M.A.D. Leaders and Daughters Program
Issue 9 - Summer 2016
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Do you want to tell us about your experiences as part of The Aspire Foundation? Are you working on a project you’d like us to feature? Or would you like to share something that your mentor or mentee has been working on that they’re to modest to tell us about themselves? Why not drop our editor a line - editor@theaspirefoundation.org - and you might be featured in a future issue!
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Welcome
to Aspire Foundation News
Welcome to the Summer issue of your Aspire Foundation News.
What ’s inside ...
This month we’re celebrating young women speaking out and changing the world. Sometimes it’s easier to go with the flow and not rock the boat, but amazing things can happen when we do!
P5 - 1 World Unite P6 - Young Hollywood Speaks out! P8 - M.A.D. Leaders and Daughters
We’re supporting the future leaders amongst us with our M.A.D. Leaders and Daughters Program, turn to Page 8 to find out more.
P10 - Mentoring Women Same or Different? And GROW Model P11 - Global Goals
Who’s joining us at the M.A.D. Leadership conference in Chicago? We’re so excited! If you can’t join us in person, why not join in virtually? We’ll be on our Twitter, Linked In and Facebook channels, as well as the Rungway group so there’s plenty of opportunities to get involved!
P12 - Chicago Conference and Pre-Event P14 - London Conference P15 - Book Review P16 - SELF P18 - Hear from one of our Avanade mentors and her mentee!
Emma Aspire Newsletter Editor
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Looking for past issues? You can find them all on-line here‌
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1World-Unite Christine Farrell talks to us about 1World-Unite and 1World-News, the global newspaper for young people.
1World-Unite was set up in recognition of a growing need to educate young people about cultural, social and environmental issues, so that they would be better prepared for life in a global world. Everything we do is based on the premise that if we want a sustainable future, then young people need an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of global issues and understand the correlation between our day-to-day actions and the impact they have upon the world.
"Everyday we hear about different incidents taking place around the world and quite often we are left with the impression that they are of no concern to us. I think that 1World News helps bring global information to life so that I feel that I am part of it and that I do count." Elin Falla Year 10 student. All of our resources have been designed to put learning into a truly ‘global’ context, to promote active critical thinking, tolerance and self-awareness. Throughout everything we create is the common thread of ‘optimism’ and take-aways that give young people information so that they can get involved, make a difference, work together and be the change - something that we feel is akin to the ethos of all those involved with the Aspire Foundation. Click here to read the latest issue of 1World News
To learn more about 1World-Unite and 1World-News, visit their website here.
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Young Hollywood Speaks Out Young Hollywood has a voice, and it’s using that voice to speak out! By Emma Barrett
In an age where it feels like authenticity is losing out to image, it’s been great to see young celebrities getting vocal about what matters to them… and what matters to them is diversity.
Former Disney child-star, Miley Cyrus (23) got us all talking about gender fluidity when she announced that she doesn’t identify with labels such as ‘girl’ or ‘boy’ “It has nothing to do with…how I dress or how I look. It’s literally just how I feel”. This conversation was warmly received, with Stonewall (LGBT support and activist group in the UK) saying “People come in all different shapes and sizes, with different beliefs, backgrounds, experiences, sexualities, gender identities and gender expressions. Gender fluidity is something that a lot of people will be able to associate with and it’s great to see celebrities speaking out about their lived experiences."
Zendaya Coleman, also a former Disney star, made the headlines with how she handled her dreadlocks being criticised on a TV fashion show. In an Instagram post, she challenged the offensive stereotypes presented and asked people to “contemplate a little before opening your mouth so quickly to judge”. At only 18 years old, she explained why cultural appropriation is a problem: “Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them. You don’t just wear something just to wear it – you have to understand the history behind it”. She released a Barbie doll with dreadlocks, stating “when I was little I couldn’t find a Barbie that looked like me” and thanked Barbie for the “diversification and expansion of the definition of beauty”. She also challenged a magazine who had Photoshopped pictures of her for presenting “unrealistic ideals of beauty”.
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Hunger Games star, Amandla Stenberg (16 years old) also spoke out on cultural appropriation in a post ‘Don’t cash crop my cornrows” after Kylie Jenner posted pictures on social media of her hair styled in cornrows. She wrote “appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated but is deemed as high-fashion, cool or funny when the privileged take it for themselves”
13 year old Rowan Blanchard’s Instagram post on Feminism and intersectionality went viral. In it, she challenged “white feminism” for not considering the impact race, sexual identity and sexuality can impact women “The way a black woman experiences sexism and inequality is different from the way a white woman experiences sexism and inequality. Likewise with trans-women and Hispanic women.” She quoted Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American race theory scholar: “The view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity. Cultural patterns of oppression are not only interrelated, but are bound together and influenced by the intersectional systems of society.”
Hari Nef made news when she signed to IMG Worldwide, the same modelling agency that has Gisele and Gigi Hadid on it’s books. She is a transgender model and actress who says “Being a woman is an option, being trans is an option, and they’re options that appeal to me… We need to listen to people, not labels, not semantics”. She is a role model for young transpeople, offering visibility in an industry that could be accused of only offering sameness. She hopes to inspire young people to self-define and to not hide who they are “It’s not enough to be cute in a magazine,” she says. “You have to talk.”
In a time when some more established stars seem reluctant to call themselves feminists or to speak out on diversity issues, it’s really positive to see these young women talking out and using their platform to try to start conversations.
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M.A.D. Leaders and Daughters
Last month we introduced the M.A.D. Leaders and Daughter’s program. We are offering a Work Experience Program and a Young Woman Program. Why? Our research shows that 7 in 10 girls believe that they are not good enough or don’t measure up in some way. We want to change that.
The Work Experience Program is open to young adults aged between 12 and 17. They will attend the M.A.D. Leadership Program as a volunteer (with a parent or guardian), shadowing an Aspire staff member or key Aspire volunteer.
The Young Woman Program is for young adults aged 18 to 25. They will attend our M.A.D. Leadership conferences as an attendee (attending with a parent or guardian, or alone with special opportunities to meet and be part of a group of other young Aspire attendees.
Our events are empowering and confidence building, they offer a meaningful opportunity for young people to learn about making a difference in the world, grow their confidence, build their self-image and learn networking skills at a young age.
Our focus is on empowering young women, but we welcome any young men who would like to attend. To find out more, click here
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Sophia Hashim volunteered at our 2014 M.A.D. Leadership event and wrote a lovely poem about her experience on the Work Experience Program…
In Aspire they have work experience, it really is that fun! Everything is so inspiring, I’m sad I’m nearly done. I’ll tell you how it all started, and how it all began There was Rachel, Charlotte, Amanda and the lovely Sam I came in with my t-shirt and wrote on the back We went into the circle and started a big long chat I knew what to do and just what to say I was roving with mics all through the day I heard loads of quotes, I listened to Sam’s talk My head was swelling with loads and loads of thoughts. First of all I was with the journals, right behind the desk There were so many books to choose from, I couldn’t decide which was the best! There were loads of people, all very friendly. They came from all over the country and in Essex and Henley So I did do loads, there is no time to say it all I even made friends, Amelia and Rebecca, whom I’m definitely going to call! So now everything is done and dusted with nothing left to do This is the end of my poem, that I wrote just for you!
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Aspire Foundation Community Event
Were you able to join our Skills Webinar ‘Mentoring Women - Same or Different?’ on 18th August? If not, you can find the recording here.
During the skills webinar, Sam discussed the GROW Model for coaching and mentoring. The GROW Model is a simple but effective tool for structuring your mentoring sessions. A good way of thinking about the GROW Model is to think about how you would plan a journey - you start by deciding where you want to go (the Goal) and establish where you already are (your Reality). You would then look at the different routes you could take to your destination (the Options). Lastly, by committing to making this journey (the Will), you are preparing yourself for any obstacles you meet along the way.
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What I Really, Really Want...
In 2015 world leaders promised to put girls and women first when they signed up to the Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fix climate change and tackle inequalities. It is recognised that girls and women are disproportionately affected by these challenges and are key to building resilient communities to withstand them. In 2016, Global Goals released this video, calling on everyone to use their collective power to tell world leaders what they really, really want...
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M.A.D. Leadership Conference
We’re getting just a little bit excited about our M.A.D. Conference in Chicago… See the new speaker line up and register HERE.
The conferences aren’t all work, there’s a little play too! Click on the picture above for a little fun from the last conference in London!
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Chicago Pre-Conference Event On 26th July, we held a pre-conference event Lucy Lomellin, Executive Assistant at Avanade attended the event as a volunteer...
I had the privilege of volunteering with and attending The Aspire Foundation’s M.A.D. Leadership Event on July 26, 2016. I can’t even begin to describe the energy and emotion that enveloped the participants that evening, but I will do my best! Approximately 150 women and men came together to network and learn more about The Aspire Foundation. There was an electricity in the room prior to the speakers taking the stage. Once the speakers took to the stage, the audience was focused. As each presentation continued, I saw laughter, tears and hearts and minds being opened to the very idea of the message being shared that evening.
The conclusion I came away with was that this event was a huge success! I was honored to be a part of the event and encourage others to volunteer with The Aspire Foundation!
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Aspire M.A.D. Leadership Programs
Join Dr Sam Collins, CEO of Aspire and named as 'One of the Top 200 Women to Impact Business and Industry’ by Her Majesty, The Queen, and women from around the world to be ‘M.A.D.’ and make a difference to your life, work and world. Join us, and you will...
Develop the qualities of great leadership.
Gain new leadership and career tool kits.
Be inspired by global speakers.
Create a new vision for your success.
Grow a like minded external network.
Leave with a tangible action plan.
Aspire Foundation Mentees can apply for a scholarship to the events here.
Are you an Aspire Foundation mentor? Our London event is open for you to attend as a guest, but places are going fast! Click here to sign up or to find out more information.
Calling all volunteers!
Do you want to get involved and support any of the upcoming leadership events? If so, please contact Jane via Jane@theaspirefoundation.org
Volunteers need to have attended a previous leadership event and be available for both days of the event. Full training will be provided. 14
Book Review Last month Krista Powell Edwards told us why ’Voice of Influence’ by Judy Apps is so influential to her. This month, our Editor introduces a book she’s found inspiring... OK, confession time: although I’ve long identified as a feminist, I have sort of shied away from feminist literature and hadn’t read anything by Gloria Steinem until earlier this year. I made it a New Year’s resolution to read more and the timing couldn’t be better as this is when Emma Watson started her Feminist Book Club (you can learn more about it and join here). The first book was ‘My Life on the Road’, Steinem’s biographical account of her life on the road, of travel, of activism and leadership, of listening to people whose voices and ideas would inspire change and revolution. Her involvement in the fights for gender equality and civil rights is fascinating. One of the key lessons I took from this book is that we all need to listen more in order to learn and to appreciate other people’s points of view. We’re all too quick, especially in this age of social media, of firing off our opinions without considering other people’s perspectives that I think it’s a lesson we need reminding of sometimes.
You can buy My Life On The Road here
We really want to hear from YOU! We want to know about the books you’ve read that have inspired you, moved you or made you look at things from another perspective. If you’d like to write a short review of one of your favourite books and have it featured in the newsletter, please contact Emma at editor@theaspirefoundation.org
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Self Empowerment for Life’s Foundations
Hi Aspire members! My name is Cassandra Campbell, I’m an Aspire mentee, co-director of Self Empowerment for Life’s Foundation (S.E.L.F), and I REALLY need your help! Let me tell you a bit about what we do... S.E.L.F is a community organisation on a mission to promote and facilitate personal development and empowerment through SELF-growth, SELF-awareness and SELF-love. We believe that, much like when building a house, it is essential to take the time and care to lay a solid foundation on which to build our lives. Every individual has the power and ability to design and mould their lives in the way they desire, and we are here to help people find and use the tools they need to embark on their personal journey towards finding their true "self." Our journey began with Pandora’s Box, an emotional awareness workshop for girls, which addresses the underlying reasons that often lead to emotional and mental distress, lack of hope, poor choices, negative beliefs, self-destructive behaviour and barriers to fulfilment and success. We have worked with numerous girls through group work and 1:1 mentoring, which has and continues to be very fulfilling, but we would like to widen our reach even further. CALL TO ACTION! In our third year, we are on a mission to empower girls and young women nationally – or even internationally - by creating the Pandora’s Box Empowerment Guide. Starting in September, we will be working with between 20 - 30 female students at a South London secondary school over a period of one full school year and we need your help!
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SELF We are seeking 30 mentors to support our girls on a 1:1 basis with general life issues such as confidence, motivation and other barriers to self empowerment.
Build a rapport with mentees
Support beneficiaries on their journey of self empowerment
Hourly 1:1 sessions per month with mentee
Verbal or written input in report writing/ case studies (this is not as involved/ daunting as it may sound!)
Monthly updates with lead project managers (either in person, via email, telephone or Skype)
Commit to 6-10 months
As well as 5-10 professional mentors to support us and the girls with the development of the project, in a group setting, to cover the following areas:
Interviewing skills
Creative design
Creative writing
Fundraising
PR & Marketing
Commit to at least 3 months
All mentors must be willing to travel to Vauxhall in South London and require a valid Disclosure and Barring Service check for safeguarding purposes. If you do not have one, we can arrange this for you. If you would like to be part of this innovative, exciting project or support us in general in developing other areas of our organisation, please contact us at youth@s-e-l-f.org or 0208 772 9938. You can find out a bit more about us via our website (under reconstruction) www.s-e-l-f.org We would love you to join us on our social media: FB: @SELFFORLIFE or Pandora’s Box Empowerment TWITTER: @pbempowerment INSTAGRAM: @pandorasboxempowerment Can’t wait to hear from you! 17
Avanade are supporting our mission to make a difference to one billion women by 2020. This month we hear from an Avanade mentor, Laura, and her mentee, Sai. Laura Martinez I signed up to this program because I am a Senior Analyst at Avanade, and I have never had the opportunity to mentor (normally only Consultant level and above have this responsibility), and I am very interested and passionate about coaching and empowerment programs.
During my mentoring journey with the Aspire Foundation I have learned a lot about the work of a mentor thanks to my amazing and full of ideas mentee and through the optional monthly training sessions such as “Effective Goal Setting”, “Trailblazing Leadership”, “Managing a Successful Mentoring Relationship”. All of these sessions are very interesting and useful in both life and work.
Among the many benefits of this program, some I have particularly welcomed is my increased awareness of social and cultural issues arising in other countries, development possibilities, the experience of interacting with people in other parts of the world with different languages and cultures; and finally increased knowledge of the charity sector, social enterprises and NGOs.
Those of us who are passionate about solving social problems or are conscious of diversity and inclusion should not think twice about joining this program. Becoming a mentor with The Aspire Foundation will give you the opportunity to do your bit to making a difference to 1 billion women by 2020 with just 1 hour a month for six months.
Sai Kondisetti I have always rallied for women empowerment right from a young age. I have always been aware of the lack of inspiration and the lack of confidence inherent in the girls of my region and generation. I want to change that. When I took up being a social worker, I wanted to create a sustainable system where I could combine the desired outcomes of the above and leave behind a legacy of confident and aspiring women.
With my upcoming studies I would like to learn how to run a social business and turn my personal desires into professional systems and thereby do well by doing good.
My goal is to establish a simple but sustainable platform (social business) in any form that empowers at risk women in India and similar countries.
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Aspire Foundation mentoring is highly encouraging in itself to be mentored by a professional who's so far ahead in her career. There is an exchange culturally as well as professionally and there is someone to share your professional misgivings with. This is highly important I believe, in the exchange. Being mentored is actually a sort of stress reliever and confidence booster. You know that someone is looking out for you and with your interaction, it opens up doors for collaboration in many different ways. For example, I have asked about Laura's different departments and the environment of the people working there. That helps me understand what kind of skills I need to learn or have to further my own aspirations. I think you don't have to save villages to do your bit to help the world. Making a difference comes in many different ways. If you choose to share your expertise with someone who is still growing and harbored with so many inhibitions and misgivings, then that is a very kind act. I'm not the best student or the smartest person on the planet but by being mentored this way, I believe that I'm worthy of being someone important. That makes all the difference. I will have the drive to overcome any future misgivings because I can always turn to my mentor and count on them to guide me, even long after 6 months. Laura is special mentor because we come from opposite parts of the world. There is a lot we can learn from each other's stages in life.
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“One billion starts with one� Join the movement, join The Aspire M.A.D. Mentoring program today!
Sign up to be a MENTOR
Next MENTEE Cohort Opening 1st Nov!
Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do or achieve. Do what you want to do and be who you want to be… Encourage and include each other. Emma Watson
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