AAUW Sister-to-Sister Summits

Program Overview

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a national organization that promotes education and equity for all girls and women. In 1997, AAUW began a partnership with the Girl Power! campaign, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., the YWCA of the U.S.A., Girls Incorporated®, and GirlZone (a Web magazine for girls) to host a series of girls' conferences called Sister-to-Sister Summits. The summits grew out of the AAUW's 1992 report, How Schools Shortchange Girls, which revealed that girls receive less attention in the classroom than boys, curricula ignore or stereotype women, and reports of sexual harassment of girls are increasing. The report showed that use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs; premature sexual activity; and other risky behaviors have a direct impact on girls' learning. Girls who use drugs, fear violence, join gangs, or get pregnant cannot take full advantage of the educational programs available to them. The Sister-to-Sister Summits provide girls with an opportunity to talk with each other about these issues. At the summits, girls are able to identify their concerns and create action plans for implementing change in their schools and communities.

Program Format

AAUW Sister-to-Sister Summits are scheduled in more than 100 communities. The summits are sponsored by local and state branches of AAUW. Although they all follow a general daylong program format, each summit is different, reflecting the needs of the girls in the community in which it is held. The summits are primarily planned by girls, with assistance from local AAUW members, partnering organizations, and individuals with expertise in adolescent issues. Group facilitators receive training beforehand on how to moderate discussions to allow the girls to fully express their opinions.

Between 50 to 100 girls, ages 12 to 16, attend each summit. The summits are held at local colleges and universities, YWCAs, schools, and community centers. During summits, girls spend time discussing how substance abuse, sexual harassment, peer pressure, and other issues affect their lives and impede their academic achievement. They work together to brainstorm ways to address their most pressing concerns.

Each summit culminates with the development of a "platform for action," a concrete local agenda for change. Both the girls and the adults who attend a summit commit to helping implement the plan. In some communities, girls have sent letters to local school board members and newspapers to increase awareness of the issues facing girls in school. In other communities, girls have held self-defense classes, organized teen performance troupes to act out important issues, and worked to get technical education programs open to girls.

During each summit, girls complete questionnaires about the subjects that are most critical to them. These questionnaires have provided an excellent opportunity for AAUW to study the concerns of girls expressed in their own voices. A qualitative research report of these findings was published in the summer of 1999. Voices of a Generation: Teenage Girls on Sex, School, and Self. The report is available through the AAUW Web site www.aauw.com.

Media Outreach

Local and state branches of AAUW have been very successful in working with their local media outlets to obtain coverage for the Sister-to-Sister Summits. The Philadelphia Sister-to-Sister Summit, which launched the nationwide program in the fall of 1997, received coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer,the Chicago Tribune,and other newspapers across the country. The Fox, ABC, and CBS television affiliates in Philadelphia provided extensive coverage of the event, and Janice Weinman, executive director of AAUW, appeared on the "Today Show" with one of the girls who attended the Philadelphia Summit.

Funding

The national office of AAUW provided $500 grants to 25 state and local AAUW branches to host Sister-to-Sister Summits. In addition, state and local branches enlisted the support of businesses, schools, and youth-serving organizations for food, space, supplies, and gifts for the girls.

Use of Girl Power! Products

Through AAUW's national partnership with the Girl Power! campaign, Girl Power! products are provided to girls who attend Sister-to-Sister Summits across the country. Girls receive Girl Power! diaries, pins, bookmarks, and stickers.