Danielle Craig has taught six Women’s Studies courses over the last six years as an Adjunct Professor at Ramapo College, William Peterson University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her work seeks social justice, equality, and empowerment for all groups of people who have been considered inferior socially, psychologically, physically or spiritually. Championing social causes and having a childhood dream of teaching came full circle when she became an adjunct professor of Women’s Studies.
She was inspired to build children’s and teens empowerment programs from her college courses. Body image, for example, was something she struggled with as a high-schooler and she did not have an outlet where she could discuss how she felt. She points out that body image, which is strongly connected to self-identity at that age, was unfortunately built on idealized, photo-shopped images of women in magazines, billboards, and movies. Today kids have the added bombardment of social media where girls compete with selfies to meet unrealistic goals in the mass media. These visuals are very powerful and suggestive to growing girls (and boys) ultimately forming some negative self-beliefs about their body.
She thought it would be timely to reach children with positive messages while they are still developing. And so, Girl Empowered Body Image, her first empowerment class was born. Followed shortly thereafter with, Girl Power: Compassionate Leadership for Girls to teach girls that they can be leaders and they should lift one another up instead of competing against one another. She also wanted to address gender stereotypes that boys deal with because they are given significantly less attention which she feels is an injustice. Boys need to know that they can and should have positive male role models in their lives that are strong, and sensitive, and empathetic too. To serve boys in the community, she developed Be Your Own Superhero: A Boys’ Empowerment Program.
All programs integrate guided discussion where they can process their experiences and thoughts with peers, and activities like art projects or acting skits. Her programs serve elementary school students beginning with 2nd graders, middle school, high school, and college students. She is constantly evolving her programs to mirror contemporary issues and trends that arise for youth, and thinking of new ideas that will interest kids and inspire them to learn important life lessons.
Danielle is looking to expand her programs into more schools, non-profits organizations, companies, and hospitals to reach diverse populations of children. Her vision for girls growing up in all corners of the world in 2018 and beyond is to feel empowered, worthy, confident, capable, smart, strong, and equal. FFC is excited to offer empowerment sessions with Danielle Craig to our community on February 9, 2019. Register your children now!