LEADERSHIP ACTION PROJECTS (LAP)

LAP is the cornerstone of the SNLP program. LAP is based on SNLP’s central philosophy that community involvement is integral to addressing issues affecting young women, and to their development as leaders. Through LAP, students create a unique project, individually or together, which is drawn from their personal experiences and is informed by their work during the Summer Institute and at their CAP (community-based internships). 

These independent projects are developed during their second summer of the program with the support of staff and continue during the year for completion.  This project allows them to become familiar with the power of positive peer and adult support in turning their ideas into reality.  Acts of leadership are not judged on size or scope, but rather effort, action, creativity and sincerity -- all in the belief that no action is too small, if effective.

Some sample recent LAPs included:

• Rushelle is creating a booklet of inspirational quotes from various countries to explore global perspectives on maintaining optimism and perseverance.
  
• Molly is compiling an anthology of experiences about sexual assault, particularly writing by survivors in the form of poetry and prose.
  
• Shoily is developing a website on the different aspects of domestic violence, containing statistics, information, and resources.
  
• Cassandra, Cecelia, and Cherry are promoting awareness about homelessness in the United States by creating 20 dollar bill handouts with statistics and pictures replacing the normal print.
  
• Kimberly is creating stickers and handouts to raise awareness about lupus because many people are even unaware that they may have this disease.
  
• Samantha is creating stickers to raise awareness about arthritis and how many youth may face this disease as well.
  
• Fantashia is continuing her work in a community organization, which she founded called Two and a Half to raise awareness about sexual assault, coined because every two and a half minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted.
  
• WaiTan is putting together a girl’s guide to empowering literature to promote reading literature written by women for the empowerment of young women.
  
• Susie is creating a video documentary on the experiences of youth facing unemployment or low-wage jobs as their only options.
  
• Ellen is compiling a ‘zine about young womens’ experiences with their breasts during different stages in their lives to examine socially constructed ideals about womens’ breasts.
  
• Nicole is exploring the reasons why many youth who are incarcerated have such high recidivism rates, specifically within the Trinidadian population in the United States.

A group of Nashers started a Clothesline Project to address the issues of violence and sexual assault against women.  The Clothesline, along with information sheets, were displayed at the Sadie Nash Summer Institute in Summer 2005 and will be re-displayed at other SNLP events throughout the year.

A group of Nashers launched a sticker campaign to address police brutality.  The young women distributed the stickers they designed to police officers in the Union Square area of Manhattan and engaged them in discussions of how to prevent police brutality.