We’re thrilled that in just the first year of our three year plan, we have increased our enrollment by 30%. That means even more young women will benefit from our award-winning programs. We are meeting the demands — applications have grown steadily since Girls Write Now was founded 19 years ago — and maintaining the quality as we grow. 140 pairs will be enrolled across the Writing & Mentoring Program and the Digital Media Mentoring Program.
Not only have we grown in numbers, we have grown in excitement. This year’s Open House broke records yet again as droves of mentees arrived early, eager to get started! Returning pairs spoke to the new class and guided them through the process, sharing their own anecdotes and experiences, and answering a plethora of questions about the writing process. With girls from all five boroughs in New York City, and mentors who come to us from NBC Universal, the humor website, Funny or Die, publisher HarperCollins, The New York Times, and more, we know our mentoring pairs are in for an incredible journey. Together they will meet weekly, attend monthly workshops, create a portfolio of their best work, and eventually be published and publicly perform their work. We are so impressed by the mentors and mentees joining and returning to Girls Write Now this year and it couldn’t be a better way to kick off our strategic plan. This is just the beginning and we’re grateful for the overflowing support from our community.