Girl Be Heard Fall Newsletter: Gala, Workshops & More! ⭐
Dear Friends,
As we swing into late fall, our hope is that this summer was an opportunity for you to rest, reflect and connect with your community. Here at Girl Be Heard, we welcome this season of transition.
Our season started off strong - we welcomed a number of energetic and deeply experienced new staff, whom you can meet below, along with a new cast of GBH youth participants who are eager to partner with us as they continue to grow into the exceptional leaders and artivists they are. We continue to be inspired and uplifted by the compelling voices of our community, supporters and participants, whose art and activism continuously lead us towards deeper truths and radical change.
With the virtual world becoming our established reality, we were thrilled to successfully execute our first-ever virtual Gala last month. Hundreds of you joined us from around the world for Together We Rise as we honored triple-threat actor, producer and activist Viola Davis. Our vast community of supporters expressed that they were simply blown away by the original performances and Viola's interview with five of our shining young stars! You can view a recording of the event linked below.
Other big changes are afoot at GBH. We're launching the next GBH Strategic Plan, or as we call it, our Evolution Blueprint. With collective input and feedback from every level of our ecosystem - including funders, board members, staff and, of course, participants - the plan comprises critical strategies to grow and expand our organizational mission. We're excited to show you our big ideas for the next few years, including a refreshed curriculum grounded in a new youth development framework that we've developed: Leadership as Ensemble.
Your unwavering support and community strengthens our ongoing efforts. We couldn't do it without you. Let's keep moving onward and upward!
Warmly,
Chiwoniso and the GBH Team
What We’ve Been Up To
2020 Girl Be Heard Gala Recap
Girl Be Heard's community and friends joined us on October 22 for our 2020 Gala: Together We Rise. What a special night it was! The celebratory evening brought together hundreds of individuals from more than 12 countries - we are so grateful that you joined us in amplifying the voices and energy of young people across the globe.
The gala kicked off with an original musical tribute performed by our multi-talented participants titled ‘Together We Rise’. Later, award-winning actor, producer and activist Viola Davis joined five of our youth for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from voting rights, beauty standards in Hollywood, Black Lives Matter, and more. This truly was the highlight of the evening!
Our celebrity actor supporters also joined in, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kathy Najimy, Wendell Pierce, and many others. Gala host Abbi Crutchfield kept attendees engaged and laughing throughout the night with her comedic charm.
From everyone at Girl Be Heard - thank you to all who joined. Together We Rise!
Be! Workshop Series Recap
Our summer and early fall weeks have been filled with amazing, interactive workshops in our Be! Workshop series. Girl Be Heard participants and youth community members got to learn about various topics including filmmaking, content creation, and even up and coming dance styles. We are so proud to partner with GiaNina Paulaltonio, Dance Moms alum, Rebecca Edwards, Miss Ultimate Beauty of America, and many other amazing artists.
Congrats to the 2020 Gala Cast!
Special thanks and a huge round of applause to our 2020 Gala performing cast! These superstars collectively wrote, produced and performed the 'Together We Rise' song featured in our first-ever virtual Gala event. The song inspires us all to unite, create change, use our voices, and envision a brighter future ahead.
A Warm Welcome to Lia, Nella, and Kristin!
Lia Yoo, Development Associate, is a musician at heart, but a mathematician in spirit. They graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Mathematics in 2018, and has worked to increase equity for students of color in the classroom, teaching political activism and Women in STEM to Brooklyn middle schoolers. Lia is excited to join the team and continue empowering young womxn to find their voice in every field.
Nella Mupier, Director of Programs at Girl Be Heard, brings 13 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has dedicated her career to expanding opportunities for young people from historically oppressed and marginalized communities in her roles as a researcher, technical assistance specialist, performing/teaching artist, educator, and school leader.
Kristin Taylor, Director of Operations & Chief of Staff, brings 15 years of experience in finance and operations, and most recently worked at a youth development organization where she served as Chief Operating Officer. With a passion for performance and theater, she is deeply committed to social justice, and is inspired by Girl Be Heard’s efforts to open up dialogue about social justice issues and amplify the voices of girls and young women.
Sunday Workshop & After-School Program Launch
October isn't just for pumpkin spice lattes it's for GBH programs as well. Our staple education programs, Sunday Workshop and After-School launched this fall for NYC public-schools. We are excited to see what our participants will bring this school year during our virtual programming efforts!
Catch 'Citizen Be Heard' Show on Your TV!
Remember our 2020 Mainstage Show ‘Citizen Be Heard’? Great news: it will be airing this fall on Brooklyn's BRIC TV throughout the fall season. Details on how to tune into the show on your cable networks and the BRIC website above!
Building Youth Resilience & Staying Connected
We are honored and grateful for all of the support received from near and far throughout this very uncertain year. While we continue to expand in the virtual space, we invite you to help us stay as committed and connected to our youth as possible.
Small gestures like joining our monthly donor program or amplifying our work on social media allows Girl Be Heard to continue youth programming throughout NYC and beyond, thus transforming lives through social justice theatre-making and the arts. Learn more about our programs in our new sizzle reel video above!
