Gender Justice

GENDER JUSTICE

Mission: There’s a dearth of African-American women in science, technology, engineering and math professions, an absence that cannot be explained by a lack of interest in these fields. Lack of access and lack of exposure to STEM topics are the likelier culprits. Black Girls provides young and pre-teen girls of color opportunities to learn in-demand skills in technology and computer programming at a time when they are naturally thinking about what they want to be when they grow up. That, really, is the Black Girls Code mission:  to introduce programming and technology to a new generation of coders, coders who will become builders of technological innovation and of their own futures. Imagine the impact that these curious, creative minds could have on the world with the guidance and encouragement others take for granted. 

Website: http://www.blackgirlscode.com/volunteer-signup.html
Phone: 510-398-0880
Email: n/a

What volunteers do:

• tech instructor
• tech assistant
• classroom assistant
• social media
• general office/admin help
• general IT/tech support

Mission: Black Women’s Blueprint, Inc. is a civil and human rights organization of women and men. We work to develop a culture where women of African descent are fully empowered and where gender, race and other disparities are erased. We work to place Black women and girls’ lives as well as their particular struggles squarely within the context of the larger racial justice concerns of Black communities and are committed to building movements where gender matters in broader social justice organizing so that all members of our communities gain social, political and economic equity. We engage in progressive research, historical documentation, policy advocacy and organizing steeped in the struggles of Black women within their diverse communities and within dominant culture. We engage in progressive research, historical documentation, support movement building and organize on social justice issues steeped in the struggles of Black women within their communities and within dominant culture.

Website: http://www.blackwomensblueprint.org/careers.html
Phone: 347-533-9102/9103
Email: info@blackwomensblueprint.org

What volunteers do:

• specialists in History, Women's Studies, or African Studies help with the organization's continuous Black HerStory Project

Borough: Brooklyn

Mission: Our mission is to encourage inner city youth, especially girls, to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We are motivated by the United States overall lag in producing an adequate number of STEM professionals and the under representation of women and people of color. Through early application, hands on training, mentorship, tutoring and social events Digital Girl, Inc. will boost confidence, raise self esteem and STEM career awareness within less fortunate areas to create professionals who can be positive contributors to society.

Website: http://www.digitalgirlinc.org/volunteer
Phone: 347-857-8647
Email: inbox@digitalgirlinc.org

What volunteers do:

• work in afterschool STEM/coding programs
• administrative support

Borough: Brooklyn

Mission: The Fairy Godsister, Inc. (FGS) is dedicated to supporting high-potential women and girls through the developmentally crucial ages of 16-24. We offer a unique mentoring program that seeks to build organic sisterly relationships between accomplished female professionals and promising young women whose circumstances have denied them the opportunity to realize the full extent of their capabilities. By pairing them with older women who have demonstrated significant success in their field, we empower our mentees to develop leadership skills, attain academic success, grow both personally and emotionally, and ultimately fulfill their long-term professional and personal goals.

Website: http://www.thefairygodsister.org/join-fgs
Email: info@thefairygodsister.org
Phone: n/a

What volunteers do:

• support mentee on ongoing basis through one-on-one meetings and weekly communication by email and telephone

FYI:

• background check required

Mission: If a girl can change her own life, she can change the lives of girls everywhere. We envision a world in which every girl is valued and encouraged to be a leader and change maker. Girl Be Heard develops, amplifies, and celebrates the voices of young women through socially conscious theatre-making. 

Website: http://girlbeheard.org/join-the-movement-2/mentor-a-girl/
Phone: 718-222-4475
Email: volunteer@girlbeheard.org 

What volunteers do:

• mentor a girl aged 12-21 who is participating in the theatre program (minimum of monthly in-person meetings with mentee plus interim communication)

Mission: Girls Inc. delivers life-changing programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Research-based curricula, delivered by trained professionals, equip girls to achieve academically, lead healthy and physically active lives, manage money, navigate media messages and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering and math. Girls Inc. develops research-based informal education programs that encourage girls to take risks and master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges. Major programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media literacy, economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation.

Website: http://www.girlsincnyc.org/volunteer.html
Email: volunteer@girlsincnyc.org
Phone: 212-531-7620

What volunteers do:

• help in after-school programs
• participate in career roundtables
• participate in college life workshops
• community projects
• guest facilitate workshops

Mission: We’re a national non-profit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. Tech jobs are among the fastest growing in the country, yet girls are being left behind. While interest in computer science ebbs over time, the biggest drop off happens between the ages of 13-17. The gender gap in computing has actually been getting worse since the 1980s. By 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs available in computing related fields. US graduates are on track to fill 29% of those jobs. Women are on track to fill just 3%. Girls Who Code is building the largest pipeline of future female engineers in the United States. When girls learn to code, they become change agents in their communities. Whether it’s a game to illustrate the experience of an undocumented immigrant or a website to provide free college prep, our girls create technology that makes the world a better place.

Website: https://girlswhocode.com/volunteer/
Phone: n/a
Email: https://girlswhocode.com/contact-us/

What volunteers do:

• facilitate a club 3-4 hours/week

FYI:

• curriculum provided
• no computer experience needed, but teaching experience important

Mission: With eighteen years of experience under our belt, Girls Write Now knows a lot about community-building, mentoring, empowering women, writing, and more. We put that knowledge into action through our programs — highly-structured, yet personalized; challenging, yet rewarding; and designed to provide creative and engaging opportunities for women of all ages. Our mentoring programs match girls with professional women writers and includes portfolios, readings, and publication, supplemented with supports like workshops and college prep. Through our college prep offerings, we help New York City area girls navigate the college admissions process. Our CHAPTERS Reading Series and QWERTY Digital Exhibition, held annually in the spring, are open to all and showcases the city’s best teen writers. We take girls seriously for who they are, as well as who they will become. The relationships we foster tear down stereotypes, building a community of women writers of all ages who work to inspire and support one another with every pair session, every reading, and every workshop. 

Website: https://www.girlswritenow.org/get-involved/be-a-mentor/
Phone: 212-336-9330
Email: mentor@girlswritenow.org

What volunteers do:

• in-person weekly one-to-one mentoring sessions, monthly writing workshops, and special events for a full school year (September to June)

FYI:

• two years of professional experience in writing, print, or digital media plus background check required

Mission: L.O.V.E. supports and empowers young Latinas to strive both in school and in life by providing positive role models. L.O.V.E.’s vision is that all Latinas graduate from high school, attain higher education, and live successful lives. The L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program recruits volunteer female university students to support, guide, and be a role model to young Latinas during their high school years. Through a series of structured mentoring and group activities that concentrate on personal empowerment, developing study skills, and college access, the L.O.V.E. Mentoring Program aims to provide a space in which young Latinas can learn how to strive personally and academically through positive reinforcement, consistency and understanding. L.O.V.E. is a curriculum-based program that consists of three core components: personal empowerment, study skills, and college access. Each session has its own focus area and theme. Each mentoring session is a collective gathering of mentors and mentees, where participants engage in both group activities and one-to-one interactions, guided by a workshop.

Website: http://www.lovementoring.org/application/
Email: claudia@lovementoring.org
Phone: n/a

What volunteers do:

• college-age women mentor high-school age mentee (help with homework, college applications, or give suggestions/feedback for long-term or short-term educational or personal goals) in ongoing relationship with weekly meetings and other shared activities

FYI:

• application, interview required

Mission: NDWA works for the respect, recognition, and inclusion in labor protections for domestic workers. Domestic workers care for our children, provide essential support for seniors and people with disabilities to live with dignity at home, and perform the home care work that makes all other work possible. They are skilled and caring professionals, but for many years, they have labored in the shadows, and their work has not been valued. These workers deserve respect, dignity and basic labor protections. NDWA is winning improved working conditions while building a powerful movement rooted in the human rights and dignity of domestic workers, immigrants, women, and their families by working with a broad range of groups and individuals to change how we value care, women, families, and our communities; developing women of color leaders and investing in grassroots organizations to realize their potential; and building powerful state, regional, and national campaigns for concrete change. Together, we can win the protections and recognition that this vital American workforce needs.

Website: https://www.domesticworkers.org/volunteer
Volunteer form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1qh-DIeK_9ziFPkhau659kQxr9c9FJZFCiK3AlRT_xMU/viewform?edit_requested=true
Phone: 646-360-5806
Email: info@domesticworkers.org or arun@domesticworkers.org or yashna@domesticworkers.org

What volunteers do:

• communications
• development
• design
• digital and social media
• domestic worker organizing team
• finance & operations
• international organizing
• legal team
• policy team
• social innovations team
• join We Belong Together immigration campaign
• join We Dream in Black — Black domestic worker organizing campaign

Mission: New Women New Yorkers is dedicated to empowering young women immigrants in New York City. Through our programs we provide them with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to recognize and develop their potential, pursue better educational and professional opportunities, and become role-models and agents of change in and for their communities. Our focus is on serving recent women immigrants, first-generation high school and college students, refugees and asylum seekers, and immigrant mothers with young children, regardless of legal status. The 16-35 age range is a key period in the life of any woman, a time of significant identity development and decision-making, both in the personal and family realms, as well as with regard to educational and professional advancement. We work with young women immigrants coming from all national, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Cross-community projects and activities help reduce inter-group prejudice and promote community relations. Also, because the young women immigrants who participate in our programs do not share the same native language, this stimulates the use of English to communicate, while making it less intimidating. Although New Women New Yorkers does not offer ESL classes, it incorporates the English language component in all projects and activities in an innovative and effective way.

Website: http://www.nywomenimmigrants.org/volunteer/
Email: abbey@nywomenimmigrants.org
Phone: n/a

What volunteers do:

• attend one team meeting/month
• edit
• blog

FYI:

• fluency in another language a plus

Mission: Our mission is to defend and promote the fundamental principles and values embodied in the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the New York Constitution, including freedom of speech and religion, and the right to privacy, equality and due process of law for all New Yorkers. We believe that all New Yorkers have inalienable rights that cannot be taken away by the government or by majority vote. They are: 1) Freedom of speech, press, petition and assembly. Even unpopular expression is protected from government suppression and censorship. 2) Freedom of religion. Each of us has the right to exercise his or her own religion, or no religion, free from any government influence or compulsion. 3) Privacy. We have the right to be free from unwarranted and unwanted government intrusion into our personal and private affairs, papers and possessions. 4) Due process of law. We have right to be treated fairly by the government whenever the loss of liberty or property is at stake. 5) Equality before the law. We have the right to be treated equally regardless of nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, disability or socio-economic status. The NYCLU fights for civil liberties and civil rights through a multi-layered program of litigation, advocacy, public education and community organizing. Our clients are men and women, rich and poor, gay and straight, black, white and brown, young and old, religious and atheist, able-bodied and living with a disability, citizens and immigrants. When we vindicate their rights, all New Yorkers benefit.

Website: http://nyclu.org/content/our-advocacy-program
Volunteer sign-up form: https://action.aclu.org/secure/volunteer-nyclu
Phone: 212-607-3300
Email: n/a

What volunteers do:

• online activism
• grassroots lobbying
• community organizing
• lobby with NYCLU in Albany (next day of action March 13, 2017)
• monitor protests
• writing/journalism
• research
• help fundraise
• graphic design
• multimedia support
• translate (Arabic , Chinese , French, Hindi, Korean, Kreyol, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Urdu)
• photography/videography
• education

Mission: The New York Women’s Foundation creates an equitable and just future for women and families by uniting a cross-cultural alliance that ignites action and invests in bold, community-led solutions across the city. Decision-making leadership for the Foundation is drawn from a diverse alliance comprising women of wealth, professional women, and community leaders of all backgrounds. Guidance for grantmaking comes directly from the communities to be supported; and grantmaking is principally carried out by volunteer activists. Foundation support reinforces the efforts of organizations seeking viable solutions for individual, community, and broad-based challenges. Foundation grants primarily support women-led, grassroots organizations working on the core economic – and other related – issues of the city’s most under-served women and girls.

Website: http://www.nywf.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Phone: 212-514-6993
Email: volunteer@nywf.org 

What volunteers do:

• Corporate Leadership Committee (mid to senior level corporate women from diverse industries) meet approximately once a month to create and implement fundraising strategies
• Circle of Sisters for Social Change brings together socially conscious women to harness their financial resources and networks to build a collective voice for social change philanthropy in New York City
• Participatory Review Committee is a leadership opportunity for young women of color who want to expand their understanding of philanthropy and participate in the Young Women’s Initiative grantmaking process (reviewing proposals, making site visits, and making recommendations)
• Grants Advisory Committee members work in teams to review proposals, conduct site visits, and make recommendations for funding
• volunteers who do not wish to join committees can help host events and public education forums

Mission: NOW-NYC gives women a powerful voice.  As the largest NOW (National Organization for Women) chapter in the country, we play a key role in shaping the debate on the issues that impact women, creating policies, and holding government and business accountable to the women of New York. We work to defend reproductive rights, fight economic inequality, and end discrimination and violence against women.

Website: http://nownyc.org/get-involved/
Volunteer form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexp4Ruc64-Xlgnven_9rdRKY1EvgipahmaVXqQ5vAmM_ndvw/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=send_form
Clinic escort form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewf8_ek8gsCuArSyoMQsmL2Z5pJX-OymEPUykyqjr2KfkiyQ/viewform
Phone: 212-627-9895
Email: contact@nownyc.org

What volunteers do:

• phonebank
• protest
• lobby elected officials locally and in Albany
• act as clinic escort
• assist with fundraising
• photography/videography
• graphic design/web design
• communications

FYI:

• training provided for clinic escorts
• clinic escorts needed in Queens, every Saturday 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Borough: Manhattan, Queens

Mission: RPGA Studio is a social practice nonprofit that uses art + design + education + technology to address community issues. Our areas of focus are: youth, commercial corridors, transportation safety, garbage, and revitalizing outdoor spaces. "Women Who Build: Artist Who Own' empowers women and girls by giving them the tools they need to grow, the networks they need to succeed, and the confidence they need to persevere. It’s about women working together to learn to build with their own hands in an industry dominated by males. The skills women learn help them go back to their homes and communities, feel empowered, and have stronger women networks to draw strength from. RPGA also works with students to paint murals, and on virtual-reality projects that help communities change behaviors around litter and transportation.

Website: http://www.regoparkgreenalliance.org/
Phone: 718-433-4659
Email: Yvonne Shortt, founder: yvonne@regoparkgreenalliance.org

What volunteers do:

• help with Tiny House build (no prior experience necessary, just an interest in learning how to use tools)
• fundraise, marketing
• volunteers with construction skills, architects, industrial designers very helpful
• one-time activities in neighborhood revitalization (2-3 hour commitment) include: help students paint murals, design and plant local gardens, staff a virtual-reality stand

Borough: Queens

Mission: Unchained At Last is the only nonprofit in the US dedicated to helping women and girls leave or avoid arranged/forced marriages and rebuild their lives. Unchained also is the only nonprofit in the US dedicated to creating social, policy and legal change to end forced and child marriage in America. Unchained is also the only nonprofit in the US dedicated to promoting social and policy change to prevent forced marriage. Unchained raises awareness about forced marriage and advocates for relevant legislation. Unchained At Last envisions a world where every woman is free to choose whether, when and whom to marry — and whether to get divorced.

Website: http://www.unchainedatlast.org/get-involved/
Email: n/a
Volunteer application: http://www.unchainedatlast.org/volunteer-application/
Phone: 908-481-HOPE

What volunteers do:

• career counseling
• financial planning
• lawyers provide pro-bono services to clients
• psychotherapists provide pro-bono services to clients

FYI:

• two professional references and resume required
• separate applications for lawyers and psychotherapists

Mission: Our mission is to empower low-income immigrant women who are struggling to find their place in a new culture. The experience can be overwhelming. Many of these women are in disadvantaged situations including domestic violence, financial or emotional abuse, as well as those recent immigrants who are seeking friendship and bonding support. Wishwas was created to guide these women by offering them vocational skills training and job mentoring to help them find employment. Courses such as conversational English, nutrition, health and hygiene are part of our holistic approach to empowering women today for a brighter future. Wishwas’ vision is to create a socio-economic integration model for immigrant women’s economic mobility. As such, Wishwas uses an innovative workforce development model that mixes vocational literacy with skill building micro-credit projects. It builds on the skills many immigrant women bring to this country, connects them to resources, and helps them adjust to the life in their new country. It also serves as a support system for those with domestic violence issues or in other financially and emotionally abusive situations.

Website: http://wishwas.org/contactus/get-involed/
Email: team@wishwas.org
Phone: n/a

What volunteers do:

• marketing
• community outreach (Bengali speakers)
• coordinate programs
• organize events
• clerical work

Borough: Queens

Mission: Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a grassroots, civil society organization; our mission is dedicated to securing and protecting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women and girls in Afghanistan and New York, particularly their rights to develop their individual potential, to self-determination, and to be represented in all areas of life: political, social, cultural and economic. We advocate for women's rights and challenge the norms that underpin gender-based violence wherever opportunities arise to influence attitudes and bring about change.

Website: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/volunteer
Email: yalda@womenforafghanwomen.org
Phone: 718-591-2434

What volunteers do:

• homework help/tutor children in 1st-8th grades, weekly commitment encouraged (Tues, Wed or Thurs, 4-6)
• instructor in empowerment classes for women (ESOL, computer basics, learner’s permit prep, citizenship interview prep) weekly commitment for 4-5 weeks, female volunteers only
• marketing, accounting, publicity/PR, management

FYI:

• all volunteering with Afghan women and children through NY Cares (link on WAW website)

Borough: Queens
 

Mission: The Women in the Arts & Media Coalition combines our member organizations' abilities and strengths, focusing on issues of concern to women in the arts and media. Women in the Arts & Media Coalition-sponsored events, presentations, and networking provide unique forums for the presentation of issues and ideas relating to women's voices and visions in the performing arts and media. We are committed to being the link between our member organizations as we collaborate to empower women in our industry through advocacy, mentoring, networking, and events.

Website: http://www.womenartsmediacoalition.org/support/#volunteer
Email: info@womenartsmediacoalition.org
Phone: 212-592-4511

What volunteers do:

• graphic design
• computer technology
• finance
• fundraise
• social media
• assist at events

Mission: To celebrate womanhood through racial and gender justice. The WomanHOOD Project is an after school leadership program for young women of color in the Bronx. The WomanHOOD Project envisions the Bronx as a community known for its empowered youth who rightfully demand justice and acknowledgement of their dignity. By participating in WomanHOOD, young women of color emerge as leaders of their community, poised for their future and ready to take on community leadership roles. Our organization strives to be a space for growth and support for young adult women of color as well as for the high school young women we work with. We have written our own unique curriculum that teaches media literacy, community organizing and public speaking skills to young women of color through engagement with popular culture, political events and social justice.

Website: http://www.thewomanhoodproject.org/who-we-are
Mentor application: http://www.thewomanhoodproject.org/2015-2016-staff--mentor-application
Phone: n/a
Email: thewomanhoodproject.bronx@gmail.com

What volunteers do:

• curriculum writers and mentors facilitate weekly workshops that teach media literacy, community organizing and public speaking skills (Friday afternoons for the academic year)
• media/outreach volunteers develop social media content, advertisement and graphics, as well as newsletters
• technological development volunteers work on website, graphic design, and app
• handle operational logistics from taking minutes at staff meetings, outreach to potential partner organizations, draft partnership contracts

FYI:

• open only to young women of color, under age 30; mentors must be between 18-25
• application and 30-45-minute interview required (interview on Columbia campus)
• must read organization's core values before applying
• all positions require attendance at weekly staff meetings (Thursday nights from 8-9:30pm) and team retreats at Bronx office
• mentors must enjoy and feel comfortable engaging with their peers in lively discussions ranging from politics to music to body image and representation
• no previous curriculum writing experience required.
• media volunteers must love images, videos, and articles by and about women of color
• tech volunteers do not have to be experts

Borough: Bronx

Mission: Young Feminists and Allies (YFA) is the National Organization for Women's (NOW) inaugural virtual chapter, with members from Arizona to New York. NOW is the ONLY membership-led, completely democratic, national, multi-issue feminist organization in the U.S. NOW members decide on everything from who the officers are to the issues the organization will focus on. YFA’s purpose is to help bring young women, men, trans and gender nonconforming folks into activism and give a greater voice to youth, who can feel underrepresented. We also work with our allies to foster intergenerational and intersectional exchanges. We want feminists of ALL AGES to join us: we stand on the shoulders of those before us, while acknowledging the need to center the leadership of young feminists, who are often not given leadership roles within the movement. 

Web: https://www.youngfeministsnow.com
Phone: 917-979-3696
Email: YoungFeminists@gmail.com

What volunteers do:

• participate in intergenerational and intersectional exchanges both online and in person
• mentor younger members of the group
• participate in monthly webinars
• update website and provide other tech help
• participate in anti-racism training
• assist at intergenerational feminist events