Volunteer, Intern, Empower

On Monday, January 23rd, hundreds of Chatham community members gathered in the Chapel for an incredible evening with Dr. Lyn Mikel Brown, professor at Colby College and expert on girls: their behavior, their culture and their influences. The author of Packaging Girlhood, Girlfighting and other nonfiction staples, Dr. Brown recently co-founded Hardy Girls, Healthy Women and SPARK (Sexualization Protest, Action, Resistance, Knowledge). Her efforts engage girls in meaningful discussion of sexualizing influences and empowers them to take action.

After the lecture, many Chatham women were wildly inspired by Dr. Brown’s call to action. Interested in being part of the movement? We’ve got a list of opportunities to get you started.
 
Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania
Whether you grew up in a sash and beanie or just had a passion for Thin Mints, Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania has plenty of ways for you to support their work. The organization takes interns and volunteers often. If you’re on the job hunt, you don’t have to be a college graduate to become a Program Instructor. Plus, GSWPA has a ton of open positions in their summer camps.
 
Girls, Math & Science Partnership (GMSP)
GMSP, part of the Carnegie Science Center, inspires girls to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers. Offering mystery-filled summer camps, classroom tools, tours of prominent STEM organizations and Braincake, an online community to connect girls to opportunities and mentors, GMSP is educating and encouraging girls to make their mark in everything from zoology to biomedical engineering. GMSP offers both internship positions and volunteer opportunities.
 
 
Hardy Girls, Healthy Women and SPARK
Chatham is already making an effort to engage Dr. Brown's organizations on campus. Students are invited to attend Girls’ Studies on every other Tuesday to talk about possibilities for a Chatham chapter. The next time to join in is Tuesday, January 31 at 11:30, Room C29. Even if you can’t make it, email Dr. Margaret Stubbs (mstubbs@chatham.edu) to let her know, and join the Girls’ Studies Moodle page for more information.
 
Strong Women, Strong Girls
Founded by Lindsay Hyde at Harvard in 2000, Strong Women, Strong Girls now has active chapters in Pittsburgh, Boston and Miami and is strongly endorsed by Her Campus. College women work with younger girls, mentoring them and empowering them to achieve their dreams. Strong Women, Strong Girls Pittsburgh offers internship opportunities in Development and Programming. If you’d just like to volunteer, Strong Women, Strong Girls is always looking for mentors. Will you be the one to start a Chatham chapter?