Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders
Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders is a program designed to engage girls around physical and emotional health, identity, career development, and community change through art. It was created as a strategy to keep young women safely engaged in positive activities during extended-day of their day, when the crime rate historically rises.
About You
Section 1: You
First Name
Karen
Last Name
McAdams
Website URL
Organization
Dorchester Community Center for the Visual Arts
Country
United States, MA
Section 2: Your Organization
Organization Name
Greater Boston YMCA, Dorchester
Organization Website
Organization Phone
617.436.7750
Organization Address
776 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States, MA
Your idea
Name Your Project
Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders
Country and state your work focuses on
United States, MA
Describe Your Idea
Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders is a program designed to engage girls around physical and emotional health, identity, career development, and community change through art. It was created as a strategy to keep young women safely engaged in positive activities during extended-day of their day, when the crime rate historically rises.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders offers a unique program for girls ages 11-18. The program is set apart from others like it in many ways. Because the girls are split into two groups: Juniors, ages 11-14, and Seniors, ages 15-18, they are able to focus on areas in their lives that are age specific. Girls work on art projects both individually and as a group to promote a sense of community and foster working relationships. Photography, ceramics and quilting are chosen arenas of study. In addition to exploring creative problem solving through their studies in the visual arts, the program consists of life-skills activities and discussions such as: healthy eating, exercise, body image, personal health, and spirit. The combination of art studies and life-skills guidance offers a unique combination of disciplines for the girls to focus on themselves and the issues that concern them, gain self confidence and self-respect, be a part of a larger community and grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Another essential element of the program is that the participants are able to engage in activities that they may otherwise never encounter. One evening a month is dedicated to meeting with influential women from the community to hear about their life experience. Dot Art and the YMCA share resources to give participants access to gym memberships, swim lessons, “teen only” evenings, a fully equipped ceramic studio, a general art studio, and field trips like, museums visits, sporting events, and a trip the beach.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
Through the Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders program, Dot Art and the YMCA will continue to have significant impact on the lives of a dedicated group of young women. The best way to demonstrate the impact of the program is to share with you the answer to this question from one of our students. Jenna is 15 years old and has been participating in the Sisters for Change (See answer to question #36 for more on program name) program since its’ beginning in 2007. We have seen Jenna mature and develop her listening and writing skills as a result of the discussions and activities in the program. Jenna consistently asks impressive questions of guest speakers and is someone the other girls look up to.
In her words...
Usually I am the type of person to stay home or dally around all day. When it is time for Sisters for Change, I am actually pretty excited. Whether we are going to be engaging in a fun activity for our own entertainment or getting involved with our community, there is always something to look forward to! Although many times, as teenagers, our attitudes may be a bit lackadaisical, in the beginning, by the end of the night there is always something important to talk and laugh about with one another. Sisters for Change helps me see issues within my community and those that are outside my community. The program gives me an opportunity to approach different issues and topics in new ways.
Problem
The two goals of the Sisters for Change Program are: (1) to provide quality, safe programming that nurtures positive development in this pivotal period - the time between elementary and graduation from high school when independence is emerging and choices are being made that will affect their adult lives; (2) to encourage young women to see the role they can play in evincing change within the greater community. With a population of 92,000, Dorchester contains areas of great poverty and its residents are less likely than those in other areas of Boston to be able to afford the costs of out-of-school educational programs. According to the last census, 61% of the population’s income level is deemed low/moderate, while 18.4% are categorized as living below the poverty line
Actions
Program goals succeed through pursuit of three program strategies: engaging in direct art instruction incorporating the themes of self and community, while developing problem solving and critical thinking skills; the study of healthy practices and behaviors; and meeting with strong adult women who are effectively changing their own communities. Throughout the program participants are exposed to skill-building techniques. The consistency of three main components of the program remain crucial if the program is to thrive and continue on its’ current path of growth. First, consistent, constructive, and honest communication between collaborating organizations. Second, we must maintain our high level of stewardship and cultivation of our corps of community mentors. Finally, and most important, we must continue to impress upon our young women the importance a program like this one can have on their lives, and keep a constant group of dedicated girls participating, engaged, and posed for leadership.
Results
Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders provides a safe and nurturing environment for program participants. We aim to instill girls with an understanding of social and economic change and allow them to learn to identify, analyze and discuss problems, to problem-solve and to find creative, constructive solutions. These young women will build a sense of community among their group and with other collaborating individuals. Through this community, and program activities, they will build leadership skills that will carry them with confidence into the next stage of their young lives.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Building our relationship with our new collaborator, The Greater Boston YMCA, Dorchester will be a critical element to the success and longevity of the Program. Over the next year, key staff and instructors from both organizations will meet on a regular basis to evaluate, modify, and enhance programming. This is a critical time for the expansion of this program that is so valued in the community and The Dorchester YMCA is committed to continuing this partnership with Dot Art for the 2010-11 academic year program. Salvation Army Jubilee House also hopes to resume participation in the Program in the fall when their new programming staff has been hired. A three-way collaboration will be planned for the October-June program. Projected funding sources that will sustain the Program’s growth include continued support from the MCC/Youthreach and individual donors, and additional grants from The Boston Foundation - My Summer in the City Grant, and Bank of America.
In addition, Dot Art is poised to begin a capacity building initiative with a consultant to strengthen the capacity of staff and Board to steward and manage the organization into a secure future. The stresses of the current economic climate require Board and staff to strengthen their management skills, gain external perspective and re-assess programs and operations in light of these economic changes. This capacity-building initiative is comprised of three components: Leadership coaching, Board development, and strategic planning. Slated to begin this July, this initiative will produce a strategic plan that outlines both programmatic and operational priorities requiring focus over the next three years to most certainly include Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
The biggest challenge for Dot Art this year has undoubtedly been the economy. As the economy continues to struggle, foundations and individuals are less likely to support small arts organizations like ours. Of course, our programs are only as strong as our organization. Even in these challenging times, Dot Art has been able to continue to offer the same quality programming that has made us a treasured asset to our community, and we owe this to the support of our leaders; Board members, staff, volunteers, and community supporters. Without this support, continued success would be daunting. We believe we are on the right track to sustaining this success through initiatives like our capacity building plan beginning in July. Another key element to our viability has been our ability to reinvent ourselves to fit ever-changing circumstances. Our new partnership with the Greater Boston YMCA, Dorchester and the expanded program, Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders is evidence of this strength. We know that we are at the beginning of an exciting time for the community of girls we serve and the success of this bright future depends on the strength of our partnership, our ability to keep open channels of communication and respond to the need and interests of our girls.
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$1000 - 4000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
In what country?
United States, MA
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Greater Boston YMCA, Dorchester
How long has this organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Approximately 150 words left (1200 characters).
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
Approximately 300 words left (2400 characters).
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
In the early 1990’s Leslie MacWeeney began an arts-focused program for her son in Dorchester, Massachusetts, the largest neighborhood within the city of Boston. She found that she was flooded by phone calls from Dorchester residents searching for affordable arts programs for their own children. Upon investigation, Ms. MacWeeney found there were no arts programs for low-to-moderate income children and/or families in Dorchester. To address this, she and sixteen members of the community including educators, artists, local activists and parents came together and established one art class for children that soon filled to capacity. Soon Ms. MacWeeney and her associates found it necessary to establish a non-profit organization in order to secure donations to continue and broaden services. The Dorchester Community Center for the Visual Arts (which quickly became known as Dot Art) was incorporated and received its non-profit status in 1998, with programming held at several satellite locations throughout Dorchester.
A girls-only program piloted in 2007, the original Sisters for Change program was for girls (11-14) and focused around physical and emotional health, identity, career development, and community change through art. The program was created as a strategy to keep young women safely engaged in positive activities during extended-day hours in the summer, when the crime rate historically rises.
For the past four years Dot Art and the Salvation Army Jubilee House have proudly served the Sisters for Change program in a collaboration that has been the pillar for its success. Due to executive changes taking place at Jubilee House, this collaboration and the continuation of Sisters for Change in its current state is on hold. After new executive staff at Jubilee House is established (by July 2010), a final decision on the program’s place with Jubilee House will be made by their new administration.
Dot Art is excited to move forward with an expanded Sisters for Change Program with a new partner this summer, the Greater Boston YMCA, Dorchester, under the new title: Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders. Each organization will maintain their original titles for their groups: Dot Art, Sisters for Change, and YMCA, Y Gems. We are joining forces to continue offering an environment and forum for growth, learning and community development for a dedicated and ambitious group of Dorchester girls. It is our sincere hope that Jubilee House will be able to continue their partnership with us for the 2010-2011 school year and beyond.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Dot Art is led by Leslie MacWeeney, Executive Director and teacher. A former Associate Professor at Massachusetts College of Art, Ms. MacWeeney has over 30 years experience teaching visual art to children and adults. She founded and served as Director of the Children’s Studio and spent 15 years teaching art education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. For 10 years, as the community liaison at Boston’s English High School, she directed an evening program that brought students, teachers and parents together weekly to make art. She received her MFA in Art Education from Boston University, studied with Rudolph Arnheim at Harvard University, and also studied at L’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Originally from Ireland, Ms. MacWeeney co-founded Ireland’s first cooperative artists’ printmaking studio. Her own artwork is in museums and private collections in Europe, the USA, and has represented Ireland in five international exhibits.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Personal contact at Changemakers
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
50 words or fewer
 | 154 weeks ago Alexis Ditkowsky said: Hi Karen, I enjoyed reading about DotArt's partnership with YMCA to engage girls in creative projects and provide a safe space to talk ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 161 weeks ago Karen McAdams submitted this idea. |
