What is YW Boston’s F.Y.R.E. Initiative?
F.Y.R.E.: Fierce Youth Reigniting Excellence
In this new program launched in the Fall of 2019, YW Boston facilitators conduct a 12 to 15-week leadership development series for girls grades 6th through 9th. The series brings together social justice education, positive identity development, and civic engagement, culminating in small group civics projects. This model will take place in schools or Out of School Time programs, and it is developed to operate in a “girls group” structure rather than a traditional classroom structure. Core to the program is an effort to provide experiential learning opportunities and dialogue to build understanding and increase social emotional learning. F.Y.R.E. Initiative is a fee-based program.
Program participants will present a project at an end-of-semester conference and have the opportunity to engage with other youth leaders from across Greater Boston. Participants will be supported by and influence YW Boston’s Advocacy Committee through a feedback loop.
Be sure to follow YW Boston’s F.Y.R.E. Initiative (@yw_fyre) on Instagram for updates!
Program Objectives
• Participants will utilize critical thinking to assess racial and gender inequities in the City of Boston
• Participants will learn about historical and current movements for racial and gender equity
• Participants will increase their capacity to engage in advocacy and policy change and lead others to act on issues important to them
• Participants will build a sense of self, empowerment, and resilience through controlling their lives and making an impact in their community
• Participants will identify community needs and assets and build problem-solving skills in identifying solutions
• Participants will understand how identities intersect and are impacted by systems of power
• Participants will utilize reflection, empathy, and conflict resolution to work across differences to resolve broader institutional issues
Sample Curriculum Outline
Section 1: Learn
Week 1: Introduction & Norms
Week 2: Personal Power: Self Esteem & Self Advocacy
Week 3: Identity: Race & Gender
Week 4: Systems: Healthy Relationships
Week 5: Conflict Resolution
Week 6: Collective Power
Weeks 7 & 8: Unpacking Racism & Sexism
Section 2: Plan
Week 9: Community Assessment
Week 10: Selecting an Issue
Week 11: Researching Issue | Conduct Power Analysis
Section 3: Act
Week 12: Identifying Tactics | Project Development
Week 13: Plan
Week 14: Symposium preparation
Week 15: Reflection
YW Boston Gender Inclusion Statement: