuals to explore and affirm their sexual orientations. They address the wide range of experiences and identities within the LGBTQ+ community.
This includes
- Lesbian: Connecting individuals who identify as female and are attracted to other females, providing support and community for shared experiences.
- Gay: Offering a space for individuals who identify as male and are attracted to other males, addressing common experiences and challenges.
- Bisexual: Supporting those who are attracted to more than one gender, providing a space to discuss the unique aspects of bisexuality and connect with others.
- Pansexual: Fostering a community for individuals who are attracted to others regardless of gender, offering support for those who experience fluidity in their attractions.
- Asexual: Providing a space for individuals who experience little to no sexual attraction to others, offering support and understanding for this orientation.
- Queer: Embracing a broad spectrum of sexual orientations that do not fit into traditional categories, including those who identify as fluid or unconventional in their attractions.
Disabilities
Disability-focused groups address the experiences and needs of individuals with various types of disabilities, fostering a supportive community.
This includes
- Physical: Supporting individuals with physical disabilities, sharing experiences, and advocating for accessibility and inclusivity.
- Mental: Providing a space for those with mental health conditions to connect, share experiences, and support each other.
- Emotional: Focusing on emotional disabilities, offering support and understanding for challenges related to emotional well-being.
- Neurodiversity: Supporting individuals with neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, fostering a community that embraces diverse cognitive experiences.
Gender Identity
Gender Identity-based groups offer a supportive environment for individuals exploring and affirming their gender identities. They address the diverse experiences of those who may not identify within the traditional binary system.
This includes
- Transgender: Providing support for individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, offering a space to discuss experiences and challenges.
- Non-Binary: Focusing on individuals who identify outside the traditional male/female gender binary, including those who identify as both, neither, or a mix of genders.
- Genderqueer: Supporting those who reject conventional gender distinctions or who identify as a combination of genders, offering a community for shared experiences and exploration.
And More…
These groups provide a space for individuals to connect based on significant aspects of their lives beyond the primary categories, offering support and community for diverse experiences.
This includes
- Economic Status: Connecting individuals based on their financial backgrounds, addressing challenges related to economic disparities, and offering mutual support.
- Legal Status: Supporting those navigating legal issues or uncertainties, including residency, citizenship, or legal rights.
- Immigration Status: Providing a space for individuals based on their immigration experiences, fostering understanding and addressing related challenges.
- Age: Offering support for individuals of different age groups, addressing age-related experiences and challenges, and promoting intergenerational dialogue.
- English Language Learners: Supporting individuals who are learning English as an additional language, providing a community to share experiences, overcome language barriers, and support language development.
Upcoming Affinity Groups
Registration for affinity groups is available during program cycles.
 | Fall 2024 Cycle: Oct 21-Jan 31 Orientation: Oct1-Oct 21 |  | Spring Cycle: Mar 1-May 31 Orientation: Feb 1-28 |