About Us

Hardy G*rls Healthy Wom*n is a Maine-based, research-driven nonprofit. Established in 2000, we partner with girls and gender expansive youth to ignite curiosity, promote thinking critically, build coalitions, and challenge the status quo. We’re about changing the culture, not fixing the g*rl. HGHW works with 1,200+ girls and gender expansive youth annually through year-round, statewide programs.

Since day one, Hardy Girls programming, resources and services have been powered by the latest research in girls’ development. Much of that research comes from the work of Hardy Girls co-founder, Lyn Mikel Brown. Read Dr. Brown’s keynote address: Cultivating Hardiness Zones for Adolescent Girls and about the further research that was used as the guiding principles to help found this organization.

who we are

We are intentional. We reflect. We buck norms. We believe in disruption. We don’t prescribe, we ignite.

what we do

mission

Hardy Girls Healthy Women (HGHW) takes g*rls seriously and puts the power in their hands to challenge a society that ignores their brilliance. We dare adult allies to join us.

vision

G*rls cause a ruckus.

just girls?

Gender is a social construct and for centuries it’s held onto a binary (boys & girls) system. HGHW does not believe in the binary, but knows the deep history of systemic sexism and transphobia has uniquely harmed self-identifying girls and gender expansive folks. This is who we work with. As consistently learning intersectional feminists, we welcome and celebrate folks across all identities, abilities, races, ethnicities, religions, economic statuses and sexual orientations.