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From YouTube: The Official Launch of WOW at BPS
Description
Joined by youth guidance, Mayor Janey offers remarks at the official launch of the WOW (Working on Womanhood) program at BPS. WOW is the female counterpart to BAM (Becoming a Man) which has been highly successful in serving boys and young men of color in BPS.
A
Maybe
I
am
thinking,
there's
something
hidden
like
this
in
all
of
us,
a
small
gift
from
the
universe
waiting
to
be
discovered,
brown
girl
dreaming
by
jacqueline
woodson
good
morning,
I'm
melissa,
luna,
executive
director
of
green
light
fund
boston-
I'm
proud
to
be
here
today
in
partnership
with
mayor,
janie
and
boston
public
schools,
to
announce
the
launch
of
working
on
womanhood
for
the
upcoming
school
year
at
greenlight
fund.
We
believe
in
the
people
of
our
city.
A
Our
city
is
filled
with
potential.
Each
year
we
partner
with
the
community
to
collectively
create
opportunities
for
individuals
and
families
to
move
out
of
poverty.
We
collaborate
to
identify
these
opportunities
and
launch
proven
innovative
models
locally,
so
that
people
can
build
the
life
they
are
seeking
this
past
year.
The
need
was
incredibly
overwhelming:
isolation,
virtual
learning,
so
many
zoom
meetings
as
adults.
A
We
were
overwhelmed
and
we
still
are,
as
we
navigate,
rebuilding
and
reimagining
a
city
that
is
more
equitable
and
just
our
young
people
navigated,
a
constantly
changing
world
at
a
time
when
they
themselves
were
developing
and
going
through
the
many
changes
of
adolescence
in
2019
the
year
before
the
start
of
the
pandemic,
45
percent
of
girls
in
boston,
public
schools
reported
feeling
sad
or
hopeless.
For
two
or
more
weeks,
female
students
were
significantly
more
likely
to
experience
depression
than
their
male
peers,
girls,
experience
trauma
and
community
violence
in
ways
that
are
different
than
boys.
A
A
Both
of
these
in-school,
multi-faceted
programs
have
gone
under
rigorous
external
evaluations
to
capture
what
every
bam
and
wow
student
already
know.
These
programs
are
life-changing
in
the
words
of
author
and
documentarian
monique,
morris,
love
and
school
are
the
only
things
you
get
for
free
when
you're
young.
A
A
Now
our
young
people
are
resilient,
as
schools
reopen,
and
we
explore
what
the
next
phase
of
life
looks
like.
Our
girls
need
supports,
like
wow,
more
people
and
more
safe
places
to
turn
to
I'm
incredibly
proud
to
be
part
of
the
community's
response
and
support
for
girls
of
color,
with
the
launch
of
working
on
womanhood
program
in
boston,
public
schools
and
I'm
incredibly
fortunate
to
do
so
in
partnership
with
the
youth
guidance
team.
Michelle
morrison,
ceo
of
youth
guidance,
is
here
with
us,
along
with
several
of
the
chicago
team
members.
A
Our
partnership
over
these
past
four
years
with
becoming
a
man
program,
has
built
a
strong
foundation
for
our
continued
partnership,
as
we
launch
working
on
womanhood
this
year,
you'll
also
hear
later
this
morning
from
sean
brown
who
needs
no
introduction
he's
a
reason
why
most
of
you
are
here
today
to
talk
about.
The
success
of
wow
would
feel
like
an
understatement,
or
bam
would
feel
like
an
understatement,
and
now
we
are
fortunate
to
have
him
do
the
same
with
the
wow
program,
our
city.
A
I
first
met
mayor
janie
more
than
a
decade
ago,
in
her
role
at
mass
advocates
for
children
and
as
mayor.
She
continues
to
draw
from
both
her
professional
and
personal
experiences
to
ensure
our
black
and
brown
girls
can
achieve
their
dreams,
because
our
girls
are
dreamers,
they're
gifts
from
the
universe,
they're
future
makers,
they
aspire,
they
lead
and
is
upon
all
of
us
to
make
sure
they
don't
have
to
wait
to
be
discovered
and
now
mayor,
jamie.
B
I
want
to
thank
you
melissa
for
that
wonderful
introduction
and
certainly
for
all
the
work
that
you
do
now
and
the
work
that
we
did
many
many
many
moons
ago
when
I
was
at
mass
advocates
for
children.
You
were
always
right
there
on
the
front
lines,
so
I
really
appreciate
you.
I
also
want
to
recognize
mary
churchill,
who
is
here.
She
is
my
chief
of
policy
and
planning.
Where
are
you
mary?
B
I
want
to
recognize
and
thank
dr
charles
grandson,
who
is
the
chief
of
equity
and
strategy
at
boston,
public
schools.
Thank
you
for
all
of
the
hard
work
that
you
do.
I
want
to
thank
this
school
and
this
team,
and
certainly
my
good
friend,
kevin
mccaskill.
Thank
you
so
much
for
being
here,
I
see
you
in
the
back.
Please
give
it
up
for
kevin.
B
B
Thank
you
so
much.
I
am
really
honored
to
be
here
with
all
of
you
this
morning.
Today
is
a
day
where
we
celebrate
the
present
and
the
future
of
our
city,
and
particularly
our
youth
for
young
women
and
girls.
There
has
always
been
a
need
for
programs
that
specifically
target
them.
This
need
was
prevalent
well
before
the
pandemic
and
remains
an
imperative.
Now,
as
such,
this
investment
is
not
so
much
a
response
to
covet
19,
but
rather
a
direct
response
to
the
needs
of
boston's
young
women
and
girls.
B
You
know,
I
remember
I
guess
it
was
a
couple
of
years
ago
now
coming
to
visit
you
and
to
sit
and
circle
with
you
and
the
young
men,
and
it
was
such
a
powerful
moving
experience
of
for
me
and
to
see
the
way
young
men
could
share
and
support.
Each
other
was
incredible
and
just
grateful
for
all
that
you
do
I'm
so
inspired
by
everything
that
you
have
done,
and
I
know
now
that
we
will
see
the
same
things
with
wow.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
all
of
your
work.
B
That
covett
has
impacted
our
young
people
and
it
is
not
just
impacting
their
academic
success,
but
we
know
in
terms
of
a
social
emotional
learning
perspective.
It
is
impacting
them
in
that
way.
This
is
proof
that
the
work
happening
at
wow
is
not
only
needed,
but
it
is
effective
because
it
is
shown
to
decrease
these
things.
This
program
and
the
holistic
set
of
services
it
provides
supports.
Our
schools
supports
our
girls
and
our
communities
at
wow.
B
Young
people
have
always
led
the
way
when
it
comes
to
movements
and
women
have
always
been
the
ones
who
have
been
organizing
these
movements
for
racial
and
social
justice,
black
girls.
Many
of
us
do
not
recognize
always
the
power
that
we
carry,
because
the
world
doesn't
recognize
that
in
us,
whether
it
is
through
racism
or
sexism.
B
B
I
help
young
women
learn
about
healthy
relationships
and
offer
a
safe
space
for
girls
to
speak
freely,
while
at
wow
you
will
get
to
know
and
understand
who
you
are
and
the
power
that
you
have
within
young
women
all
over.
Our
city
need
to
feel
comfortable
expressing
themselves
and,
ultimately,
that
comfort
leads
to
confidence
and
that
confident
attitude
will
determine
how
high
you
can
go.
B
Bringing
wow
to
boston
aligns
directly
with
the
city
and
bps's
investments
in
the
promise
of
young
people
and
supports
equitable
recovery
from
the
pandemic.
This
program
provides
a
supportive
environment
and
a
support
system
for
all
girls,
and
I'm
really
pleased
to
support
youth
guidance's
efforts
to
launch
its
working
on
womanhood
program
right
here
in
boston.
B
Wow
is
evidence-based
and
has
a
proven
track
record
of
improving
girls
and
young
women's
social
and
emotional
well-being,
increasing
their
academic
attainment
and
decreasing
their
engagement
and
risky
behavior.
Moreover,
the
wild
program
increases
opportunities
and
mental
health
support
for
youth,
especially
youth
from
communities
that
have
been
disadvantaged
historically
in
boston
and
throughout
cities
all
across
our
country.
B
B
B
B
B
C
Oh,
I
have
chills
I'm
just
it's
just
so
powerful
to
have
a
leader
like
you
speak,
so
authentically
about
the
power
and
potential
of
the
young
women
of
boston
and
someone
who
truly
understands
that
if
you
get
the
right
support
in
place
at
just
the
right
time,
they
can
take
it
and
run
with
it
not
only
for
working
on
womanhood
for
but
becoming
a
man
as
well.
So
thank
you
so
much
mayor
janie
for
your
support
and
passion
for
the
young
people
of
the
city.
Thank
you.
C
I'm
michelle
adler
morrison,
I'm
the
ceo
of
youth
guidance
in
youth
guidance.
We
know
that
social
and
emotional
aspects
of
development
are
absolutely
critical
to
success
in
school
and
in
life,
and
that's
why
we
partner
with
schools
to
deliver
innovative,
culturally,
responsive,
evidence-based
programs
that
young
people
actually
want
to
participate
in.
That's
a
critical
part
of
this.
C
They
become
part
of
the
lifeblood
of
a
school
and
we
think
they
help
create
these
safe,
beautiful
spaces
where
young
people
can
be
heard,
affirmed
and
recognized,
and
it
is
just
so
exciting
for
us
to
be
able
to
launch
wow
and
talk
about
well
among
stakeholders,
many
of
whom
were
here
with
us
four
years
ago
in
this
school
to
launch
becoming
a
man,
and
it
was
at
that
launch
that
not
only
the
stakeholders
of
the
city
but
the
young
people
themselves.
They
said
what
about
the
girls,
and
we
said.
Oh,
what
about
the
girls?
C
We
have
a
program
that
we
can
bring
someday.
Let's
get
bam
going,
let's
launch
bam,
let's
really
really
create
a
movement
here
and
someday
we'll
be
able
to
bring
our
working
on
womanhood
program,
so
it
is
so
exciting
to
me,
10
years
after
wow
was
developed
that
we're
bringing
wow
to
boston.
So
I
want
to
thank
you
so
much
for
making
this
happen.
C
That's
what
we're
going
to
be
doing
in
the
fall.
That's
what
we're
going
to
be
doing
for
the
long
run
here
in
the
boston,
public
schools
and
honestly,
it's
because
of
passionate
leaders
like
you
in
this
room.
I
want
to
recognize
and
thank
the
city
of
boston,
the
boston,
public
schools,
the
green
light
fund
of
boston
and
melissa
luna
and
her
leadership.
Who
said
we
are
going
to
make
this
happen.
C
This
is
your
day.
This
is
your
victory.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
believing
us-
and
please
know
that
leaders
like
sean
brown,
if
you
step
up,
he
is
going
to
engage
you.
He
is
going
to
affirm
you.
He
is
going
to
ask
you
who
you're
friends
with
and
who,
your
network
that
cares
about
the
needs
of
both
young
women
and
young
men
in
this
city
and
ask
you
to
become
part
of
this
broader
circle.
So
I
want
to
recognize
sean
brown
and
his
excellent
team
here
in
chicago
sean.
If
you're
here.
Thank
you.
C
And
thank
you
to
dr
granson
and
dr
casilius.
Your
leadership
at
the
boston
public
schools
is
critical
to
our
success
and
help
helping
us
also
engage
with
other
school
districts
who
are
recognizing
similar
needs
and
saying
bam
and
wow
should
be
part
of
their
journey.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
your
leadership
and
so
now
we're
ready
to
step
up
together
for
the
young
women
of
boston
and
together
we
will
support
them.
Uplift
them
celebrate
them
as
they
bring
their
bright
futures
ahead
and,
on
behalf
of
the
youth
guidance
family.
D
Hello-
I
just
wanted
to
preface
this
by
saying,
because
I
was
getting
interviewed
and
I
was
getting
pictures
taken.
I
felt
the
spotlight
on
me
and
then
I
remembered
that
I
am
a
woman
and
I
am
proud
to
be
a
woman
because
I
am
not
here
today
to
not
just
to
give
you
a
speech,
but
I
am
also
here
to
represent
womanhood
and
represent
who
we
all
are.
So
I
want
to
recognize
not
only
my
best
friend
who
is
sitting
here
today.
Lindsey
cardona.
D
Good
morning
I
am
kate
lamanna,
a
rising
senior
at
boston,
latin
academy.
I
am
the
first
and
only
girl,
currently
working
at
youth
guidance,
spam
scholar
program
during
the
school
year.
I
was
desperate
for
a
job
I
spent
months,
applying
with
only
one
or
two
interviews
that
never
really
went
anywhere.
I
started
looking
at
success
link
as
some
of
my
friends
were
able
to
find
opportunities
there,
and
then
I
came
across
bam.
D
Two
weeks
later,
I
was
in
a
push
class
listening
to
other
students
present
their
projects.
Of
course,
I'm
a
little
distracted.
It
was
zoom
but,
to
my
surprise,
got
an
email
from
jameson
collier
asking
to
schedule
a
group
interview
which
is
always
a
little
nerve-wracking,
because
you
always
feel
that
someone's
going
to
be
a
little
bit
better
than
you
and
feel
outshadowed.
But
and
after
the
initial
excitement
wore
off,
I
started
to
get
extremely
nervous.
D
I
spent
days
preparing
and
reading
about
the
program
in
order
to
do
the
best
I
possibly
could
in
the
interview
and
the
interview
ended
up
going
really
well,
I
was
immediately
drawn
to
the
energy
that
was
created
by
the
mentors
in
the
program
and
about
two
weeks
later,
I
was
informed
that
I
was
selected
to
join
the
bam
school
year,
scholar,
training
academy,
which
is
a
paid
enrichment
program
offered
by
bam
in
the
city
of
boston,
of
course,
being
the
only
female.
I
was
really
scared.
D
The
other
boys
wouldn't
accept
me
and
would
just
write
me
off
during
discussions.
This
really
caused
me
to
work
extra
hard
to
make
sure
my
voice
was
always
heard
halfway
through
the
program.
I
started
becoming
friends
with
the
other
boys,
including
kanye
baden,
who
is
now
genuinely
one
of
my
closest
friends
and
bam.
Brother
kanye
made
sure
that
I
was
always
being
heard
and
checked
in
on
me
outside
of
the
program
and
even
introduced
me
to
some
other
friends
who
I
adore.
D
Other
boys,
in
the
program
from
all
different
schools,
were
also
a
huge
help,
as
well,
I
loved
being
able
to
joke
around
and
talk
at
the
end
of
work
and
the
facetimes
we
would
do
on
non-work
days
were
really
fun.
We
truly
built
a
community
during
and
after
the
program-
and
most
importantly,
I
didn't
feel
like
an
outsider
at
all,
though
I
do
and
will
always
love
the
band
program
and
my
band
brothers,
I
do
know
how
impactful
it
would
be
to
have
the
same
program
for
girls.
D
D
As
women,
we
are
strong
independent
leaders
and
should
never
feel
anything
less.
I
would
love
for
boston
to
have
an
outlet
for
girls
everywhere,
so
they
can
see
their
own
self-worth
and
become
the
strong,
beautiful
woman
I
know
them
to
be.
I
will
no
longer
sit
around
and
watch
the
oppression
of
women
continue
not
only
in
life
but
also
in
government.
D
So
a
program
similar
to
bam
for
girls
is
the
best
option
to
ensure
a
better
future
for
girls
everywhere
our
voices
will
be
heard.
Our
opinions
are
just
as
important.
We
will
no
longer
be
a
part
of
the
female
stereotype.
Now
I
must
ask
a
question
times
are
changing.
Are
you
instill
positive
change?
Make
a
program
for
girls?
Thank
you.
So
much.
E
E
E
Throughout
the
pandemic,
at
the
very
beginning
we
reached
out
to
him-
and
I
am
elevated
every
week
or
so
often
when
I
get
a
text
from
sean
king
good
morning,
and
he
just
keeps
us
going
and
has
continued
to
be
a
great
support
and
a
partner
in
everything
that
we've
done
throughout
this
pandemic
and
over
the
last
four
years
under
your
leadership.
Bam
has
been
a
model
for
excellence
and
for
what
happens
when
love
for
our
students
and
families,
as
people
and
understanding
their
social
emotional
needs
shows
up
at
the
intersection
of
public
service.
E
That
really
sets
the
tone
for
what
we're
here
and
what
we're
doing
for
chair,
chrissy,
egan
and
past
chair
thaddeus
miles
for
their
leadership
and
other
members
of
the
bam
advisory
board,
as
well
as
the
green
light
fund
executive
director
of
director
melissa
luna
for
her
passion
and
energy
she's
brought
to
this
work
and
michelle
for
the
great
words
and
the
support
over
the
years
and
the
folks
that
just
had
a
hand
in
making
this
happen.
Trunk
nugent.
We
appreciate
the
work
of
you
and
many
others.
Thank
you.
E
I'll
just
quickly
share
for
us.
You
know
in
my
adolescence,
I
had
the
opportunity
to
spend
some
time
with
the
great
dorothy
height
who's,
an
educator
and
president
of
the
national
council
for
negro
women.
She
said
we
have
to
improve
life,
not
just
for
those
who
have
the
most
skills
and
those
who
know
how
to
manipulate
the
system,
but
also
for
those
with
those
who
for
and
with
those
who,
often
have
so
much
to
give
but
never
get
the
opportunity,
and
the
history
history.
E
Every
child
in
bps
and
across
the
country
deserves
a
chance
at
a
meaningful
education
that
centers
their
strengths,
affirms
their
humanity
and
worth
and
challenges
them
to
be.
The
best
version
of
themselves
becoming
a
man
has
expanded
that
access
to
so
many
young
men
of
color
in
our
community
over
the
last
few
years,
and
we
are
excited
for
what's
in
store
for
working
on
womanhood
and
for
our
young
women.
Thank
you.
F
F
F
F
G
G
If
there's
one
thing
bam
has
taught
me,
it's
taught
me
to
be
okay
with
being
vulnerable.
It's
taught
me
to
be
okay
with
crying.
If
you
have
to
cry-
and
it's
probably
a
good
thing-
that
we're
going
to
start
this
with
this
video
first,
because
if
I
did
it
I'll
be
up
here
crying
so
we're
going
to
show
this
video
and
then
I'll
get
right
into
our
remarks.
H
I
I
I
think
wow
is
a
really
good
place
for
people
to
find
a
confidence
in
who
they
want
to
be
because
it's
such
a
safe
space.
It's
filled
with
other
people
who
you
may
not
even
know,
are
experiencing
similar
things
that
you
are
and
you're
able
to
verbalize
those
skills
to
a
group
of
people
who
are
not
going
to
judge
you.
H
It's
nice
to
know
that
I
ballooned
like
not
only
have
I
bloomed,
but
a
lot
of
ladies.
That
went
through
the
same
thing
that
I
went
through
like
with
the
whole
wow
experience
and
they
bloom
with
me.
They
walk
that
same
path
that
I
walk
and
we
all
like
know
each
other.
We
all
know
each
other's
struggles
and
we
all
bend
that
open
the
ear
for
each
other.
H
This
whole
thing
happened.
We
didn't
know
that
we
was
going
to
be
out
of
school
for
a
whole
year
and
some
months
before
we
left
for
school,
miss
washington
gave
all
of
the
wow
girls
envelopes
for
her
contact
information
in
it
and
a
positive
affirmation
card
in
it,
and
I
still
got
it
on
my
mirror.
Yes
alicia,
I
am
always
learning
more
about
who
I
am
and
what
matters
to
me,
and
then
they
got
like
a
little
sticker.
H
G
I
want
to
start
off
by
saying
that
we
are
extremely
happy
to
be
here
today.
Today
we
are
celebrating
the
culmination
of
something
that
has
been
brewing
for
quite
some
time.
For
the
past
two
years,
I
have
been
working
tirelessly
with
our
local
and
national
leadership
teams
in
the
district
to
bring
wild
to
boston.
G
G
For
the
past
couple
of
years,
all
I've
heard
from
young
queens
is
what
about
us.
You
have
banned
this
amazing
program,
but
we
need
a
program
too.
Absolutely
you
heard
kate's
amazing
testimony.
Not
only
did
we
hear
this
from
our
young
people,
but
we
heard
it
from
our
teachers.
We
heard
it
from
our
administrators.
We
heard
it
from
parents.
G
G
We
are
so
grateful
for
your
commitment
and
and
continued
support
and
championing
our
programs
not
only
championing
our
programs,
but
also
amplifying
them
as
well.
I'm
truly
appreciative
because
I
remember
vividly
I
vividly
remember
when
you
sat
in
that
damn
circle
without
damn
scholars,
and
I
remember
you
showing
up
as
your
authentic
self.
G
G
G
I
don't
I
I'd
also
like
to
acknowledge
boston
and
cambridge
public
schools
as
a
partner.
Their
shared
support,
and
endorsement
of
our
curriculum
is
vital
to
both
the
implementation
of
wow
into
boston,
providing
much
needed
access
to
black
and
brown
students,
also
their
commitment
to
ensuring
the
sustainability
of
wild
through
financial
investment
as
well.
Thank
you.
G
I
look
forward
to
serving
you
our
number
one.
Well,
my
number
one
core
value.
I
love
all
the
band
core
values,
but
not
my
number
one
core
value,
as
you
heard
case,
speed
tools,
respect
for
womanhood
three
most
important
people
in
my
wife
and
my
life
is
my
daughter,
my
wife
and
my
mother.
So
every
day.
G
G
That
is
also
a
direct
correlation
to
our
young
queens
internalizing
the
core
values
of
wow.
So
that's
why
this
launch
is
important
today.
We
know
that
starting
this
august,
that
our
young
women
in
boston
will
experience
similar
supports
in
success
even
before
the
pandemic.
A
mental
health
crisis
existed
among
students
struggling
with
bullying,
abuse,
eating
disorders,
racism
and
or
undiagnosed
mental
health
conditions,
but
now
more
than
ever,
students
are
facing
even
more
stresses
like
the
loss
of
a
family
member
from
covert
19
adjusting
to
remote
learning
or
the
anxiety
of
returning
to
in-person
school.
G
G
Two
things
that
makes
my
heart
hurt
is
when
I
have
a
parent,
family
member
or
someone
from
the
community,
ask
me
how
do
they
get
their
child
involved
in
in
our
program?
Whether
that's
a
son,
daughter,
niece
or
nephew,
and
the
first
question
I
have
to
ask,
depending
on
if
they're
inquiring
for
a
young
woman
or
a
young
man,
is
what
school
do
they
go
to
and
if
they're,
not
in
one
of
our
12
schools,
then
they're
not
eligible
for
them
or
wild
services.
G
In
the
case
of
young
women,
it's
been.
We
don't
have
a
program
for
girls
yet,
but
we're
working
on
bringing
our
sister
program
wild
to
boston.
It
really
hurt.
When
my
daughter
would
ask
me,
when
are
we
going
to
have
a
girls
program
because
she's
seen
the
impact
that
bam
has
had
on
some
of
her
peers?
G
G
G
G
My
mentor
used
to
always
say
if
you
can't
do
a
whole
lot,
then
do
a
whole
letter
to
close
there's
a
few
folks
that
I
want
to
thank,
and
this
could
get
me
in
trouble
with
too
many
people.
But
oh,
I
want
to
acknowledge.
I
first
want
to
acknowledge
all
of
our
advisory
council
members
for
being
here
today
supporting
me
from
day
one.
G
I
also
would
like
to
acknowledge
greg
hill,
I'm
not
sure
if
he's
in
in
in
the
room,
but
if
gregory
said
I
want
to
acknowledge
him,
for
you
know
just
your
passion,
king
you've
pushed
me
and,
and
we've
pushed
each
other
since
we
were
probably
in
second
grade
like
it
goes
back
30
years.
So
to
see
you
here
with
me,
king
and
to
see
you
know
the
young
queens
and
the
work
that
you're
doing
about
acknowledging
them.
G
G
G
Joe
sat
in
on
a
banned
circle
and
one
of
the
questions
nora
asked
was,
I
love
this,
but
what
about
our
girls
so
we're
here
laura
we're
here
and
I
look
forward
to
having
you
on
the
planet,
I'm
both
of
you
in
advance
of
a
wild
circle.
I
apologize
and
then
I
said
I
was
gonna
get
in
trouble
because
I
couldn't
forget.
Brianna.