STARS Fellows Lead Self-Care and Community-Care Town Hall in NYC

Girls Write Now mentees, along with STARS Fellows, facilitated conversations with young women and gender expansive youth about how to bring more care into their local government and communities

STARS Citywide Girls Initiative, of which Girls Write Now is a founding member, hosted a Youth Be Heard Town Hall discussion on November 11 with the theme, “Self-Care to Community-Care: WE Got Us!” Girls Write Now mentee and STARS Fellow Jacqueline Bernabe kicked off the event with welcome remarks to the room of girls and gender expansive youth from across New York City.

Participants from Girls Write Now and our partners at The Armory Foundation, Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, Figure Skating Harlem, Girls for Gender Equality, Groundswell Community Mural Project, Lower Eastside Girls Club, PowerPlay NYC, Row New York, and Sadie Nash Leadership Project, gathered to engage in wellness sessions, discuss care solutions in breakout rooms led by STARS Fellows, and share their thoughts with local government officials. The event also featured a speech from Katie Loeb, Chief of Staff to NYC Council Member Carlina Rivera, and insights from Linda Tigani, MSW, Chair and Executive Director of the NYC Commission on Racial Equity.

Girls Write Now mentees Allahna Johnson, Jacqueline Bernabe, and Tilda Bartlett worked with other STARS Fellows to lead the breakout room discussions. The topics for these groups were Celebrating Cultural Heritage & Building Community, Giving Young People a Voice & Choice, Implementing Eco-Friendly Initiatives & Improving Access to Healthy Foods, and Addressing Health Disparities. Allahna Johnson delivered the closing remarks, and Tilda Bartlett spoke on the main panel with other STARS Fellows and special guest Linda Tigani.