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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.

Upcoming events:

  • Halloween Spooky Skate: October 25, 4-7:00 p.m. for ages 17 and under at Chez Vous. FULL, NO SPOTS AVAILABLE
  • Girls LEAP Program: Tuesdays at BCYF Hennigan Community Center and Saturdays at BCYF Blackstone Community Center.
  • Girls Leadership Corps Fall/Winter: Thursdays at BCYF Perkins Community Center and BCYF Curtis Hall Community Center.
  • Also.....LGBTIA Peer Leaders (Colors In Blue Collaboration) November, TBA.
  • Braids & Brunch at BCYF Mattahunt Community Center (co sponsored by BPD, LLeggo.) This event will teach Dad how to braid/style their daughters' hair.
  • Gift of Kindness "Crafternoon" in December plus various Christmas Vacation activities (Movies, Boston Bowl, Arts, etc.) Dates TBA.

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. The application should be available in April.

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.

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