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  • The Lead Incubator (Fall 2025-Spring 2025)

Fall 2025-Spring 2026

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.

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

This Journey is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Spring 2027 Journey Now!

Pre-Enroll Now

Learning Objectives

Advance Social Activism 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 skills through practical experience and mentorship.

The Lead Incubator Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors in this Journey are required to attend the monthly one-hour Journey meetings listed below.

Fall Cycle:

  • Saturday, November 15, 2025, 3 pm ET
  • Saturday, December 13, 2025, 3 pm ET
  • Saturday, January 10, 2026, 3 pm ET

Spring Cycle:

  • Saturday, March 14, 2026, 3 pm ET
  • Saturday, April 18, 2026, 3 pm ET
  • Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3 pm ET

If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—strongly recommended options include Leadership Community Studios, Community Conversations, and Career Chats.

Apply to Journeys Explore Community Experiences
Journey Circle: Community

The Lead Incubator Courses

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.

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.

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.

Apply to Journeys Explore Courses
Writing

The Lead Incubator Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in The Lead Incubator Journey will be matched for two cycles. Each pair will meet two times per month and, as a pair, attend all of the community events listed above.

Apply to Journeys Explore Mentorship Opportunities

Journey Teaching Artist

Jessica Jagtiani

Girls Write Now Staff

Jesse Jagtiani  is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, and researcher of Indian-German heritage residing in New York City. Jesse earned her Doctor of Education in Art & Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, complemented by an MFA in Studio Art from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, and a degree in Visual Communications from the University of Arts, Berlin. Her research centers on the formative dimensions of intuition, bridging indigenous wisdom with contemporary scientific perspectives to foster a balance of the intuitive and the rational mind within Western educational paradigms. Jesse’s artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and her scholarly contributions extend to various publications, including chapter three of the book Developing Informed Intuition for Decision Making. Jesse has taught in (and outside of) higher education for numerous years and is passionate about supporting emerging artists, writers, and leaders on their creative, academic, and career pathways.

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Jessica Jagtiani
The Lead Incubator

What Past Participants Have to Say

“I believe the prompts for the Lesson Plans helped Kunling work on her presentation and teaching hard skills. She’s excited about the podcast, and I think the outreach to secure an interviewee will be a growing moment for her.”
Sarah E. Bode Mentor
“It overall helped me become a more confident and better person. I realized how much I have grown mentally, and with my Project Wild Wellness, I, alongside my peers and students, are now seeing the world from a more open and more colorful perspective.”
Kunling Wu Mentee

All Journeys within this Adventure emphasize leadership, aiming to help mentees and mentors develop their leadership skills and work together to create a better future. Explore the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below to learn more.

The Lead Incubator is a Journey in the Lead 360 Adventure.

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Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .
Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .

The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring-Summer 2025)

In this 2-cycle journey, participants 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, you'll learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, you’ll develop your 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.

The-Power-of-Punchlines
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Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .
Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .

Careers for Creatives: Unexpected Opportunities (Spring 2025)

The Careers for Creatives: Unexpected Opportunities Journey is perfect for mentees and mentors who are looking to turn their passion for storytelling, content creation, or journalism into a career. Through a dynamic online course, mentoring sessions, and live networking events, you will explore various career paths available to writers today, learn practical skills to help you succeed, and discover how to build a sustainable career that aligns with your interests and strengths. Discover career paths in finance, technology, corporate communications, publishing and more!

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