Yoga for Kids

The Girls Project, teaching yoga since 1998

                               Yoga for Kids? Way overdue. Check this out.

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Honey I Shrunk the Children

Marion Nestle's recent article in the Atlantic, reports that childhood obesity is on the decline in New York City, according to findings from the New York City Health Department. The Bloomberg administration believes that this is the result of anti-obesity initiatives in the schools such as limiting bake sales and monitoring sugar and calorie content of snacks in vending machines. This is great news!  Let's just hope that efforts to educate young people and keep junk food out of schools continues.

Intern Extraordinaire!

It's always exciting to share news from the field. Occasionally, that news borders on bragging... Recently, our incredible administrative intern Fior D’Aliza Rodriguez was invited back to her alma mater to conduct a workshop on sexual education! Fior did an amazing job with an extremely diverse group of young women at Brooklyn International High School.

The Girls & Boys Projects operated quite successfully for a number of years at Brooklyn International. As with so many schools, budget cuts have halted the program, but the faculty obviously sees the importance in our curriculum. We're just glad that they were able to implement it in some way - this time, through Fior.

Congrats, Fior!

The Gender Lens Returns!

We are very excited to share the latest installment of our e-newsletter, The Gender Lens! If you did not receive an email version, please read here by clicking the image below. This issue will update you on the news at The Girls & Boys Projects, provide find facilitator's tips, links, and other goodies inside.

Once again, we cannot do the work we've set out to do without the efforts of our fantastic facilitators. So, THANK YOU! Please stay in contact and send us stories from the field! Have a great summer...

(If you are not on our mailing list, please sign up!)

Writing A Better Story

Last month, The Girls & Boys Projects traveled to Youngstown State University to train 20 adults who work with youth in Ohio. The training saw two days of intense conversations and stimulating workshops led by our directors Jule Jo Ramirez and Javaid Khan.

Attendees came from various walks of life - after-school programs and churches, schools like Youngstown State University, and a number of non-profits including: Upward Bound, Mind, Body and Soul, Warriors, Inc., Academic Achievers, Governor’s Initiative Program, Youngstown City Schools, and 21st Century Community Learning Program. They are teachers and parents, tutors and volunteers with a wide range of experiences and opinions.

These youth advocates identified a bevy of issues their young people face - from teen pregnancy and peer pressure to bullying. Of the many great ideas written or spoken about their young people, the following really summarized both a major problem, as well as "the problem with teens" (if you will), in general: "They need to counteract the tyranny of the moment so they can write a better future story." Beautifully put...

With the types of facilitators we had the privilege of meeting and training, their students' better stories are already being written.

Divorce Party!!

It's just one of the many favorite stories featured on National Public Radio's: Hidden World Of Girls: Share Your Stories. The series is a fascinating collection of stories about girls all over the world.

Hosted by The Kitchen Sisters, the series will cover secret identities, coming of age, and tide changing stories, among others. It is WELL worth the visit...

Take It From Your Students

Happy New Year!!

A little over a year ago, we worked to create a video entitled "Voices" about the work we do with students. We thought it would be a great time to post this video to the blogs for you to watch. It serves as a great reminder that students can really grow from these programs - and, that there is such a need for them.

Thank you for all of the work you continue to do! Enjoy...

Kids and Food

What are some important things to teach our kids about food? Rob Smart has a few suggestions. In his article (from The Huffington Post) are the 10 things he would integrate into our children's educational curriculum to give them a fighting chance at making the joys of sustainable food central in their lives.

Chase Giving

If you're a Facebooker, you've undoubtedly seen a ton of activity alerting you that a friend of yours has voted in the "Chase Community Giving Challenge." Now through December 11, charities have a chance to win awards ranging from $25,000-$1 million! Chase is giving away a total of $5 million to 100 worthy charities. So...

PLEASE VOTE FOR US!!

Of course, we thank you for all of your votes and support. Please forward and let your Facebook friends know, too!

And, please note:

1. You must have a Facebook account to vote.

2. Our 501(c)(3) name is The Institute for Labor & The Community, Inc. But, we are still The Girls & Boys Projects, as you've always known us. :)

3. We've heard that some people have encountered some issues with the Chase application - specifically, with whether their vote registered. If you do, please be patient and try to vote again.

We know you want to scroll down and read more entries, but go vote, then come back! Happy Holidays!!

Liberty And Justice For Some

In Arkansas, a ten year old boy has refused to stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance. Will Phillips, a fifth grader at West Fork Elementary School refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, specifically because that one phrase, "liberty and justice for all," he says, does not truly apply to all- especially the fact that gays can't get married. Now that's what I call sitting down for what you believe in!!! Any thoughts?