Girl Be Heard Spring Newsletter: Committed & Connected⚡
Dear Girl Be Heard Community,
I hope you're all staying safe and adjusting to the new circumstances we find ourselves in. I have been so encouraged by all the ways I’ve witnessed our communities pulling and working together to support each other during these uncertain times.
I wanted to give you an update on what's happening at Girl Be Heard. As many of you know, GBH works with schools across NYC providing essential arts education programs. We also have a global sister program in Trinidad and Tobago drawing participants from schools across the island. In addition, we run workshops at community centers in Manhattan and the Bronx, all with the goal of celebrating the voices of young women and gender expansive youth through theater and performance. The GBH Team remains calm, committed, and focused on shifting gears during this time. Where possible, we have shifted our programs to a virtual model for the foreseeable future so that our participants can enjoy continuity and connect to their peers. We're exploring and navigating this new experience for us and our participants and it has been a joy to see the GBH community, staying strong and thriving despite the uncertainty of these times.
In the coming weeks, please look out for lots of great video content of GBH performances and workshops, including segments from our G!Talk Podcast and our newest program, Girls Make Movies, via our social media platforms--making content readily available for young people everywhere.
We took this picture of some of our participants some time ago, well before the current crisis. In these days of social distancing, community becomes more important than ever. My hope is that one day soon, our participants will be back together in the same room, growing together, learning together, supporting each other, and sharing their work with you. If you need support during this time, please refer to this list of helpful resources and services for those living in NYC during this crisis or reach out to us and we'll see how we can help support you.
We're so grateful for YOU, our community during these uncertain times. We wish you safety and health.
Warmly,
Chiwoniso and the GBH Team
What We’ve Been Up To
A Warm Welcome to Charlotte, Ana, Florence and Tonya!
We are excited to welcome our four newest Girl Be Heard Board Members who'll be joining our exciting movement to build young leaders and activists!
Charlotte Fraiberg is a passionate advocate for gender equality who believes that rebalancing the gender gap starts by empowering women and developing their leadership. She is currently a director at Credit Suisse where she has engaged with its charity partners for more than 10 years. Charlotte is incredibly thrilled to serve on the Girl Be Heard board to help young women and girls find their voice and impact the world for social change.
Ana Cutter Patel offers 25 years of experience in international peace-building, development and human rights, and most recently served as the Executive Director of the Outward Bound Center for Peacebuilding for over nine years. Her extensive background in human rights includes work with the U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching international conflict issues at Columbia University along with training governments on human rights.
Florence Hutner's strong commitment to public service is reflected in both her thirty-year career with the City of New York and her work with community and nonprofit organizations. Her positions in city government have allowed her to help people and communities facing difficult circumstances. She currently serves as the General Counsel for the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
Tonya Pinkins is a Tony Award-winning actor on stage, television and film with more than twenty years in daytime television. She is currently producing, directing and co-writing Truth & Reconciliation: Womyn Working It Out! as well as is writing, producing, directing and acting in a socio-political horror film titled Red Pill. She joins GBH with excitement to share her lifelong experience and expertise in theatre and the arts.
The 2020 Mainstage Cast Presents: Who's the Census?
Over the past few weeks, our multi-talented Mainstage cast compiled a creative video project as an entry for the '2020 Census - Get Out The Count Video Challenge' census contest. The video shares the importance of the census for families and communities across the country - be sure to check it out above!
"A theater collective called Girl Be Heard is teaching young women and girls around the country to find their own voice through the arts. The program's part-acting part-activism approach comes to communities via a traveling company, and both weekend and after school programs."
Get Inspired with Girl Be Heard on MSNBC!!
"Now more than ever, female voices are being heard and celebrated both on and off stage thanks to local organizations like “Girl Be Heard.” Joelle Garguilo meets with the ladies behind the organization that brings socially conscious theater to the White House and beyond."
Get Ready For Mainstage 2020 This Spring!
Our Mainstage performance cast has been working hard in preparation for this month's show debut - which will now be going fully virtual! Stay tuned for upcoming information including special guests, virtual show dates, tickets and more!
Mark Your Calendars for
#GivingTuesdayNow!
Girl Be Heard is joining the Giving Tuesday Now campaign on May 5! Click the image below to set up a calendar reminder to participate in this global day of giving with us.
Girl Be Heard Earned a 2020 Platinum
Seal of Transparency!
We’re committed to the highest level of transparency! Our organization earned the Guidestar 2020 Platinum Seal of Transparency, showcasing the progress and results we’re making toward our mission. Check out our updated Nonprofit Profile on GuideStar.
Can Art Change the World? Yes It Can!
Listen to the latest episode of G!TALK, our bi-weekly podcast presented by BPN. On each episode we amplify the voices of young performing artists and unpack social justice and cultural issues through compelling spoken word, songs and stories with host Zoe Norman-Hunt.
Change A Young Person’s Life
Amplify & Support Girl Be Heard
Small gestures like joining our monthly donor program, attending shows, or amplifying our work on social media allows Girl Be Heard to continue youth programming throughout NYC and beyond, transforming lives through social justice theatre-making.
Learn more about our programs & workshops
Join The Movement!
We're currently hiring! Click here to apply to our Director of Development position.