Girls' LEAP

Girls’ LEAP works to interrupt the cycle of violence by teaching girls and gender-expansive youth that they have a right to be safe and by providing them the tools and skills to protect themselves, both emotionally and physically. Our vision is a world where all girls and gender-expansive youth grow into powerful, capable adults realizing the power of their aspirations. Our mission is to disrupt the violence that surrounds them by amplifying their voices, emboldening their courage, and imparting critical life and self-defense skills so they can thrive in the face of challenges. Since 1997, Girls’ LEAP has empowered over 20,000 girls in Greater Boston.

We partner with local schools and community centers to deliver empowerment and self-defense services to girls aged 8-18 in Greater Boston.  We employ a paid and volunteer intergenerational staff of adult lead teachers, college-aged teaching women, and near-peer teen mentors to lead programs which are a combination of socio-emotional development and physical self-defense skills.