Nonprofit Empowers Girls Through Creativity and Mentorship

Yes Girls Create provides hands-on experiences and access to women leaders across industries.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 11:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Yes Girls Create nonprofit in New York City is helping girls ages 8 to 18 build confidence, leadership and career pathways through creativity, mentorship and wellness programming. The organization offers monthly collaborative labs led by women in various fields, as well as an annual conference that engages both girls and their parents.

Why it matters

Many girls in underserved neighborhoods lack consistent access to enrichment programs that nurture their talents and ambitions. Yes Girls Create aims to close that gap by providing safe, affirming spaces where girls can explore their creativity and see themselves reflected in future possibilities.

The details

At Yes Girls Create, participants engage in hands-on experiences like designing products, creating personal fragrances, building small-business concepts, and exploring STEM topics. The organization infuses each activity with a creative component to help girls process what they're learning and see themselves in those fields. Yes Girls Create has served over 500 youth to date and also launched an initiative called WISELY to directly connect girls with women working in science, technology, engineering and math.

  • Yes Girls Create was founded 10 years ago.
  • The organization's annual Create Her Well Girls Conference takes place each year.

The players

Therese L. Myers

The founder of Yes Girls Create Inc., a nonprofit in New York City.

Yes Girls Create

A nonprofit organization that empowers girls ages 8 to 18 through creativity, mentorship, STEM exposure and leadership development.

WISELY

An initiative of Yes Girls Create that connects girls directly with women working in science, technology, engineering and math fields.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When girls create with their hands, they begin to shape their identities. They speak up more. They ask sharper questions. They imagine futures they may not have previously seen modeled.”

— Therese L. Myers, Founder, Yes Girls Create (spokesman-recorder.com)

“When a girl meets a woman who looks like her in a field she has never considered, the distance between aspiration and achievement narrows. Our goal is to make those introductions early and often, so possibility feels familiar, not far away.”

— Therese L. Myers, Founder, Yes Girls Create (spokesman-recorder.com)

What’s next

The organization plans to continue expanding its programming across New York City and beyond, forming new partnerships with schools, community organizations and corporate leaders.

The takeaway

By investing in girls through creative programming, mentorship and exposure to diverse role models, Yes Girls Create is helping to build confidence, leadership skills and career pathways for the next generation.