Hello! Welcome to the Lead Incubator.
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.
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.
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.
Asynchronous Coursework
Fall:
- 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.
Spring :
- 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.
Live Events
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):
- May: Saturday, 5/17/2025, 1 pm ET
- 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
Submissions
Please see submission instructions in the course.
