Tune into the latest ‘reality’ show, take a stroll down the aisles at a girls’ clothing store, or pick up the latest edition of a teen magazine and you’ll get a taste of what girls are up against every day.  From ‘wink wink’ and ‘eye candy’ slogan emblazoned across Abercrombie & Fitch thongs to Bratz party planes complete with juice bars, the messages girls get about their bodies, sexuality, and about each other are at best harmful and degrading.

We know that girls aren’t the problem and that programs designed to raise girls’ self-esteem or in some way fix girls aren’t sustainable solutions to the cultural dilemmas girls face daily.  In this half-day or day-long training developed by Dr. Lyn Mikel Brown and Dr. Mary Madden, Hardy Girls Healthy Women can teach you to a new way to support girls as they become critics of the culture and work together to create a better world for each other.

Call Emily Brostek at (207) 861-8131 or email emily.brostek@hghw.org to bring this transformative day-long training to you and your colleagues.

What people will leave with:

“As a camp director and more importantly as the mother of a teenage girl, I really appreciated the tone set in this training. I have found that the messages out there for girls in the media are so toxic right now and I find it refreshing to hear a message about changing the message rather than changing the girls who are just trying to figure out how to have a voice and power in a difficult society.” –Shannon, Chimney Corners Camp for Girls

“Cultivating Hardiness Zones was a wonderful day of training at our site led by Lyn Mikel Brown and HGHW board member, Anne Belden.  We had 75 participants (teachers, school counselors, therapists, administrators) who unanimously endorsed the success of the day.  The program combined an energizing mix of didactic material and experiential exercises.  The presenters created a safe environment in which participants could speak freely and learn without inhibition.   Participants reported being excited to develop new skills and to feel empowered to better support the girls and young women in their lives.  There was a great sense of camaraderie and shared inspiration. I would highly recommend this program, and this wonderful organization, to you.” –Sharon, Strong Moms Strong Girls

“When the team that created the Real Deal: A Summer Leadership Experience for Girls started its work, we needed a place of inception that would provide us with the guiding principles to dream a program around. It did not take us long to find it: the “Ten Tips for Creating Hardiness Zones for Girls” document served as our anchor and our inspiration to create an experience we know will be transformative for our girls. We invited Lyn Mikel Brown to our school about six weeks later.  During an extended lunch meeting with the Real Deal team, Lyn proved why she is a foremost authority on girls’ development:  her vast experience and knowledge aside, she is truly a muse who inspires. One team member put it this way: ‘Strong women listen well. Lyn did just that. She modeled the Hardy Girls Healthy Women concept of “muse” and listened us into a deeper understanding of what we are doing well and the directions we'd like to take to strengthen our work’.” – Mariandl, Agnes Irwin School