Programs & Services > Camille Cosby Girls' Program
The Camille Cosby Girls Program
The Camille Cosby Girls Program (CCGP), managed by the Media Center of the Judge Baker Children’s Center, is dedicated to supporting self-worth, encouraging self-reflection, and promoting healthy lifestyle choices in young girls ages 11-14. CCGP hosts 3 free community events during the school year.
Shaya Gregory or Olivenne Skinner
617-278-4265
ccgp@jbcc.harvard.edu
Camille Cosby “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” Essay Contest
See the winning essays from the 2008 "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" Essay Contest.
The Camille Cosby “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” Essay Contest was created so girls could articulate the joys and struggles in their young lives without fear of judgment. The very simple idea behind the contest is that writing is a healthy form of expression that can increase academic performance, provide an outlet for stress, and build self-esteem. From the start, girls have been encouraged to write about what it means to be a girl in today’s society.
“Walk a Mile in My Shoes” provides a safe and encouraging
context for girls to express their personal narratives. Essay contest judges,
a diverse group of well-respected members of the Boston community, are always
impressed by the powerful and poignant essays that are submitted. Although
the participants are only between the ages of 11 and 14, they commonly write
about their culture, friends, family and school as well as difficult issues
such as death, teen pregnancy, violence, peer pressure, gangs, and prejudice.
In the process of writing about their lives, the girls are gaining skills
for self-reflection--a valuable asset for success and resilience later in
life.
The Award Ceremony Luncheon recognizes all of the essay writers with certificates,
journals, and a bound copy of the essays. The Essay Contest winners, who
have done a superb job of expressing themselves while paying attention to
grammar and spelling, receive cash prizes.
“I don't try to fit in with any particular crowd in school. I wouldn't waste my time pretending to be someone I am not; I can just do that in acting school."Excerpt from a "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" essay by Alissa P.
“Say It Write” Self-Expression Conference
The “Say It Write” Conference encourages all essay contest
participants, their friends, and other girls in the community, to learn
about writing and other forms of creative self-expression. Workshops have
included poetry, creative writing, journal writing, and drama as well as
jewelry making, dance, painting, mask making, and clay. The conference closes
with the award luncheon for the “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” essay
contest.
“If you have short hair, you are automatically labeled "boy" as if it were written across your forehead. If you are voluptuous, you are subject to a childhood of teasing and a lifetime of hippo comments. The stereotypes that the media creates are killing the spirits of young aspiring presidents and doctors.”Excerpt from a "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" essay by Lauren P.
Healthy Me! Celebration
Click here for more information!
During April school vacation, CCGP hosts the “Healthy Me!” Celebration, which teaches girls about nutrition, physical fitness, safety, and finding healthy, active alternatives to electronic media.
A main component of the CCGP philosophy is that healthy development builds the belief that we can influence our environment by making healthy choices. In order to fulfill this portion of the mission, CCGP created an event that addresses the onslaught of media and commercialism that girls today encounter on a daily basis. The Healthy Me! Celebration is a conference about physical and emotional health and well-being for middle school girls ages 11-14. The focus of the full-day event is to provide information on healthy living and to offer fun media-free activities for girls to learn and incorporate into their lives.
CCGP is sensitive to the effect that media has on young girls. Studies
have shown that media violence and sexuality can have a negative impact
on adolescent viewers. In addition, media can perpetrate stereotypes and
distort cultural identity. Our media literacy workshops and presentations
specifically address the reality that marketers and media often target young
girls with demeaning images of themselves. For young girls from minority
cultures, the racism embedded in today’s commercial media is an added
burden. CCGP encourages the girls to challenge commercial messages and evaluate
how their experiences of themselves and their friends and family are different
from those portrayed on the screen. We also help girls to look within their
families and communities to find positive, realistic, role-models for becoming
healthy women in the world.
Healthy Me! also features workshops on nutrition, yoga, exercise, stress management, and double dutch jump rope. The nutrition workshops teach the girls about realistic, yet healthy food choices. The physical fitness component is one that fulfills CCGP’s mission of encouraging young girls to incorporate exercise in their daily routines. The girls are further encouraged at the end of the event to keep up with their healthy decisions by receiving “play packs” of media-free activities and folders of information about games and nutrition.
The Camille Cosby Girls Program has been in existence for 15 years and has reached girls ages 10-16 through various schools, churches, and after-school programs in the Boston area. We have found that girls today are subjected to societal stereotypes and “assigned roles.” Academic achievement is frequently viewed in a negative light, as is involvement in organized sports. Unhealthy messages emanating from media are often reinforced and compounded by pressure from peer groups. From commercialized music, movies, video games and television, girls are inundated with destructively-themed media content that degrade women and minimize their place in society. Through gender-specific educational initiatives, sponsored events, and peer support, the Camille Cosby Girls Program specifically confronts these issues.
“It's ridiculous what girls sometimes have to face. People don't realize that we are strong and powerful. Maybe it's not always physical strength but we can overpower others with our intellect and wit. We raise families and help others, which in my opinion is a lot better than being able to show off your muscles.”Excerpt from a "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" essay by Ayo E.
Click here for information on upcoming events!
Program Supporters
Camille O. Cosby, Ed.D.
Baupost Group Charitable Fund