Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Perspectives on Public Policy
The Perspectives on Public Policy Journey offers a comprehensive overview of public policy and its role in addressing societal challenges with a focus on inequalities, public policy frameworks, design, analysis, and justification.
Learning Objectives
Apply to Join
Deadline: January 15, 2025
As a mentee or mentor in the Perspectives on Public Policy Journey, you’ll have access to an online course designed to help you learn about public policy’s role in addressing societal challenges. You’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for one full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least twice each month. You’ll attend at least one community engagement experience a month.
- Cycle(s) Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
- Time 3 hours per month
- Areas of Focus Activism, Civics, Politics
- Requirement Write and produce an Advocacy Short
- Available Spots Per Cycle 20
Perspectives on Public Policy Courses
Public Policy and Advocacy Shorts
In this course, you’ll learn about public policy frameworks, design, analysis and Implementation. You’ll explore the foundations of federal policy and how contemporary changes have impacted government, and you’ll discuss the impact of social movements on government and vice versa.
Perspectives on Public Policy Mentoring
As a mentee or mentor in the Perspectives on Public Policy Journey, you’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for two full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least twice each month.
Perspectives on Public Policy Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in the Perspectives on Public Policy Journey are required to attend monthly meetings. Additionally, they attend one community engagement per month, such as a Community Studios, College & Career Chats, Salon Experiences, and Affinity Group Meetings.
- October 16, 6pm ET Orientation
- December 14, 12-1:30pm ET Journey Meeting
- January 25, 12-1:30pm ET Journey Meeting
- March 15, 12-1:30pm ET Journey Meeting
- April 26, 12-1:30pm ET Journey Meeting
- May 3, 12-1:30pm ET Journey Meeting
Public Policy 360 Adventure
Investigative Podcasts is a Journey in the Journalism 360, Multimedia, and Public Policy Adventures.
The Public Policy Journey is a part of the Public Policy 360 Adventure.
Journeys in the Public Policy 360 Adventure focus on the ways that writing and creating can impact public policy. It is designed for those who want to learn more about how to make change in technology, reproductive health, climate change and more. Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Find Your Journey
Find Your Journey
Inimitable Voices in the Age of AI (Spring 2026)
AI can replicate form, but not the glorious quirks of you. Together, we’ll explore the tenets of human inimitability—Play, Empathy, Friction, Serendipity, Physicality—and explore AI tools that amplify (not blur) your unique voice. That wonderful, specific, spiky point of view that each of us has—and that the world needs now more than ever.
Thousand Voices Book Club (Spring 2026)
In partnership with the Thousand Voices imprint, this Journey invites mentors and mentees to explore contemporary literature. Participants will close-read three books and discuss them at monthly Journey Meetings. We’ll focus, in particular, on reading as writers and taking note of the ways each author crafts their story.
Sharpening Your Inimitable Voice in the Age of AI (Fall 2025)
AI can replicate form, but not the glorious quirks of you. Together, we’ll explore the tenets of human inimitability—Play, Empathy, Friction, Serendipity, Physicality—and explore AI tools that amplify (not blur) your unique voice. That wonderful, specific, spiky point of view that each of us has—and that the world needs now more than ever.
Storytelling Across Languages and Cultures (Fall 2025)
This Journey invites multilingual storytellers—and those curious about language, identity, and culture—to explore how the languages we speak and the communities we come from shape our stories. Through writing, discussion, and creative expression, participants will examine the connections between language, culture, and self. The Journey celebrates multilingual voices and empowers participants to honor their perspectives and grow as confident storytellers across cultures.
Perspectives on Media (Fall 2025)
The Perspectives on Media Journey is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work in today’s media ecosystem. It provides insight from media professionals in a variety of fields such as sports journalism, broadcast journalism, true crime podcasting, and more! Participants will also learn how to develop a pitch for a media project of their choice.
Hooked on Fiction: Crafting Your First Chapter (Fall 2025)
In this fiction Journey, our curriculum will focus on opening chapters. The first pages of a novel are some of the most daunting for many writers. There's so much to establish in very few pages—the ones your future readers will flip through to decide if they should keep reading. In this journey, we'll deep dive into the varied ingredients that make a compelling first chapter. We'll examine how to use your limited space to build motivated well-rounded characters, craft palpable stakes, establish a fully-realized setting, create a killer hook, and so much more. We'll tackle big questions, like how to know if you are starting in the right place and how to get all this information onto the page without overwhelming your readers. Whether you're starting a story from scratch or already editing a draft of your novel, join us to develop some impactful opening pages.
Wicked Stagewriting: From Plays to Musicals (Fall 2025)
The Writing for the Stage: From Plays to Musicals Journey is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s theatre industry. This Journey provides insight into the work of a playwright – a deep understanding of live storytelling and professional scripts, plays vs musicals, professional working practices, and employment strategies. We will look to popular musicals such as Wicked for inspiration in creating original pieces. Specific topics range from story structure and formatting scripts to actually seeing a script to fruition.
Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Fall 2025)
In this one-Cycle Journey, Mentees will develop essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through engaging activities and interactive discussions, participants will learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present their ideas with confidence. They will explore techniques for effective communication, refine their ability to think critically under pressure, and practice responding to diverse perspectives in a structured setting.
Book Club: Page to Stage (Fall 2025)
This Journey invites mentees and mentors to explore classic and contemporary literature through both reading and performance. Participants will read three books and then experience them brought to life through dynamic solo stage adaptations in partnership with Literature to Life (LTL).
Independent Study (Fall 2025)
Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.
