Gender Equality United States Project #64984

The Girls Write Now Collaboratory

by Girls Write Now

Project Report | Feb 26, 2026
From mentee to mentor: stories from the Collaboratory

By Kelsey LePage | Development Manager

Mariah and Kei share their Life@GWN story

Since our last update, The Girls Write Now Collaboratory has continued to bring together mentees and mentors across generations and geographies to build creative confidence, strengthen writing skills, and grow meaningful community. Through one to one mentorship, writing workshops, and collaborative spaces, participants are developing their voices while gaining the encouragement and structure needed to keep creating. This season especially reminded us that mentorship is not only about craft, but about connection and belonging.

One story that captures this impact comes from mentor Mariah and her mentee Kei, who were recently featured in our Life at Girls Write Now series. Mariah first joined Girls Write Now as a mentee herself and later returned as a mentor, completing the full circle of leadership that the Collaboratory makes possible. Over the past year, their partnership has centered on sharing writing, exchanging inspiration, and building confidence. Kei reflected that having a mentor who genuinely believes in her work helped quiet imposter syndrome and made pursuing her creative goals feel less intimidating. Mariah shared that mentorship continues to inspire her own writing and reminds her of the power of creating space where young people feel seen and supported.

Stories like theirs represent what the Collaboratory makes possible every day: creative growth rooted in trust, curiosity, and mutual learning. As we move into the next quarter, we are continuing to deepen mentorship relationships and create additional opportunities for participants to experiment, share their work, and celebrate milestones together. Thank you for helping make this community possible.

Mariah participating in a GWN workshop as a mentee

Kei's video series from the Media Journey

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Oct 30, 2025
The Girls Write Now Collaboratory Report

By Kelsey LePage | Development Manager

As 2025 draws to a close, Girls Write Now continues to innovate, connect, and empower young writers and leaders through The Girls Write Now Collaboratory–our dynamic hub for creative expression and mentorship. This season, we’re focused on bridging divides–across generations, experiences, and communities–through the power of story.

Bridging Divides: Connection in Action

This fall, our community came together for the Girls Write Now Awards, celebrating visionary honorees like Rachel Bloom, Suleika Jaouad, Winnie Holzman, Maria Pacheco, and Kardea Brown–each embodying the transformative force of storytelling. Through exclusive interviews, mentee reflections, and live performances, our honorees and participants explored what it means to connect across difference, to listen deeply, and to lead with empathy.

The Collaboratory’s Pair Stories Project has further deepened these intergenerational bonds–pairing mentors and mentees to co-author multimedia narratives that reflect their shared learning and growth. From essays on identity and resilience to collaborative podcasts, these projects demonstrate how stories can unite us even in times of division.

A Community That Grows Together

Our “Journeys” model continues to expand nationally, offering flexible pathways in writing, digital media, and career preparation. Whether through mentorship, a single workshop, or a full creative series, participants find the support they need to thrive. Recent Collaboratory initiatives have included:

Career 360 Workshops on journalism, publishing, and digital storytelling with partners like The New York Times and NBCUniversal.
Wellness & Writing Labs focused on mental health and creative resilience, blending mindfulness and narrative therapy.
The Liminal Photography Project, led by mentee Palmares Bustamante, which provides free portraiture for families in transition and fosters open conversations about mental health.

Spotlight on Our Rising Leader: Kayla Dudley

We are proud to highlight mentee-turned-intern Kayla Dudley, whose journey embodies the mission of the Collaboratory. Through her experience at Girls Write Now, Kayla discovered that creative writing can be healing, empowering and foundational in building community. As she reflected in her Life@GWN blog, she described her mood as “earth green … very grounded and gracious, I feel a lot of support in different avenues of my life.” She founded her own poetry organization, Healotry, during her Lead 360 Journey and now uses her artistry and leadership to uplift others and build legacy. Kayla’s story demonstrates how a flexible, supportive mentorship journey not only nurtures creative skills, but builds confidence, leadership and entrepreneurial spirit—values at the heart of Girls Write Now.

Looking Ahead: Giving Youth Day & Giving Tuesday

As we enter our year-end campaign, we’re proud to join our fellow members of the STARS Citywide Girls Initiative in celebrating #GivingYouthDay on December 1—a day that centers collaboration over competition among youth-serving organizations. We’ll then carry that spirit into Giving Tuesday, engaging mentors, alumni, and supporters to give back and uplift the next generation.

Your continued generosity makes these connections possible. Every dollar helps Girls Write Now bridge divides, amplify underrepresented voices, and create a more equitable future for all young storytellers.

By the Numbers (Since June 2025)

3,000+ youth and mentors engaged across programs
85+ workshops and creative labs hosted nationwide
250+ new mentor-mentee pairs formed
1,200+ stories published through our Collaboratory platforms
35 states represented in our expanding community

A Story of Impact

When mentee Imani joined Girls Write Now, she struggled to see herself as a writer. Through her Collaboratory Journey, she explored digital storytelling, learned from media professionals, and found her voice.

“Girls Write Now gave me the courage to tell stories that matter—to me and to the world. My mentor helped me see that writing is more than a skill; it’s a bridge between who I am and who I’m becoming.”

Stories like Imani’s and Kayla’s remind us why your support matters—because every connection, every page, every word helps bridge divides.

Thank you for being part of this movement for creativity, equality, and hope.

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Jun 18, 2025
The Girls Write Now Collaboratory Report

By Kelsey LePage | Development Manager

In the past few months, Girls Write Now has continued to uplift the voices of the next generation through mentorship, storytelling, and publishing. A major milestone within the last year was the publication of our 2024 anthology, Girls Write Now: Here and Now, featuring more than 120 powerful pieces written by mentees across our programs. These stories reflect a range of experiences, genres, and voices—crafted with care and elevated through intergenerational mentorship.

The anthology includes a foreword by longtime Girls Write Now mentor and award-winning author Donna Hill and an introduction by a mentor and author-illustrator of Justine. The response to this year’s book has been inspiring. Readers and literary leaders alike praised the authenticity, imagination, and emotional depth of the work. One supporter shared:

“Girls Write Now has gifted us an anthology that will compel you to listen and take action by inspiring you to remember what is truly at stake.”

Our launch event took place in our Midtown Manhattan headquarters and was paired with a Summer Showcase where mentees performed their work. The book was distributed at our annual Girls Write Now Awards and through our partner bookstores and corporate collaborators. It reached thousands of readers, helping amplify underrepresented voices across industries and communities.

What’s Next: Hope Lives in Our Words – Our 2025 Anthology

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce the theme of our 2025 anthology: Hope Lives in Our Words. This new collection will once again spotlight original stories from our mentees, supported by their mentors. As with previous editions, we will invite a special contributor to write a 500-word foreword, which will be included in the book and recognized on the cover. This collaboration offers a meaningful way to align with our mission and distribute these stories more widely—across corporate networks, schools, and community partners.

The anthology is expected to launch in late August 2025—an ideal time to share these inspiring works during the back-to-school season. We’ll be offering bulk distribution options to companies and supporters who wish to gift the book to their teams or communities.

By the Numbers (Since Last Report)

1,000+ stories published across platforms
110,000+ story page views
60,000+ digital audience reached
2,000+ anthology copies distributed
30+ states served across the U.S.
Ages 14–94 represented in our mentor and mentee network

A Story of Impact

Shaila, a Girls Write Now mentee, has experienced firsthand the transformative power of mentorship and creative expression. Through her time in our programs, Shaila has found both her voice and her confidence as a writer and leader.

"The confidence to have a voice that GWN has instilled in me is invaluable. I genuinely wish to see the GWN programs extend to young writers on a global scale, and I hope more and more people become aware of the incredible resources and opportunities that GWN offers. Girls Write Now has impacted my life greatly, and I am hopeful to see it continue to grow and inspire others."

Shaila’s story is just one example of how Girls Write Now empowers young people to speak their truths, build lifelong skills, and imagine bold futures—made possible by the support of our community.

Thank You to Our GlobalGiving Community

To everyone who has supported Girls Write Now through GlobalGiving—thank you. Your generosity is helping to amplify the voices of young writers who are so often silenced or overlooked. Because of you, our mentees are not only finding the confidence to tell their stories, but they’re also building skills that will carry them into college, careers, and leadership roles across industries.

Your belief in our mission fuels everything we do. From publishing our annual anthology to building a national community of mentors and mentees, your support is behind every breakthrough moment, every performance, every page.

We are so grateful to be in this work with you. Thank you for standing with us—and for standing with the next generation of writers and leaders.

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