This week in Be the Voice of Girls was about stepping outside comfort zones—whether through music, conversation, or the way we frame the world around us. Two powerful sessions built upon each other, reinforcing the idea that listening and engaging are just as important as speaking up.
On Monday, Aubrey Carter from All Ears English led a session that encouraged the girls to experience something new through music. She challenged them to listen to a genre they normally wouldn’t, to push past their usual preferences and engage with something unfamiliar. Music, like storytelling, is a reflection of culture, emotion, and lived experience. It has the power to challenge assumptions and reshape perspectives.
When the group reconvened on Wednesday, the discussion started with reflections on that assignment. Some discovered an appreciation for jazz, realizing its spontaneity mirrors the way ideas evolve in real conversations. Others listened to metal for the first time, surprised by the layers of complexity beneath its intensity. Stepping outside their usual choices led to new ways of thinking—about music, about expression, and about how different perspectives can open doors to deeper understanding.
That conversation naturally led into something bigger.
As the session turned to women’s rights, the girls drew parallels between stepping outside their musical comfort zones and stepping into spaces where they are not always welcome. They spoke about the barriers they see, the opportunities that feel just out of reach, and the societal expectations that shape their daily lives. They asked what could be done, what needed to change, and what role they could play in making a difference.
Program contributor Michael Sullivan helped frame the discussion by drawing from The Art of the Interview, a unit the group had just completed. He explained how the way questions are asked shapes the responses they receive. A why question often puts people on the defensive, while a how question invites solutions. The same principle applies to advocacy—asking Why is the world like this? may lead to frustration, but asking How can we change this? opens the door to action.
International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action. It is a reminder that progress happens when space is made for new voices, new ideas, and new leadership. Empowerment is not about waiting for permission to speak—it is about recognizing that those voices already have power.
That is what Be the Voice of Girls is about. It is not just about learning to speak; it is about learning to engage. To question. To lead.
Creating opportunities for girls to learn, create, and advocate is not just about fairness—it is about shaping a better world. Because when girls are given the space to lead, innovate, and create change, the future looks stronger for everyone.
