InStep Joins Women's Lab at CSI NYC

This October, I'm proud to announce that InStep Consulting has become one of 40 Founding Members at the Women's Lab at Centre for Social Innovation, a collaborative and supportive workspace and community for social mission organizations benefiting young girls and women.

The Women's Lab will pave the way for focused programming, storytelling of member successes, and access to a vibrant and robust alumni network. CSI is in a position to provide Women's Lab members with targeted connections and even more relevant resources and networks, ultimately accelerating our impact on the world.

Overall, Centre for Social Innovation is a space created exclusively for individuals and organizations with a social mission. I'm so excited to join this thriving community of social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, creatives, and innovators who are changing the world! Oh, and did I mention: not only can CSI members recycle, but there is also onsite FOOD SCRAP collection for COMPOSTING!!

If you're in the NYC area, stop by to say HELLO! :-)

Name the Sheroes of NEW Community for Women

I believe that a solid support system is essential for women to achieve and maintain good health, optimal well-being, and a stellar lifestyle. I want to help women create the lives we really, really want.

For these reasons (and more!), I'm creating a community for women that's based on authenticity, empathy, and self-awareness. I want to use my coaching skills and the tools I've used  for my own development to benefit other women.

Not wanting to build this in a vacuum, I'm reaching out for your input and feedback. The first way you can help is easy and FUN! Help me name the She-roes of our new community! Take 4 minutes to vote on your 4 favorite names in the polls below. These she-roes will represent the four profiles through which we can learn more about ourselves as women and relate better to one another. I'll share the poll results and more info about our sister community soon! THANK YOU!

Which is your favorite girl name?

Bailey

Beth

Bianca

Brianna

Bridget

Brooke

poll generator

If you were naming a girl (baby, kitten, puppy) which name would you choose?

Gabrielle

Gail

Gianna

Gina

Giselle

Grace

Poll Maker

Your best friend asked your help naming her little girl. Which name would you choose?

Rachel

Raven

Rebecca

Rebekah

Riley

Robyn

Poll Maker

You're excited! Finally a new girl is being added to your team; and her name is ...

Yasmin

Yesenia

Yolanda

Yulia

Yvette

Yvonne

Poll Maker

This is MY Moment: The Girl Declaration

"I was not put on this earth to be invisible. I was not born to be denied. I was not given life only to belong to someone else. I belong to ME. I have a voice and I will use it."

These are the first few lines of The Girl Declaration. So empowering! Even more inspiring when you hear Yaweta Chavula and Laiba Shahzadi announce the initiative on behalf of Nike at the Clinton Global Initiative. Watch until the end of the video below to see how they steal some of the thunder from Chelsea Clinton!



On this Blog Action Day, I've decided to write about Girl's Rights, since the health and well-being of girls has been shown to be an indicator of how well all humans are doing. You could argue that if we protect the rights of girls that we are protecting the rights of all people.

I'm inspired by this Girl Declaration as a woman and as someone who didn't always believe in the power of my voice. I've since learned how important it is for me (and all girls and women) to speak up for that in which we believe. The words of the Declaration are based on research and consultation with over 500 girls, ages 10-19, living in poverty in 14 countries around the world. It was written with girls, for girls. I think this Girl Declaration should be posted in every classroom to remind girls of the power in their voice. Of course, that presumes that girls are allowed and encouraged to attend school in their community!

The goals of The Girl Declaration are so powerful in their potential to impact everyone -- given that there are close to 600 million girls aged 10-19 living in the world today or approximately 8.5% of the population. [UNICEF State of the World's Children 2011]

GOAL 1—EDUCATION
Girls reach adulthood with relevant skills and knowledge to participate in economic, social and cultural life.

GOAL 2—HEALTH
Adolescent girls have access to safe, age-appropriate health and nutrition information and services, and possess the confidence to make healthy transitions to adulthood.

GOAL 3—SAFETY
Adolescent girls are free from violence and exploitation and are supported by enforced laws, child protection systems and their communities.

GOAL 4—ECONOMIC SECURITY
Adolescent girls know how to build and protect their economic assets and earn a safe income. Governments, communities and the private sector uphold girls' economic rights.

GOAL 5—CITIZENSHIP
Adolescent girls have equal access to services, opportunities, legal rights and personal freedom, and are able to fully participate as citizens of their communities.

The Girls Declaration was written because girls were left out of the original Millennium Development Goals to eliminate extreme poverty around the world by 2015. Now that girls have been included, what will we do to support the growth and development of girls around the world? What can YOU do to support a girl in your family or community? Share your thoughts and ideas here in the comments, or you can always tweet me on Twitter.

This is OUR Moment!