2021 marks the 25th annual celebration of poets and poetry. National Poetry Month, launched by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, reminds the public that poets play an integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Here are ten quotes by women poets to celebrate. Ten Quotes by Women Poets “We all move forward when we recognize how resilient and striking the women around us are” ~Rupi Kaur “Who so loves believes the impossible.” ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning “Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes, work never begun.” ~Christina Rossetti “Art hurts. Art urges voyages – and it is easier to stay at home.” ~Gwendolyn Brooks “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” ~Mary Oliver   “Poetry is the lens we use to interrogate the history we stand on and the future we stand for. It’s no coincidence that at the base of the Statue of Liberty, there is a poem.” ~Amanda Gorman “We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech and earnestness in action.” ~Sarojini Naidu “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~Maya Angelou “Poetry, above all, is a series of intense moments – its power is not in narrative. I’m not dealing with facts, I’m dealing with emotion.” ~Carol Ann Duffy “Keep up the good work, if only for a while, if only for the twinkling of a tiny galaxy.” ~Wislawa Szymborska More Girls That Create posts: 10 Quotes About Moms Raising …

When it comes to luck, bestselling author Marie Benedict believes having a special someone who can pick out books you’ll cherish is a blessing. For her, that person was an aunt who also happened to be an English teacher and rebellious nun. When Benedict was a high schooler, her aunt gifted her Marion Zimmer Bradley’s book The Mists of Avalon. “That book was groundbreaking for its time and world-changing for me,” Benedict remembers. “I was mesmerized by the story because it was set in the familiar universe of King Arthur, except we now had those stories from the viewpoints of women characters. It really opened my eyes to the fact that in every story, every legend, every piece of history, there were stories from female perspectives I had never heard of.” Lawyer to Writer At Boston College, Benedict studied history and art history. She considered becoming an archeologist but was encouraged by her family to pursue a law degree. Benedict graduated from Boston University School of Law, embracing the financial security working as a lawyer provided. For over a decade, she worked at two of the country’s premier law firms and Fortune 500 companies in New York City. Despite being highly successful, she could not escape the feeling law was not a forever career. Benedict began taking archeology and history classes in the evening at local universities. While considering a Ph.D. program, the idea of a book came to her. Although she’d never taken a creative writing course and found the idea of becoming a …

Images, not words, are how artist Christine Anne Nightingale learned to express herself. Not only are her mother and uncle painters, so was her paternal grandmother. Born in Santiago, Chile, Nightingale moved with her family to the United States at age 14. Throughout high school, she continued pursuing an interest in painting. After marrying a Brazilian, she relocated to Fortaleza, Brazil to study graphic design at the university Devry in Fortaleza. Nightingale recalls that except for Frida Kahlo, very few women artists were mentioned during her training. “I’ve discovered so many talented women since school,” says Nightingale. “I’m in love right now with the Swedish abstract painter Hilma af Klint. She was doing incredible, groundbreaking work before many of the famous male artists people are more familiar with today.” Elements of Spirituality For the next 10 years, Nightingale taught herself to paint with different media, including oil and acrylic. Choosing what to capture on canvas is “always an intimate search” for the artist. The human figure and nature are constant inspirations for her paintings, as is incorporating elements of digital collage. Much like Klint, Nightingale’s work has elements of spirituality. “When someone sees my artwork, I want them to feel something pleasant or maybe make them question themselves on how to achieve that feeling of wellness,” she shares. “Like a way of healing. I believe we see and experience so much negativity in the day-to-day that art has to be a good experience, but with a mix of curiosity and mystery. The feminine figure is …

While the old nursery rhyme proclaims that girls are “made of sugar and spice and everything nice,” history demonstrates that girls are made of stronger stuff. “Girlhood (It’s Complicated)” showcases how girls have been on the frontlines of change and how they have made an impact on all aspects of American life. 200 Years 200 Objects Spanning a timeframe of more than 200 years and showcasing approximately 200 objects, including some never-before-seen artifacts, the exhibition examines the ways American girls, from Helen Keller to Minnijean Brown to Naomi Wadler, have spoken up, challenged expectations, and used their voices to effect change. Among the highlights are a 1781 sampler stitched by 13-year-old Betsy Bucklin, a makeup table from 1820, an 1850s gym suit, Helen Keller’s touch watch, the 1959 graduation dress worn by Brown, one of the Little Rock Nine, following her expulsion from Central High School and Isabella Aiukli Cornell’s 2019 red prom dress symbolizing her activism related to Indigenous women and decorated with tribal insignia representing her citizenship in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “Girls’ lives are often imagined as idyllic, empowered, and uncomplicated,” said Anthea M. Hartig, Elizabeth MacMillan Director, and the first former girl to lead the museum. “Throughout American history, girls have resisted attempts to be defined and have used their voices to effect change. Yet, this is not an exhibition about ‘girl power’—if anything, this exhibition demonstrates that historically, girls have been denied power and agency. What it means to be a girl—and a woman—has continuously been debated and negotiated but …

Below are 10 touching quotes from women on raising daughters. Each one is a powerful reminder about mothers helping their girls grow up to lead full, valuable lives. 10 Quotes About Moms Raising Daughters “My mother’s love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion, her intelligence reflected in my daughters.” ~Michelle Obama, attorney, author, first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017 “The more a daughter knows the details of her mother’s life, the stronger the daughter.” ~Anita Diamant, bestselling author “My mother shed her protective love down around me and without knowing why people sensed that I had value.” ~Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist “My daughter is one of my greatest inspirations. She’s an environmentalist, she plays piano, she’s raising money for the earthquake victims in Nepal. Every day she surprises me and teaches me something.” ~Patti Smith, singer-songwriter, musician, author, and poet “Women are not only deciding the outcome of elections, they serve as important role models for their daughters and other young women – they hold a key to expanding the way in which women value and experience politics.” ~Cheryl Mills, lawyer and corporate executive “I think, as women, we have to stop being scared to be the women we want to be and we have to raise our daughters to be the women they want to be – not the women we think they should be.” ~Jada Pinkett Smith, actress, screenwriter, producer, …

We’re so excited to announce the launch of the Girls That Create (GTC) store. You can find the storefront here. Created by talented graphic designer Laura Castillo, the shop features apparel, stickers, magnets, posters, and home/office goods. The items you see in our store today are just the beginning. We’ll be adding more, and we’d love to hear about the merchandise you’d like to see. Click here to submit your ideas and provide feedback. Become a Girls That Create Patron Looking for other ways to support GTC? Consider becoming a GTC Patron on Patreon. As the brand works day-in and day-out to support creative girls and their families, GTC is raising funds for the platform and its mission throughout 2021. All funds raised through Patreon will be used to increase the free resources, items, and creative support available to families. Specifically, GTC wants to PAY women freelances who contribute to the platform. This will also allow more diversity regarding the content GTC delivers. Patreon is a site that enables YOU to provide GTC with ongoing, reliable monetary support. People who can afford to contribute make it possible for GTC to remain FREE and be available for those who can’t. Bonus, you get some awesome stuff too. The GTC Patreon includes five tiers: a $6 per month package a $12 per month package, a $24 per month package, a $48 per month package, and a $96 per month package. Each package includes features like newsletters, monthly printables, surprise gifts special contests, and the list goes on. If …

A favorite celebration for many, Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb. 17), has many practices we can act on throughout the year. It also offers an opportunity to consider what exactly it means to be kind. We can all build our kindness muscles, and the benefits of doing so include improving overall wellness and solidifying essential relationships. What It Means To Be Kind We, as humans, thrive on compassion. It’s been argued that kindness is one of humanity’s most vital pillars. Everyone deserves a little empathy because the ebbs and flows of life are complex. Showing strangers and people within our inner circle kindness can build new relationships, and lets loved ones know they’re special. It’s also a two-way street. Being kind to others encourages them to be kind to you, boosting your mood and long-term health. Jane Goodall once said, “The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” Maya Angelou stated, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Think about these powerful words. Goodall’s suggests the moment we stop showing concern towards others, our society is at risk of falling apart. Angelou points out a time will come when we’re no longer around. People will only have their memories of us. Accomplishing accolades and generating wealth are popular life goals, but are those all you want to be known for? What about being remembered as kind? Our lives must consist of giving and receiving kindness. Here …

It cannot be stated enough. Consuming various books encourages empathy with others, challenges beliefs, and offers new ways of thinking. Readers learn and celebrate diverse cultures and identities. This includes reading literature by Black female writers. To see through the lens of Black protagonists, dive into these 10 notable and renowned books. 10 Books by Black Female Writers 1) The Inheritance Trilogy: N. K. Jemisin This trilogy is a group of fantasy novels that tell Yeine Darr’s story. She finds herself in the throes of a power struggle over her grandfather’s throne, Dekarta, the King of the World. Amongst the fierce battle for power with her cousins, she must also solve her mother’s murder while dodging the Sky Gods and their influence. Jemisin’s entire series won Locus Award for Best Novel in 2011. It was also nominated for the World Fantasy, Hugo, and Nebula award. 2) Parable of the Sower: Octavia Butler Parable of the Sower is the first installment of a two-part book series. It is a science fiction, dystopian novel written in 1993 about the 2020s. The world is in deep peril regarding climate change issues, the growing separation between classes, and corporate greed. In the midst of this, the story follows Lauren Oya, a young woman who lives in a safe gated community with her family. Lauren suffers from a condition called “hyperempathy,” meaning that she can feel others’ pain and turmoil without even trying. After outsiders breach her community, destroy her home, and kill her family, Lauren becomes the sole survivor. …

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, M.J. Fievre moved to the United States in 2002. Fievre’s publishing career began as a teenager in Haiti. At nineteen years-old, she signed her first book contract with Hachette-Deschamps, in Haiti, for the publication of a Young Adult book titled La Statuette Maléfique. Since then, Fievre has authored nine books in French that are widely read in Europe and the French Antilles. In 2013, One Moore Book released Fievre’s first children’s book, I Am Riding, written in three languages: English, French, and Haitian Creole. In 2015, Beating Windward Press published M.J.’s memoir, A Sky the Color of Chaos, about her childhood in Haiti during the brutal regime of Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Fievre is the author of Happy, Okay? (2019), Badass Black Girl (2020), Empowered Black Girl (2021), and Raising Confident Black Kids (2021). She helps others write their way through trauma, build community, and create social change. Fievre works with veterans, disenfranchised youth, cancer patients and survivors, victims of domestic and sexual violence, minorities, the elderly, those with chronic illness or going through transition and any underserved population in need of writing as a form of therapy—even if they don’t realize that they need writing or therapy. She currently writes from Miami and corresponded with Girls That Create via email. Q&A With M.J. Fievre Have you always been drawn to writing? Growing up in Haiti, was there someone who encouraged you to write or was it something you intuitively turned to? Growing up in Haiti, storytelling was a big part of life, …

At the start of 2021 we don’t have to look far for reminders that in the hands of current powers, progress, equality, and empowerment are provisional and delicate social qualities. On the same day that Women Deliver hosted an online gathering of experts to discuss their report with Focus 2030 on gender equality, Poland imposed a near-total abortion ban. We’re reminded this world, especially when it comes to women’s rights, is divided by borders and belief systems. Freedoms and equality expand in one country, while similar liberties are denied elsewhere. While evolution will never be linear, it does appear to be exponential. The report, titled Citizens Call for a Gender-Equal World, surveyed 17,000 participants from 17 countries. It shows that despite traditionalist cultures and governments, citizens across the globe want a gender-equal world. The first-of-its-kind survey also states a resounding majority of citizens are ready for their governments to take action. The Major Themes Conscious Citizens: 80 percent of respondents personally believe that gender equality is important. Lagging Governments: 65 percent of respondents want their government to invest more to promote gender equality. Pandemic Planning: 82 percent of respondents believe women should be involved in all aspects of COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Youth Expectations: 75 percent of female respondents aged 18-24 expect their government to increase funding for gender equality. Poverty Prevention: 60 percent of respondents agree that achieving gender equality is essential to ending poverty in all countries. The Considerable Context Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Wangechi Wachira, Executive Director of the Center …