Girls for Gender Equity

Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) is a Brooklyn, New York-based inter-generational non-profit organization founded with a focus on gender equity. It is dedicated to strengthening local communities by creating opportunities for young women and girls to live self-determined lives. To achieve this, GGE employs a bio-psycho-social-cultural approach to addressing the many challenges young women and girls face, including sexism, racial inequality, homophobia, transphobia, and sexual harassment.

In the year 2000, GGE was founded by Joanne N. Smith in response to a coalition of 80 low-income Central Brooklyn residents of color, petitioning the Open Society Institute (OSI) to help in the fight to change the negative perceptions that society has of women and girls. Inspired by their cause, Smith used the OSI fellowship to launch Girls for Gender Equity. Through educational, physical, and social programs, GGE organised programs to help young women and girls develop skills for self-sufficiency.