You all know Amy Poehler as a talented comedian and actress, most notably from her years on Saturday Night Live, her many big-screen movies and her lead role in Parks and Recreation. What you may not know is that she runs Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, an amazing site geared toward inspiring and empowering young girls.
The site aims to “help young women and the young at heart with the process of cultivating their authentic selves,” and their online motto is “Change the world by being yourself.”
There is so much inspiration on Smart Girls starting with the YouTube programs that you can view with your tween or teen. Amy hosts an online show called “Smart Girls at the Party” which celebrates individuals who change the world by being themselves. She has had some diverse guests including a Broadway actress, skater sisters, a hiker, and a politician to name just a few. Check out some of these youtube videos for some inspiring stories!
Another great segment on Smart Girls includes Girls of the World where, you guess it, girls from around the world share what’s unique about who they are, where they live, and what they do in their part of the world. Your daughter can discover interesting facts about girls her own age from places like India, Sweden, Nepal, Netherlands, Latvia, Brazil, China… there is a huge list of Girls of the World. I found myself clicking away to learn about these amazing young ladies!
Operation Nice is a terrific aspect of the site - Amy encourages exactly what it sounds like - going out and doing something nice and unexpected for someone, and then taking a video and sharing it on the site. She even includes a downloadable flyer so you can let your recipient know where the nicety has come from.
Monthly campaigns like Ride Your Bike to Work, Volunteer at a Shelter, Plant a Tree, and Teens for Jeans, further encourage the motto of changing the world and creating authentic selves through being nice, helping in your community, and doing kind things for others. There’s an Ask Amy column where girls can send in their questions and Amy answers them via video, and a DIY section that includes recipes and crafts.
There’s beautiful inspiration from Amy and her team all throughout the site, including empowering blog posts and a fun Pinterest page. Moms of teen and tween daughters will enjoy this site and want their smart girls checking out Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls! Don’t be late to the party!
