Girls Write Now
Ava Fung is a dedicated student pursuing Bachelor of Arts degrees in Cognitive Science and Economics at Barnard College and Columbia University. Currently serving as a member of the NYC Youth Agenda Coalition at YVote, Ava compiles and analyzes economic reports to amplify the voices of underrepresented NYC youth through interactive events. Involvement with Rewriting the Code and participation in the Black Wing Hackathon led to the development of SkillSages, a social good website. Ava has also contributed to the Girls Write Now program, receiving mentorship from a published writer. As a Wellness Spot Office Assistant at Barnard College, responsibilities include creating engaging content for social media platforms. Ava's internships at UC San Diego and DTCC involved research on AI and data science solutions and enhancing diversity within talent pipelines. Additional roles at Teachers College and Barnard College’s Center of Engaged Pedagogy have focused on media literacy initiatives and advocating for student-centered educational practices. Previous experience includes conducting research on youth issues with the Citizens' Committee for Children of New York.
Girls Write Now
For almost 25 years, Girls Write Now has broken down the barriers of gender, race, age and poverty to mentor the next generation of writers and leaders. Together, our community channels the power of our voices and stories to shape culture, impact industries and inspire change. New York’s first writing and mentoring organization for girls and gender-expansive youth, we match underserved young writers from the five boroughs of New York City and across the US with women professional writers and digital media makers as their personal mentors. Our mentees publish in The New York Times, Newsweek, and BuzzFeed, have performed at Lincoln Center and the United Nations, and have earned hundreds of Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. 100% of Girls Write Now seniors are accepted to college. The organization has been distinguished three times by the White House as one of the nation’s top youth programs and twice by the Nonprofit Excellence Awards as one of New York’s top ten nonprofits. Reaching thousands, Girls Write Now is a founding partner of the New York City Council’s STARS Citywide Girls Initiative.