Hardy Girls' Exec makes Mainebiz Top Ten List
Each year Mainebiz releases the Next List, a list of ten people shaping the future of Maine's economy. This year, we're excited to announce that Hardy Girls' executive director Megan Williams is among the distinguished group of 'Nexters'

Presque Isle Film Series Hopes to Empower Girls
The Aroostook County Hardy Girls Coalition held a film series at the University of Maine at Presque Isle addressing how media affects the development of girls and boys.

Hardy Girls' 2nd Annual Girls Rock! Weekend
Hardy Girls' 2nd Annual Girls Rock! Weekend gave girls room to use their voices, and made headlines too!
Non-Profit Brings Girls Together
At Gathering of Girls, Poetry Unfurls

Hardy Girls Healthy Women respond to the Maine election and its impact on youth.

As you know, yesterday was a big day here in Maine. With a slim majority, Mainers voted to repeal the law that granted the right to same-sex couples to marry. One of our first thoughts here at Hardy Girls was how this news, and Campaign messages on both sides, have impacted Maine youth and their sense of community and safety. I think we can all agree that the security, support, and wellbeing of our youth are core concerns. For that reason, we are including a few resources to support your new, ongoing, and renewed work to protect and support all youth. Download tips sheets, resources, and discussion questions at the Ugly Ducklings and Hardy Girls Healthy Women websites

As we learned from the Ugly Ducklings National Campaign to Reduce Bullying and Harassment of LGBTQ Youth, the importance of safe, supportive communities for all youth cannot be understated. According to the 2007 GLSEN National School Climate Survey:

-86.2% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 44.1% reported being physically harassed and 22.1% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

-73.6% heard derogatory remarks such as "faggot" or "dyke" frequently or often at school.

-More than half (60.8%) of students reported that they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and more than a third (38.4%) felt unsafe because of their gender expression.

- 31.7% of LGBT students missed a class and 32.7% missed a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe, compared to only 5.5% and 4.5%, respectively, of a national sample of secondary school students.

The statistics are staggering but they highlight the need for all of us to continue to fight for environments where all youth can thrive: in families, schools, and communities free of bias-based harassment and violence.

Whether or not the state recognizes same-sex marriages does not diminish the impact that this election has on Maine families, and in particular, children. We encourage you to please reach out to the young people in your life and encourage conversation about how we can all work to create an ideal environment where all youth can grow up free of harassment. Now, more than ever, it's important for young people to know where they can turn to for support, information, and allies.

For all our friends and allies, we recommend the following resources for reducing bullying, harassment, and violence.

Safe, Fair and Responsive Schools

Dora the Explorer Petition

The petition to stop Mattel and Nickelodeon from tween-ifying Dora has been getting a lot of attention. Check out these great stories from CNN, the Washington Post, the Chicago Sun Times and more!

Dora the Sexy Explorer? Megan Williams on FoxNews                                                                              Tweenage Dora the Explorer doll sparks debate                                                                                           Dora the Explorer to grow up into short-skirt wearing fashionista tween?
Dora the Explorer No More?
Dora the Explorer dolls get controversial new look
Controversy Over Dora the Explorer's New Look
Dora the Explorer to get Bratz Style Makeover?
Molesta a padres el cambio de look de 'Dora la exploradora' de Nick
'Boy Crazy' Dora?
Why is Mattel turning dear Dora into tweenage Gossip Girl?
Dora the Streetwalker: Sexing-Up Dora the Explorer