Sadie Nash Leadership Project

PARTNERSHIP AND TRAINING

In addition to after school programs and summer programs, Sadie Nash also offers our Partnerships Program whereby we bring customized leadership classes for young women to individual sites. The Partnerships Program offers schools and community based organizations supplemental resources and opportunities they might not otherwise have. In addition to an on-site leadership class, partnerships also create a pathway for young women to apply to our intensive summer leadership institute and subsequent paid internships and fellowships. Partnership programs have a sliding scale fee, but we are especially committed to providing leadership opportunities for harder to reach young women.

If you feel this describes your population, please be in touch about a no-cost class. Contact Shreya Malena-Sannon at shreya@sadienash.org, or at 718.422.8664.

How it works:
The classes fall under one (or a combination of) four specific program categories:
• Healthy Minds and Bodies
• Creative Self-Expression
• Social Issues and Social Justice
• Youth Leadership Development

All classes are based on a popular education model, and are taught by experienced youth educators. All educators are trained in SNLP mission and philosophy and receive supervision and training from SNLP professional program staff. All classes foster leadership and community development while teaching a practical skill. Classes have been offered during the traditional school day and after school. Depending on the school, students have also been eligible to receive gym, community service, or graduation credit for these classes. We also offer on-site staff development training, workshops at school conferences, and support in designing and implementing leadership curricula for after school groups.

Recent examples of classes:
Healthy Minds and Bodies: A yoga class that teaches basic yoga poses and also explores how youth can stay present, manage their stress, and deal with conflict in their lives. A teen support group, led by an MSW, offering a safe space to speak about challenges in their lives while also teaching participants healthy coping and decision making skills.

Creative Self-Expression: A printmaking class that teaches three different types of printmaking and hands-on art making to address social justice issues. A DJ’ing class that teaches hands-on skills while also examining and challenging representations of women in music. A dance class that focuses on self-esteem, creative expression and teamwork through group choreography.

Social Issues and Social Justice: A law class that operates as a courtroom in which students learn about the Constitution and prominent Supreme Court cases by taking on the roles of plaintiffs, defendants, attorneys, and judges. A social justice class that explores historical and contemporary youth-led movements and examines local issues within the community.

Youth Leadership Development: Drawn from our core Summer Leadership Curriculum, we offer two leadership development classes: Leadership Seminar where young women explore their own notions of leadership, challenge traditional leadership models, and further develop their own leadership styles; and Leadership Action Project where young women identify an issue within their school or community, collectively strategize a solution, learn organizing and activism basics, and take action to address the issue.

View Spring 2010 Partnership classes

“I have learned how I can protect myself, express myself, and speak up for myself.”
Participant

“Our young women, and school community, have benefited enormously from this relationship. Each summer we have had students accepted to SNLP's Summer Institute, and these young women invariably start their next year of high school with more self confidence and positivity.”
College Services Coordinator, Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice

“As a result of their participation in the Sadie Nash “Mujeres del Tambor” program, young women at our school have explored their cultural history and their identity while finding their voice and developing leadership skills. The program is an essential safe, healthy and nurturing space for teenage girls to co-create a network of mutual support, to cultivate stronger friendships with each other, and to navigate the challenges of adolescence.”
Director of School Programs & Community Partnerships, The Pan American International High School

“The young women who participated in the ‘Say It Loud!’ Writing Project enjoyed every minute of it. They especially enjoyed creating their very own poetry publication with the help of their teacher. The program has helped instill in our Graham Windham girls a sense of confidence about their writing, and will surely inspire them to keep writing and to say it LOUD!”
Director of Educational Policy, Planning and Practice, Graham Windham

“I feel like I can be in control without taking control from other people I may work with in the future. I stand up for what I believe in and have no doubt about what I am capable of.”
Participant