Bright Futures Program

Cheerful Young Girls, Social Justice, YWCA Columbus

For nearly 20 years, the Bright Futures Leadership Program has encouraged high school girls to interrogate social constructs of race and gender.

Unfortunately, as we have seen in recent years, girls who reside in the most under-resourced Columbus neighborhoods are also the ones who do not have access to leadership, confidence-building, and empowerment training. In 2019, through a partnership with the City of Columbus Recreation & Parks Department, Bright Futures relaunched as a neighborhood-based leadership program for girls in middle school that provides confidence-building and empowerment training focused on social justice concepts in local community centers in the Hilltop and South Side neighborhoods. 

Throughout the program, girls participate in activities and discussions about concepts like institutional racism and sexism and explore how those systems of oppression impact their self-image, worldview, and relationships with others. They build critical thinking skills and leave with the confidence to advocate for themselves and create change in their communities.

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“The greatest aspect of this program was that I learned how not to be afraid. It is important to speak your mind, stand up for what is right, and protect yourself and others.”

Anjali Tewari, Bright Futures graduate

For more information contact:

Are you interested in learning more about how to join the Bright Futures program? Please submit the form below.

BRIGHT FUTURES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF:

Learn more about the Bright Futures Program!