Young Women's Action Team
(01/2008 - 10/2008)
Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Urban Research and Learning conducted an evaluation of Girl Leadership U (GLU), a series of six sessions hosted by Young Women’s Action Team (YWAT) in which emerging young women leaders develop skills that can be utilized in efforts to take action and create social change. The evaluation included a participant survey that examines: leadership development; advocacy; community organizing; self-awareness; ability to think critically; and connecting with other young emerging leaders to form allies for social change. The evaluation included an analysis of participants’ motivation to participate in GLU as well as the participants’ and session speakers’ perceptions of the program. The evaluation results were used to inform future YWAT programming.
The final report includes findings from each of the evaluation objectives. Upon the conclusion of GLU, it was found that youth participants not only demonstrated a greater knowledge of their own identity and values, but also a greater understanding of their capacity to create social change. In addition to their advocacy efforts, YWAT is also dedicating efforts toward developing future programming for young women.
“I consider myself to be a leader because it’s not all about telling people what to do or say. It’s about trying to make other feel good about themselves and encourage them to be a leader too.” -Girl Leadership U 2008 Participant
Research Team:
A. Sharma, CURL
D. Van Zytveld, CURL
S. Abdul-Mohammed, Undergraduate Fellow
J. Gattuso, CURL
L. Patrick, Undergraduate Fellow
Community Partner:
Young Women's Action Team