BCYF G.I.R.L.S.
BCYF G.I.R.L.S. programs focus on Growth, Intervention, Respect, Leadership, and Service for Girls.
Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) provides high quality programs and services for Boston’s girls. G.I.R.L.S. helps Boston’s girls meet their full potential through programs that meet their interests and needs. G.I.R.L.S. meets girls’ needs in an empowering, supportive, and welcoming environment. We want all girls to become healthy, strong, self-confident, and successful women. BCYF girls' programming is inclusive of girls of all ages, interests, and backgrounds.
G.I.R.L.S. programming includes:
- BCYF Girls' Nights
- BCYF Girls’ Leadership Corps
- Youth Trainings
- Staff Professional Development
- Girls Only Program Time: designated times and spaces set aside for girls programming
Girls Nights
We offer a variety of Girls Nights year-round for Boston girls. Pre-registration is required for each event by emailing Erika.Butler@boston.gov.
Summer 2024 events:
Boston Bowl Takeover: Wednesday, July 24, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Codzilla Boat Ride: Thursday, August 1 Postponed, new date to be announced.
Boston Light Show at Franklin Park: Rescheduled to Friday, August 23, 6 p.m.
Girls Sunset Beach Party: Tuesday, August 13, BCYF Curley Community Center, 5pm.
Girls Ice Cream Social at JP Licks: Tuesday, August 20, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Brigham Circle.
Learn more and register: Erika.Butler@boston.gov.
BCYF Girls’ Leadership Corps
The BCYF Girls' Leadership Corps (GLC) is for girls ages 12 - 14. GLC takes place during the summer. Summer 2023 is full.
Leadership Corps members:
- take part in personal and leadership development workshops
- learn to establish positive and healthy lifestyle goals
- build essential skills and confidence to become successful and independent women
- develop and support girls programming
- lead community service projects, and
- engage other young women in workshops to address issues facing young women.
Trainings and professional development
BCYF G.I.R.L.S. facilitates training opportunities for both youth and staff. Trainings address issues that concern girls and women in Boston.
Partners providing training include, among others:
- Girls’ LEAP
- Girls Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, and
- Big Sister Association of Greater Boston.
Training topics include:
- interventions for violence perpetrated against women by men or by other women
- trauma response and sensitivity
- teen pregnancy
- healthy relationships
- exploitation prevention, and
- sports-based youth development focused on girls.
The BCYF G.I.R.L.S. Initiative is grateful for the sponsorship of the Shannon Grant and the Foundation for BCYF, and the support of Beats By Girlz, Girls' Leap, Love Your Menses, InnHer Uplift Consulting LLC, the Boston Police Department's Civic Engagement Unit and G.R.O.W. Girls program, the YWCA, and the Boston Housing Authority.