CONFERENCE HISTORY
In 1998, Hardy Girls hosted the first annual Girls Rock! Conference – an opportunity for girls of all ages to come together to meet one another, be inspired, learn media literacy skills, and think critically about messages they get about body image and relationships. Participants also had opportunities to create their own media. In its second year, Girls Rock! brought even more youth from the greater Waterville area together to experience coalition, violence prevention, critical thinking, and ways to create the world they want for all girls and nonbinary youth.
SPRING CONFERENCES
Our Spring Conferences take place annually in Portland, Waterville and Bangor. The conferences are designed to support 4th-8th grade girls and nonbinary youth, and they’re entirely planned and run by the high schoolers on the Feminist Action Board (FAB). FAB members self-select topics that are relevant to Maine girls and nonbinary youth and spend several months developing content for the workshops that they lead on conference day. In addition to experiencing the workshops and presentations, attendees gain valuable skills at our action spot stations. The conferences gives girls and nonbinary youth the opportunity to connect and build coalition. It’s a great opportunity for the younger attendees to learn from, and be inspired by, the teens who are making positive contributions in their schools and communities. Conferences are fun-filled days of learning, sharing, growing, and youth-powered activism!
Spring Conferences 2024 were held with generous support from these sponsors!
For 2025 sponsorship opportunities, please email our ops director at shannon@hardygirls.org
How You Can Help!
To make the conferences as accessible as possible, we rely on donors and sponsors to supplement ticket costs. Please email Shannon for more information about donation and sponsorship opportunities.
Bring girls to the conferences! Adults who accompany girls to the conferences are welcome to join professional development sessions while the youth participants are in their workshops. Past topics have included self-care, “Moving Beyond Mean Girls,” and Cultivating Hardiness Zones.
If you belong to a local organization that promotes activism, consider setting up an “action spot” at one of more of our conferences. Action spots offer attendees opportunities to practice taking action (e.g. writing letters to government officials; designing awareness-raising buttons & signs; and learning about community initiatives). Please email our Program Manager at programs@hardygirls.org if you’d like to host an action spot!
that we can do the same as men/boys.”