On a snowy winter evening, several youth from our Lise Watier: This is Me! Program participated in a vision-boarding workshop. The event helped youth staying at Covenant House to build a sense of personal power and potential.
Hosted by Broadway artist and Covenant House volunteer, Angela Grovey, the workshop encouraged young woman attendees to identify their core values, reflect on their past accomplishments and set goals for the future.
Grovey reflects on why she wanted to create this space: “As an artist, I believe words have power. Writing things down or speaking things into existence can be very effective. We are so attached to our phones and computers and sometimes that can block us from having a moment to dream or visualize things for ourselves.”
Bravery, acceptance, gratitude and family were popular values within the group. One youth shared that she has autism and felt outcast by her peers because of it. She said the exercises helped her to accept herself and appreciate the important people in her life. Another youth who moved here from a different country expressed that even though her family is far away, they are very important to her, and she wants to reach out to them even more.
This workshop is the perfect example of what is offered in the Lise Watier: This is Me! program. All year round, the program offers life skills workshops, discussion groups, female mentors and special outings. It promotes peer support and personal growth to help young women recognize their value.
To Grovey, activities like these are important, especially for youth: “Women are super humans. Sometimes we’re not dealt the same cards, but I think that if you empower a woman to think and be independent, you can change the world. I’m excited to dream alongside these young women.”