Spring 2026
Teach GWN
In this Journey, members of the GWN community will develop curriculum and facilitate a community studio for one or more cycles within GWN’s Collaboratory structure. Each Cycle involves facilitating three community studios, one per month. Participants will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentors and mentees can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.
Ready to Apply?
Learn more below or get started now. If you do not already have a Girls Write Now Portal account, you will be asked to create one in order to apply.
Apply by January 15
Ready to Apply?
Learn more below or get started now. If you do not already have a Girls Write Now Portal account, you will be asked to create one in order to apply.
Apply by January 15- JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS
- Cycle(s) 1 Cycle (3 months, March 1 – May 31)
- Time Commitment 3 hours per month
- Community Experiences See dates listed below
- Mentoring Have at least 2 pair sessions per month
- Journey Project Develop and facilitate monthly Community Studios
Learning Objectives
Teach GWN Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in this Journey are required to facilitate three Community Studios—one per month during the cycle—and attend both a training session and a facilitator meetup. The weekday, time, and exact dates for your facilitated studio sessions will be determined based on your schedule before the journey begins.
Studio Weeks for the Spring 2026 Cycle:
- March studio period: 3/9 – 3/20
- April studio period: 4/13 – 4/24
- May studio period: 5/11 – 5/22
Facilitator Meetup:
- Tuesday, 4/28 at 7pm ET
Additionally, participants are asked to attend at least one Community Studio led by their fellow facilitators.
Teach GWN Courses
Teach GWN: Facilitating Community Studios
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.
GWN Toolkit: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging
This course equips participants with essential strategies and tools to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment. Through interactive content and practical exercises, learners will develop skills to enhance diversity and promote a sense of belonging within their communities.
GWN Toolkit: Mentoring Best Practices
This course provides participants with effective strategies and techniques for successful mentoring relationships. It covers key practices for guiding, supporting, and empowering mentees to achieve their goals and thrive in their personal and professional development.
Teach GWN Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in the Teach GWN Journey will be paired for at least one cycle. Each pair will meet for a minimum of two hour-long sessions per month. Mentees will either develop curriculum for their Community Studio with guidance from their mentors or collaborate with their mentors to develop and facilitate a Community Studio together. This Journey is open to mentor/mentee pairs, peer-to-peer pairs, and members who have been mentees or mentors in the past.
Journey Teaching Artist
Teach 360 Adventure
All Journeys within this Adventure focus on leadership to help Mentees and Mentors develop leadership skills and be inspired to create a better future together. Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Teach GWN is a Journey in the Teach 360 Adventure.
Explore All Journeys
Explore All Journeys
Explore Tour (Spring 2026)
Explore all of the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now has to offer through a multimedia, multi-genre experience that includes mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-to-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with offerings that range from fiction to journalism to publishing, and dive into formats like video, podcasting, visual storytelling, and more.
Independent Study (Spring 2026)
Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Mentors and mentees meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.
Journalism: The Art of Profiles (Spring 2026)
Every person has a story to tell, and profile writing is an invitation to share those stories with the world. In this journey, mentors and mentees explore how to establish trust and rapport with their subjects, conduct interviews with mutual respect, and present a friendly, welcoming demeanor while maintaining the role as the writer—not a friend or confidante. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on extracting details for the reader, this course emphasizes a holistic perspective that honors the reader, the writer, and the subject. Participants will practice structuring interviews, managing the flow of conversation, knowing when to push back against the profile subject, and using their own experiences as a guide to create compelling, thoughtful profiles.
Poetry Rising: Voices from Latin America (Spring 2026)
Explore the voices representing Latin America in their poetry! Mentors and mentees will read poems that reflect on love, identity, and social change. Alongside reading, mentees will write their own poems inspired by these works, experimenting with rhythm, imagery, and voice. Through discussion and creative practice, you’ll discover how poetry can express both personal and collective experience!
Writing Our Way to Wellness: Podcast Production (Spring 2026)
This Journey invites mentors and mentees to explore the intersection of storytelling and wellness through the art of podcasting. Participants will engage in intergenerational, holistic conversations that honor both the craft of writing and the power of human connection. They will explore what wellness means to them personally and as a practice, and learn to structure episodes that educate, inspire, and resonate. Mentors and mentees will also build practical skills in shaping and producing a polished podcast episode. By the end of this two-cycle journey, each participant will have a published episode on the Writing Our Way to Wellness podcast streaming on all platforms!
Perspectives on Editorial (Spring 2026)
Embrace editing as an essential aspect of writing in this journey that leads you through lessons and experiences that explore everything from line edits and grammar to the psychology of revision. Great for individuals who are interested in honing their skills for editing their own creative work (and the work of others!)
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, mentors and mentees will explore the power of comedy as a tool for social change, with a special focus on stand-up comedy. From climate change and economic inequality to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and mental health, participants learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, mentors and mentees will develop their own comedic voice. Discover how satire and personal storytelling can raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and challenge the status quo— all while keeping your audience laughing. By the end of the journey, you’ll have developed a 5 -10-minute stand-up routine that not only entertains but sparks meaningful conversations about the world around us. Comedy is a form of intelligence, whether you’re new to comedy or a seasoned performer, this journey will help you use humor as a force for social impact.
Teach GWN (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, members of the GWN community will develop curriculum and facilitate a community studio for one or more cycles within GWN’s Collaboratory structure. Each Cycle involves facilitating three community studios, one per month. Participants will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentors and mentees can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.
Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, mentors and 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.
STARS: Crafting White Papers for Change (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, Fellows from STARS CGI partner organizations engage in a youth-led writing and advocacy experience that empowers them to turn their experiences into policy-focused narratives. Through in-person and virtual sessions, participants learn to research, write, and collaborate on a White Paper that amplifies youth voices across New York City and advocates for increased support, funding, and policy improvements for youth programs. The Journey builds communication, leadership, and advocacy skills, culminating in a youth-authored White Paper presented to a City Council Member as a public call to action.
