The FoundHer Program

The FoundHer program was founded and developed by young people for young people. Our 100% volunteer staff of seven is comprised of students from four universities in the Boston area. Our staff has combined accomplishments that range from accolades in places like TIME Magazine to traveling to over 40 countries.

The FoundHer program is the first of its kind. Our program is multilateral in design. The focal point of the FoundHer program is our seminars, each month 10 high school girls venture to Boston College to take part in panels, leadership development, skill-building and reflection.  We incorporate an advising program rather than mentoring to foster a collaborative effort amongst advisees and advisers. All of our advisers are college women from Boston College and commit 7-10 hours per month to their advisees. Beyond seminars and advising, all of our participants commit to participation in community service and supplemental activities in the Boston area. We utilize supplemental activities to reinforce curriculum.

Our Feminist Impact

The Innovation and Enterprise Leadership Institute will contribute to the feminist movement through its existence. Within our organization we have women and men working towards a common goal. I believe the fact that we have gender diversity within our staff highlights what feminism is and the importance of having women and men in the movement. Our organization strives to empower high school girls and college women as leaders of today and tomorrow. Our emphasis as an organization on leadership and personal development will thoroughly change the world. We purposefully utilize a multilateral approach to ensure that all program participants have an individualized experience with the FoundHer program. Beyond the seminars, supplemental programing, advising, and symposium, our participants will develop networks with powerful high school, college aged, and professional women in the Boston area, who will serve as resources as they continue to change Boston and the world. These relationships create further distinctions for our program. Lastly, our program remains interdisciplinary because we believe in fostering leadership throughout all sectors. This proven method will allow all of our participants to discern and develop their talents and passions to positively affect change in the world as women.

Seminars

• Each seminar focuses on a theme of importance from international development to women in politics. All of our seminars are facilitated by combination of industry and collegiate experts.

Supplemental Opportunities

• In addition to seminars, participants have the opportunity to participate in conferences and community service opportunities in the Boston metro area.

Collegiate Advising Program

• Each student is paired with a collegiate from the Boston area that has already achieved successes in their community. We hope to pair students with a collegiate in their interest area. The purpose of this relationship is to provide high school students with advisers who are currently pursuing their passions. Each adviser commits at least 7 hours to her respective advisee per month.

Symposium

• In the spring of 2012, college and high school students from around the Boston area will be invited to attend the Taking Back the F-Word Symposium. The purpose of the symposium is to take back the conversation of what is to be feminist. At this symposium, high school and college students alike will come together to share their best practices, shatter misconceptions of feminism and create lasting networks of female leaders.
• Program participants will be honored for their successes they have made in the school year
• Program participants will have the opportunity to serve on the symposium planning board

The symposium will cost $10.00 per participant -à 100% of the proceeds will go towards providing uniforms and educational scholarships/direct investment to girls in developing countries