Chapter Leadership
Roles, responsibilities, and understanding that at Chicas for Change, EVERYONE MATTERS.
Chapter President(s)
Each chapter of Chicas for Change should have one president or two co-presidents, as needed. The president(s) can be any student in grades 7-12 who shows leadership and is committed to inclusivity and activism. They should be comfortable leading discussions, organizing projects, communicating with school administration, and connecting with new peers.
President duties are outlined below:
Prepare and lead weekly meetings. Meeting guides can be found on the website to help the President select topics, discussion questions, and activities.
Select and lead short and long-term projects that align with the needs and interests of their peers.
Promote a welcoming environment for all members at Chicas for Change meetings.
Offer members the opportunity to lead “Meeting Takeovers,” where they present on topics of their choosing.
Remain in close communication with the chapter advisor. Any and all serious or confidential concerns should be brought to their attention promptly.
At the end of each year, ensure that the transition of leadership is smooth and that the new President understands any roles and responsibilities specific to their chapter.
At this time, Chicas for Change does not enforce any particular method of selecting a chapter president(s). We encourage holding a club-wide vote at the end of each academic year to select the president(s) for the following academic year. However, we understand that it may be easier for the chapter advisor to select a president during your school’s first year of Chicas for Change.
Chapter Advisor
While Chicas for Change is built upon strong student leadership, we know that sometimes, big responsibilities can be difficult for middle and high school students to manage alone. As a result, we require that each chapter of Chicas for Change have a chapter advisor. Chapter advisors can be any member of school faculty or staff who can commit to leading an extracurricular organization.
Chicas for Change empowers young girls to confront and challenge some difficult systemic issues that they may or may not have experienced. Therefore, the chapter advisor should foster a club community safe from judgement and ample with uplifting resources and care.
We require that each school select a chapter advisor before registering as a chapter on our website. See our “Becoming a Chapter” page for more information.
Chapter Members
Chicas for Change members are the heartbeat of our organization. Without young people determined to learn, grow, and make positive change, Chicas for Change would not exist. Being a member of Chicas for Change means being a beacon of courage within your school community and promoting gender equity and female empowerment in all that you do.
While Chicas for Change is built upon women’s rights and gender justice, we strongly encourage students of all gender identities to join. In fact, young men involved in Chicas for Change have been an integral part of the organization since its founding in 2020. Strong allyship is at the core of any sustainable movement for social change.
Chicas for Change members are encouraged to lead discussions, present project ideas, and bring their peers’ attention to issues that they care about. While the chapter president(s) may plan club meetings, we strongly encourage that members do “Meeting Takeovers” and lead discussions dedicated to topics of their choosing as well. The diversity within our chapters is what makes Chicas for Change so special.
“One piece of empowering advice I have learned [from Chicas for Change] would be to always share your ideas! In the club all ideas are valued and heard."
— Lily, Member of Chicas for Change