Peer Leaders Win award

Peer Leaders win National Excellence in Youth Advocacy Award 
Rosie, Jomyra and Trysha (pictured) were ecstatic when they got the call.  They didn’t know it, but Ginger Colamussi, who coordinated the Hermanas In Power program they participated in had nominated them for a National award – and they had won!

Focused on community action projects, Hermanas in Power is a program for girls 11-15 where girls build their capacity for leadership and learn how to make a tangible, positive difference in the community.  The girls had identified that sexual abuse and harassment was a major issue facing their peers in the community.  In response to this, the three girls worked as a team and did months of research on the topic, gathering factual data and information on local resources.  They then created Real Life, Teen Life – a newsletter designed for girls, by girls. 

It was the success of this newsletter, that was disseminated to girls all over Holyoke and Chicopee, that won them the Excellence in Youth Advocacy Award from the National Girls Incorporated organization.  Suzanne Parker accepted the award on their behalf at Girls Inc. National’s Annual Conference, held in California this year. 

To view the newsletter, click here.