Founded in 1996 by neighborhood mothers and community activists, the Lower Eastside Girls Club is an independent, community-based organization allied in the struggle for racial, gender, and climate justice. Through our free, year-round programs in STEM, Arts, Digital Media, Sound, Wellness, Civic Engagement and Leadership; we amplify the inner power of young women and gender-expansive youth in New York City.
Our 35,000 square foot state-of-the-art community center offers a safe haven with programs in the arts, sciences, leadership, entrepreneurship, and wellness for girls in middle and high school. Facilities include a Maker Shop for engineering and coding; Biology lab for STEM programming and research; Alphabet City Art School for visual arts and crafts; Center for Media and Social Justice for digital media and photography; Sound Studio for music production and our radio station/podcast, WGRL (Where Girl Radio Lives); Design Shop for fashion design; a rooftop farm; full culinary kitchen and cafe; and 64-seat state-of the art, 30 ft dome planetarium. We offer over 50 unique programs a week, at no cost to girls and their families.
For 25 years, we have been championing young people’s power to shape their future, the future of their community, and the world beyond. Our rich and radical history makes us who we are today: an innovative and responsive community hub, working towards a more just and equitable future. Everyday, we are re-imagining what equips young people and their community to thrive.
