North America

From Fear to Fun Run: An STF Chapter’s Bold Stand for Girls in Arizon

For many girls growing up in Arizona, conversations about women’s rights don’t begin at home. In Chandler, a community shaped by strong conservative values, high school students often absorb the message that equity and reproductive rights are controversial, even dangerous, topics to speak about. “Our chapter invited something new into our school. Girls are being exposed to new ideas; some girls are the first person in their families to even consider thinking progressively about women’s abilities,” says 17-year-old Siyaa Poddar, president of her She’s the First chapter.

That reality came crashing into focus after the 2024 election. Adults protested in her community against women’s rights. For Siyaa, the moment crystallized what so many girls were already feeling: fear, frustration, and isolation.

It was very scary. There were protests on campuses against women’s rights and women’s education.. What can you even do as a high schooler when the problem feels so much bigger than you?

A Turning Point: The Election Debrief

A week after the election, She’s the First hosted a national election debrief for girls across our chapters. For Siyaa and her peers, it was a soothing balm.

Sometimes it feels like you’re just one kid in Arizona,” she said. “But then you’re reminded that it’s bigger than you—that there are girls across the country also trying to figure out what to do. That conversation grounded us.

The debrief turned fear into resolve.

Even just existing is pushing back. Keeping spirits up is an actionable, tangible item. Doing events that remind people why you exist in the first place is really important.

With that renewed clarity, the Arizona College Prep chapter turned their energy toward something bold: creating an event that could both lift spirits and make their presence visible on campus.

March With Women: A Fun Run With Purpose

On March 1st, 2025—the first day of Women’s History Month—Siyaa and her team launched their first-ever Fun Run, cleverly framed as a lighthearted school activity but carrying a deeper message: March with Women.

The event drew more than 80 participants, including boys who attended as allies for women’s and girls’ rights. Student athletes, honor societies, and clubs across campus joined, alongside 5 other She’s the First chapters from nearby schools. Local organizations like the Spanish Honor Society, Indigenous Alliance, Girl Up, and the Arizona Coalition of Women came too, setting up booths and sharing resources.

I call myself the cold email queen. I reached out to so many groups that Instagram temporarily banned me for messaging too many people. But it worked—we built a coalition.

Together, they raised over $300 in donations, but the real success was in visibility and solidarity.

Siyaa (middle) and 2 fellow chapter members

Even if these organizations have different perspectives on how to achieve equity and equality, we all want the same thing. Coming together in such a positive, cherished way was really important.

Lessons in Leadership

The Fun Run wasn’t without challenges. Siyaa admitted to battling doubt as the event approached.

Siyaa, 17, U.S. President, STF ACP

“The what-if demon kept whispering: What if no one shows up? What if it all falls apart? But you can’t let that stop you. You’ll never know unless you try.”

She also learned the importance of safety and inclusivity. “We called it a Fun Run on our flyers because we didn’t want to attract negative attention. We wanted it to feel open and accessible to everyone.”

Looking ahead, Siyaa is already dreaming bigger. She hopes to expand the run into a larger community event, potentially hosted at Arizona State University, to include more chapters and nonprofits statewide.

And she’s thinking long-term. With her chapter’s leadership made up mostly of juniors, she’s building a succession plan: younger students will shadow officers this year to ensure the chapter continues after her graduation.

Passing on knowledge is just as important as being the first. The benefit of being the first is that someone else doesn’t have to be.

A New Kind of Hope

For Siyaa, the journey has been about more than one event. It’s about changing how girls in her community see themselves.

There’s this notion that women haven’t broken into certain spaces yet—that you’ll have to do it all by yourself. But that’s not true. There are already girls in those spaces, waiting to support you. I think passionate people enpassion other people. And that’s what She’s the First does.

She knows the political climate in Arizona remains uncertain. But she believes the resilience she’s seen in her peers is stronger.

I don’t know if the situation has gotten better. But I know the girls are ready to work. They’re resilient. They’re going to keep going.

Advice for Other Girls

When asked what she would tell other chapters that want to host a similar event, Siyaa offered practical wisdom:

  • Start early.

  • Don’t plan alone—collaborate.

  • Meet your community where they are.

There are women in every club, even if the club isn’t about women’s rights. Find the pockets of your community and meet them there.

And most importantly:

Have faith in your event. The roots you plant will grow. Your community will show up.

In a state where chants of “your body, my choice” still echo, girls like Siyaa Poddar are running toward something different: solidarity, resilience, and change. With courage, creativity, and community, they are proving that no problem is too big to tackle—especially when you don’t face it alone.

Fighting Misogyny: Two Student Activists Share How Girls Can Take a Stand

Following the U.S. election results, She’s the First spoke with girls in our Chapters program who live in states and areas where women’s bodies are politicized. A university student from Arizona said that men on her campus held signs that said, “Women are property.” A girl from a high school in Texas told us that boys were walking around the hallway saying, “Your body, my choice.” The use of these phrases online has also spiked dramatically. 

We wanted to see what two alums of our Girl Activist Fellowship thought about the rise of sexist discourse and what girls can do to fight back. Allison Choong, 21, of Penang, Malaysia, and Sania Hammad, 19, from Kansas, U.S, are two of the five co-authors of Safiya Speaks Up!, a children’s book about safety from sexual violence—which they created during their She’s the First fellowship. The book and mentor’s guide have been available for 15 months, and in that time, more than 7,000 girls were introduced to Safiya and learned how to identify safe adults in their lives.

In this conversation, Allison and Sania talk about how they’re tackling significant issues like sex education, reproductive health, and gender-based violence at a time when women’s rights are challenged. 

Girl Activist Fellows Talk Sex Ed Misinformation

Girl Activist Fellows Talk Sex Ed Misinformation

We spoke with two of our Girl Activist Fellows about sex education, the spread of misinformation in their communities, and what changes they want to see. Sydney, 17, who lives in a conservative rural town in Massachusetts, U.S., pointed out that abstinence-only programs cause harm. Faith Boke, 21, from Kuria, Kenya, shared how her community faces shame and misinformation about menstruation and reproductive health. They talked about the need for thorough and inclusive sex education to clear up myths and reduce the stigma around reproductive health. 

“Girls are not only the future, we are the present"

Sania Hammad, 19, is a student at Barnard College of Columbia University where she serves as the president of the sophomore class. Along with serving as the president, she is the founder of Sate Crate, a nonprofit with the goal to stave off hunger in southern Missouri and southeast Kansas. She works with various grassroots organizations, is the co-author of a children’s book, has made nationally recognized documentaries, and has hosted many fundraising events in the past. She is an alumna of the first cohort of She’s the First Girl Activist Fellowship.

The Mental Health Toll of Climate Change: Women and Eco-Anxiety

The Mental Health Toll of Climate Change: Women and Eco-Anxiety

Climate Change and its related effects such as natural disasters, rising sea levels, and extreme weather conditions are known to cause significant socioeconomic stresses. As climate change intensifies, it exacerbates existing gender inequalities, deepening poverty and undermining sustainable development goals.

I Used to

By Desiree Okonkwo, 15, United States

I used to agree and accede,

As they laughed because the teacher turned off the lights,

Giggle and sniffle while tears formed in my eyes,

Embarrassment forever fortified in my mind,

I used to mumble and mutter,

Watching them rip my culture to shreds,

Mocking my family’s accents as they shook their heads,

Inescapable humiliation bound around me like thread,

I used to whisper and whither,

My hands reaching for a straightener at an awful attempt,

At the role of “white girl” that I only achieved when I dreamt,

Depravedly desperate for any skin whitening bleach,

My immense ignominy a life-sized leech,

I used to resent and recoil from my reflection,

Contempt created by my colored complexion,

Nails digging in as I hurriedly scrubbed at my skin,

As if I could scrape away the black to unlock the white within

Playing a game supplied by shame I could never win

I used to detest, but now I accept,

Bewitched by my brown color with a bit of remorse and regret

That I ever allowed myself to be so miserable misled,

That I ever viewed my home and heritage with horrid hatred,

That I ever believed racist rhetoric that was said and spread,

But worst of all, that I ever assumed that my blackness could make me less than.


Channeling Equality Through Our Paychecks

Channeling Equality Through Our Paychecks

You may be pondering why a mere high schooler is writing about paychecks when the relevance of a salary to a child's life is minimal; the truth is, I'm terrified of growing up in a world where my work is valued significantly less than my male counterpart. Undervalued to the extent that women statistically earn only 83% of what a man makes. This everyday experience of women across the globe is known as the Gender Pay Gap.