If you are a young girl watching television, do you see your see yourself in characters or girls acting in TV shows? Most girls would say no.
Growing up in the ‘90s, my answer would have definitely been no. In 2017, there is no reason for girls to not see themselves on TV. Not only should they be able to see themselves but they should also be able to have a role in making the television show they are watching.
What if girls could actually write, direct, and produce their own TV show? Guess what? They actually can with the organization, Long Island Girl Talk.
It’s a community program where we help young girls become future leaders in media. By helping young women create their own media, we hope to equip our girls with a strategy for independence that they can use to promote positive representations of themselves in the media they create. In the program, the Long Island Girl Talk girls learn about themselves, media, and how they can fit into or affect media.
The girls are able to participate in workshops to gain access to holistic training and exposure to personal development and growth. In addition to learning and skill building, the LIGT girls develop longstanding relationships with other girls in the program. Most importantly, each of the LIGT girls are able to develop her own unique voice that can be heard on Cablevision Channel 115 at 6 p.m. Saturdays, on Verizon Channel 40 at 12 p.m. Mondays and 6:30 p.m. Thursdays as well as their YouTube channel.
On Dec. 16, LIGT celebrated their successful 5th Annual Holiday Benefit Party to raise funds and awareness for the program. The day was full of fun, networking, and sisterhood as they celebrated honorees, community leaders and vendors. The program was led by the Alyssa Vogel, the Mistress of Ceremonies.
Honorees included Professor Joylette Williams Samuels, who won the Visionary Community Leadership award, Jeannine Maynard, who won the Visionary Community Service award and Shatara Curry, who won the Visionary Entrepreneurship award.
LIGT was founded by Marcia McNair, so that young girls would know that their voice matters. No matter what challenges young girls face in their life, they should never feel like they can’t share their thoughts on what is important to them.
Long Island Girl Talk will host the First Annual Girl’s Empowerment Conference at the Roosevelt Public Library on March 17. There, girls across Long Island can connect and network with thought leaders addressing education, women’s history, career opportunities in media, and so much more.
Want to support or collaborate with Long Island Girl Talk? Contact Program Coordinator Natasha Nurse at Natasha@dressingroom8.com.
