Porter’s LEADS inspires girls to become comfortable with their personal power.
Porter’s LEADS is a series of programs for middle school girls in grades 5 through 8. The LEADS workshops offer unique ways to engage and introduce participants to the competencies and skills necessary to begin their journeys as leaders–locally, globally, and for a lifetime.
Girls in STEAM: Fashion for the Future
In this dynamic workshop, students will embark on a journey of innovation and environmental stewardship as they take on the role of a fashion engineer. The workshop blends science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) with human-centered design thinking, providing a comprehensive and interactive experience.
Participants will learn the principles of collaborative and intentional design through the lens of one of the most pressing global environmental issues – the fast fashion industry. The workshop will look into this systemic issue as it pertains to different communities: globally, locally, and everywhere in between.
Using the Miss Porter’s School Innovation Lab (iLab) and art studios, students will work collaboratively with their peers to up cycle old clothing items into new fashion pieces. Participants will leave the program with a sense of agency and hope regarding the environment and their own sustainability-designed and produced garment.
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 9:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET
Cost: $150
Where: Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT
Note: you will be taken to our registration website that requires you to create a login to access the Porter’s LEADS registration forms.
Note: you will be taken to our registration website that requires you to create a login to access the Porter’s LEADS registration forms.
Discovering Your Passion: Empowering Girls as Changemakers
In this one-day, virtual event, middle school girls will be introduced to the social change sector, power of consensus-building and different changemaking strategies. Program facilitators will include ChangeMaker’s Institute Lead Facilitator, Cat Lindroth MPS ’04, and high school students enrolled in our ChangeMaker’s Institute. Participants will identify issues they are passionate about, connect with other girls who are equally passionate about making change, and learn how to begin to address these issues. Participants will leave this event feeling empowered, inspired and ready to take action in their communities!
Date: Saturday, December 9, 2023
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET
Cost: $50
Where: Anywhere in the world with internet access!
Registration is now closed.
Note: you will be taken to our registration website that requires you to create a login to access the Porter’s LEADS registration forms.
Navigating Climate Change: Awareness to Activism for Girls
Why is girls activism and empowerment important?
How can WE help solve pressing global issues such as climate change?
How can YOU become an empowered activist by finding your voice and using it for good?
Join us for this interactive, one-day seminar led by Miss Porter’s School Institute for Global Education faculty and our Global Seminar Series Student Fellows, all of whom are current Miss Porter’s School students. Middle school girls will engage with guest speakers and in facilitated conversations to expand their global awareness of the climate crisis and to learn to use their global citizenship skills to activate their unique power as the leaders of tomorrow. Participants will leave this event feeling empowered, inspired and ready to take action in their communities!
DATE: Saturday, September 30, 2023
TIME: 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. ET
COST: Free!
WHERE: Anywhere in the world with internet!
Register now!
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Random Hacks of Kindness, Jr.
Porter’s LEADS is excited to host Random Hacks of Kindness Jr. for a full day, in-person hackathon for middle school girls. At this event, students will actively collaborate with high school mentors, computer programming teachers, and representatives from a local nonprofit to explore solutions to real-world, local issues. They will also learn to do good in their communities as they mature as leaders.
Participants will design, prototype, and code a smartphone app with MIT App Inventor software. They will also learn about the business of nonprofit organizations, how to apply technology to pressing problems in communities, and how to collaboratively brainstorm and implement a plan and prototype in a short period of time.
No prior coding experience is necessary! We encourage students to push their learning comfort zones and engage with the world of computer science for a greater good.
Random Hacks of Kindness, Jr., Hosted by Porter’s Leads
Date: Sunday, February 12, 2023
Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Cost: $50 / participant
Location: Riverview Lounge at Miss Porter’s School, CT
