Here at the conclusion of the dialogue, my strongest feeling is that
we've just scratched the surface. Thanks to all the girls who
participated and all the list members who added their thoughts,
questions and comments.
Dialogue between girls and the adults who make the decisions and do
the day-to-day work of improving equity in education is so valuable.
The fresh voices and thoughts remind us why we're doing this work and
also hold us to a very high standard. Sometimes I get discouraged in
how long change takes or I get hung up on the barriers that arise.
Listening to girls always reminds me how important our work is and
reinvigorates my commitment. We are making a difference. The very
fact that this listserv invited girls' participation is an indication
of how far we've come in really listening to girls and believing that
they know valuable things.
We adults also have a lot to offer girls and I hope all of us on this
list will keep doing that in the small everyday ways that make such a
difference to girls. Being able to offer perspective and history to
help girls see their experience in a broader context and learn about
resources they don't know about are two of the most important things
we can do. Being true allies, we can bring our strengths (knowing how
to operate in the "adult" world and our life experience) together with
the girls' strengths (knowing their own experience and having high
expectations for justice & equality) and make miracles happen. Doing
this work also requires us to be honest with the girls and ourselves -
not always as easy as it sounds.
If you want to check in with girls' voices on a regular basis,
consider subscribing to New Moon for Girls and/or New Moon Network at
www.newmoon.org - both publications, our books and our website bring
diverse girls' voices into the public arena with editing by girls. If
you're concerned about media images and their effect on girls, check
out our Turn Beauty Inside Out campaign at the website, too.
International Turn Beauty Inside Out Day is May 16, 2001.
I'd love to hear the list members thoughts about what the girls had to
say, too.
Nancy Gruver
New Moon Publishing
PO Box 3620
Duluth, MN 55803-3620
nancyg@newmoon.org
voice: 218-728-5507, ext. 11
fax: 218-728-0314
New Moon: The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams
New Moon Network: For Adults Who Care About Girls
www.newmoon.org
Between The Moon & You - Gifts for Girls & Women
www.newmooncatalog.com
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