Founded in 2001, SNLP offers enriching educational opportunities for over 700 low-income young women and gender expansive youth ages 11-22 from all five boroughs of New York City and Newark, New Jersey. Our mission is to strengthen, empower, and equip young women and gender expansive youth as agents of change in their lives and in the world. SNLP fosters young women and gender expansive youths' empowerment through our flagship Summer Institute, yearlong classes in schools and social service agencies, advanced-level fellowships, paid internships, a comprehensive college program, and opportunities for organizational stewardship.
Hallmarks of our success over the last 20 years include a 2012 Impact study demonstrating long-term positive impacts in the lives of our participants, strong financial health, two successful leadership transitions, and several major awards including the 2020 Brooklyn Community Foundation Spark Prize, 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award from First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House, and the 2010 New York Times Gold Prize for Overall Management Excellence.