Page 1

YWLP's mission is to empower girls to lead within their own communities. Research shows that when youth do leadership they begin to imagine themselves as leaders. Unfortunately, environments where girls have opportunities to experience leadership are scarce. Programs like YWLP are a necessary step in correcting this gap.

In the fall of 2014, the YWLP research team, headed by Dr. Amanda Anthony and myself, was awarded one of the University of Central Florida's competitive research grants--more than $13,000--to conduct a study to research the impact that social change leadership instruction has on girls' identities. This research will involve both big sisters and little sisters including, surveys, interviews, and journals. We hope the study will tell us more about how girls understand themselves and their role within their communities.

With this study, YWLP researchers hope to position themselves to apply for a national grant that will help provide the resources to close the leadership gap by expanding programming in Central Florida. At YWLP we know girls can make a difference, and we are working to make sure they have opportunities to share their ideas and to lead in supported environments.

G r e e t i n g s f r o m t h e P r o g r a m C o o r d i n a t o r

Fo

st

er

in

g C

om

pe

te

nc

e, C

on

ne

ct

io

n &

A

ut

on

om

y

Yo

un

g W

om

en

Le

ad

ers

Pro

gra

m

Sp

on

so

re

d

by

t

he

U

CF

W

om

en

’s

S

tu

di

es

P

ro

gr

am

F a l l 2 0 1 4

The Young Women Leaders

Program (YWLP) at the

University of Central Florida is

an after-school mentoring

p r o g r a m t h a t m a t c h e s

undergraduate and graduate

level college women with

middle school girls. Started

under the direction of Dr. Lisa

Logan in 2007, YWLP

p rov id es an ex ce l l en t

opportunity to assist girls at

this critical developmental age

achieve their full leadership

potential and build self-worth.

The mission of the program is

to help these young women

focus on learning, competency

and autonomy, independent

thinking, empowerment, self-

esteem, and planning for their

futures by participating in non

-judgmental one-on-one and

small group mentoring. To

date YWLP has mentored over

300 middle school girls.

W h a t I s t h e Y o u n g W o m e n L e a d e r s P r o g r a m ?

Anthony & Tweed

In this issue:

Greetings from the Program Coordinator 1

What Is the Young Women Leaders Program? 1

Why Focus On Middle School Girls? 2

Facilitator Profile - Grace Parker 2

Alumni Perspective - Samantha Daley 2

Body Appreciation Day 3

Big Sister Profile - Raegan Sauer 4

Fall 2014 Highlights 5

Consider Supporting YWLP 6

Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be. ~

Karen Ravn

Page 2

YWLP was designed with a focus on

middle school girls. This is a time of

transition at a vulnerable age which can

present an enormous array of

challenges. In this age group both boys

and girls struggle with physical,

emotional, and cognitive changes as they

m a t u r e t o w a r d a d u l t h o o d ,

b u t g i r l s s h o w a g r e a t e r

decline in self-esteem and a higher

incidence of sensitivity and fear of failure

than boys. If left unchecked this can

result in depression and even forms of

social aggression as they try to figure

out where they fit into this new social

hierarchy called middle school.

Multiple research studies have indicated

that middle school boys have a higher

perception of self-worth compared to

girls and are generally better at coping

with negative emotions. Girls, however,

can quickly lose sight of who they are as

individuals because of the intense

emotional focus on looks and fitting in

with the new social order. When this

happens it can lead to girls becoming

pessimistic and believing they have little

control over their lives. This is not the

last major transition event on the way to

adulthood, but how it is managed can

effect the way girls handle critical stages

through the life course. It is at this age

w here gi r l s nee d a s t rong

support network.

Grace Parker is a Sociology major with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her relationship with YWLP started when her sister (also a UCF student) had to back out of the program because of her busy schedule. Unsure of whether or not she really wanted to make the commitment, Grace met the program coordinator, then her little sister, and five semesters later she still volunteers with YWLP.

In order to be a facili-tator students must be a big sister for at least one semester. A good facilitator knows the rules, the curriculum, and the vision for the program, and Grace takes her role very seriously. Each person who becomes a facilitator takes a leadership self-assessment at the beginning of the semester. This assessment provides the opportunity to reflect on their individual strengths, limitations, and goals. “That exercise really helped put things into perspective”, said Grace. “We owe it to program coordinator, Meredith Tweed, for helping us bring out the best in each other and ourselves.”

YWLP has taught Grace so much

about herself and her relationships with others. She has seen a big change in herself over the semesters, and has found out who she is, and more im-portantly, who she is not. “I think most people join YWLP because they want to make a change, but they end up leaving as a changed person,” said Grace. “YWLP’s legacy in my life is a renewed sense of confidence,

idealism and tenacity.”

Before getting in-volved with YWLP, Grace did not realize how diverse, intelli-gent, and strong the middle school girls are. Each has different needs, and it is important to support each of them as individually as possi-ble. Grace is still very

close with her first little sister who is now a freshman in high school. They were so much of a perfect match that Grace said it was as if the planets aligned to bring them together!

According to Grace, the facilitator team has some of the most compassionate, positive, and capable women she knows. She adores them, admires them and, knowing they will soon be going out into the world in separate directions, already misses them.

Facilitator Profile

“I think most people join

this program because they

want to make a change, but

they end up leaving a

changed person.”

Grace Parker

Why Focus on Middle School Girls?

Alumni Perspective

Samantha Daley graduated from the University of Central

Florida in 2013 with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with

concentrations in Biomedical and Health Sciences and a

minor in Women’s Studies. As a student she mentored

three girls as a big sister and served two times as a

facilitator for YWLP. Samantha is a health educator for Planned Parenthood

of Greater Orlando, and confirms that her experience with YWLP was

definitely beneficial in preparing her for her work with adolescent girls.

(See Page 6)

Page 3

Body Appreciation Day Fall 2014

The Bigs & Littles celebrated Body Appreciation Day by thinking

of all of the great reasons why they should love their bodies!

Page 4

Raegan Sauer, a Communication Sciences and Disorders major, found out about the Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP) during the fall 2013 semester. Her friend Katryna was already serving as a big sister, and she invited Raegan to a meeting to find out what YWLP was all about. During the meeting Raegan liked what she heard and decided to join the program and become a big sister herself. “At first I was so nervous because I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” said Sauer. She was looking forward to the opportunity to interact with and mentor a 7th grade girl, but all kinds of thoughts were racing through her head. She wondered who she would be paired with. Would she get along with her little sister? Would she know what to do? Was she capable of such a big responsibility? The first meeting with her little sister and the other participants put all of her fears and worries to rest. She felt completely welcomed by everyone in the club and really clicked with her new little sister. Because Raegan had joined at the last minute there was not a lot of time for intensive training. Emily, the program facilitator that semester, gave her a crash course on what the rules were and how to interact with her little sister a couple days before

their first meeting. That first semester went so well with her little sister that Raegan continued on in the spring 2014 semester. This time she attended the scheduled training to make sure she was well prepared to work with a new little sister.

Raegan is serving for the third time now as a big sister and says she is so blessed to be part of such an amazing program. There was an immediate connection between Raegan and her little sister. “We are so much alike,” she said. “We are both introverts in new situations but we open up as we get comfortable.” Of her little sister, Raegan says she is such a beautiful person inside and out and she is happy to spend each Wednesday with her.

She loves the talks with her little sister and hearing about her hopes and dreams for the future. Remembering her own middle school years Raegan can identify with that awkward stage of not knowing who you are, trying to fit in, and feeling a lot of the same anxieties as the girls today. One of the rewarding aspects of being a big sister is that ability to connect and be there to help her little sister through it all. This program has made her realize that middle school also presents a lot of new pressures that she didn’t have when she was growing up. It can tug at the heart strings listening to the struggles the little sisters face.

“This program is one that stays with you forever,” says Raegan. “It's not just about helping the ‘Littles.’” It's about learning about yourself and your fellow peers. Through the activities we partake in, I am overcome with the lesson of diversity and acceptance. The bond between the big sisters and the program facilitators is one that cannot be easily described. I know I have friends for life from this program. These memories and lessons will far exceed my time here at UCF. They will help me in any and all of my future endeavors.”

B i g S i s t e r P r o f i l e

“I am so blessed to be part of

such an amazing program.”

Raegan Sauer

“I know I have friends for

life from this program.”

Raegan Sauer

Page 5

F a l l 2 0 1 4 H i g h l i g h t s

10/14 Volunteers held a book sale with

proceeds going to support YWLP

10/18 Relaxing at the park and building

bonds with members of YWLP

10/11 YWLP volunteers helped spookify

the Central Florida Zoo. Great job!

10/1 Mellow Mushroom Spirit Night.

Thanks to MM for all your support!

9/27 Bracelet making and watching

Frozen on Movie Day at UCF

Page 6

The Young Women Leaders Program is a meaningful experience for our Big Sisters, Little Sisters, and the community. The

program is currently coordinating mentoring groups at three local schools and servicing approximately 30 middle school girls and

Big Sisters per semester. There are three ways you can help support this important program:

Young Women Leaders Program UCF Women’s Studies Program

4000 Central Florida Blvd. ~ PO Box 161994 Orlando, Florida 32816-1994

Phone: 407-823-6502 ~ Fax: 407-823-2596

Donate Supplies Donate Online Donate Your Time

Snacks

Poster board

Jelly bracelets

Disposable digital cameras

Journals and stationary

Paper plates, cups and napkins

Age appropriate toys

Yarn

Magazines

Staplers

Index cards

Markers

Stickers

You can make a donation to the

program through the UCF

Foundation. Be sure to select

“Women’s Studies Program” in the

designation drop down menu.

$1,000 sponsors a mentoring

group for one semester

$500 sponsors recruitment

materials, snacks, and sup-

plies for one big sister group

$75 sponsors supplies and

expenses for one little sister

To keep this program running

we need the help and support

of the community. To find out

how you can donate your time

please contact us:

Email: YWLP@ucf.edu

Phone: 407-823-6502

Students, parents, or staff

members at an Orange or

Seminole County middle

school who are interested in

bringing YWLP to your

campus are encouraged to

give us a call!

C o n s i d e r S u p p o r t i n g Y W L P

(From Page 2)

According to Daley, her experience with YWLP gave

her the skills to be more relatable so the adolescents

she works with can feel completely free to talk

w i t h o u t a f e a r o f b e i n g j u d g e d .

Before volunteering with YWLP, Samantha had an

idea of the trials and tribulations of middle school, but

she says she learned something new and saw issues

from different viewpoints each time she met with her

little sisters. From Daley’s perspective, the best part

of the program was making a difference in the lives of

little sisters and watching them grow and learn how to

harness their own leadership and autonomy.

When asked how the Women’s Studies Program can

generate more awareness for YWLP, Daley suggested

strengthening relationships with organizations

throughout the community and having a more visible

presence on the campus through groups such as

Volunteer UCF, the multicultural center, and the

Office of Undergraduate Research.