2023 GWS Summer Writing Workshop Recap

BY ARIANA TAVAKKOLI

Inspire, build, and connect – the mission of Girls Who Start. This summer, through the second ever GWS Summer Writing Workshop, the Publication Team fulfilled this mission. Over five weeks in July and August, elementary, middle, and high schoolers from 18 different schools learned to brainstorm, research, draft, and produce an article to be published in the Girls Who Start Publication. One student said, “I thought the program… allowed everyone in the workshop freedom to write about what they wanted while also providing them the resources to do so.” Articles covered subjects ranging from the impacts of inflation on small businesses to the ups and downs of becoming your own boss.

Students learn about picking the cover of The Washingtonian. Girls Who Start

This workshop was made possible not only by the Publication Team, but also with the help of a variety of guest speakers: Catherine Merrill Williams, CEO of The Washingtonian; Saba Mehrzad, Staff Writer for The Harvard Crimson and founder of iFeminist; Erica Lu, Editor-in-Chief of Horizon; and Maya Jones, Features Editor for Horizon. Students had the opportunity to learn about speakers' professional experiences, tips on the writing process, and the inner workings of running a business. They also asked questions in a Q&A with each speaker. “The guest speakers were great, and they really informed my decisions with the direction of my article and gave great advice in general,” one student told us.

Session one of the workshop. Girls Who Start

One student was selected to be highlighted on the front of the Girls Who Start website. Please join us in congratulating 11th grader Amalia Sardinha, the author of "Turning Passions Into Professions: How Two Women Have Imbued Their Businesses with Creativity!” Look out for student articles starting in the fall. In the meantime, check out the rest of our publication at girlswhostart.org/read-gws-publication!