An Event Created and Hosted by the Binghamton University She's the First Chapter (now Girl Rising Chapter) By Chloe Chen, Ariana Eisner, Cloe Lefkon, Morgan Merritt, Amanda Nilsen, Fiona Reohr, Zoe Rodriguez and Christina Ye. The Beginnings of FemFest Binghamton University’s She’s the First Chapter (now Girl Rising Chapter) prides itself on the women-based community that they have fostered through fundraisers, bonding events, and volunteering in the broader community to give back to women in...

By Faith Habu, former Girl Rising Student Ambassador “If the opportunity to greatness seems distant, start small”, said Napoleon Hill. Quotes people say are overrated—but not for me. They are windows to a world I am familiar with, an opening to someone else’s lens similar to mine. A few years ago, I was another girl filled with dreams, and that dream was to empower girls and children, especially vulnerable communities. What started from late-night imaginations, writing down ideas, and...

by Rabia Kamran, Girls Advisory Council, for International Day of Play, June 11, 2026 When I think of childhood, I do not first remember classrooms, exams, or report cards. I remember play. I remember long afternoons spent inventing games with friends and cousins, turning ordinary spaces into entire worlds. A living room became a castle, a street became a race track, and a simple ball could keep us entertained for hours. At the time, it felt like nothing more than fun. Looking back, I realize...