hangPROUD Channels Negative Thoughts into Positive Action

In March 2007, Diane Prefontaine and Carla Alpert launched hangProud, a community that promotes teen girls' self-esteem and encourages them to use their power to make significant differences in their lives, communities and the world. hangProud's mission is to persuade girls away from "negative self-dialogue", embrace their individual strengths, and channel that energy into something positive.

On the hangPROUD site, girls can find inspiration, connect with one another and learn how to change their negative thoughts into positive action. The site offers a robust Advice section from a mother/daughter team, user blogs, and an eMentor area where girls can find mentors based on career interests, hobbies, or personal experience. There is also a radio component, where users can check out music and create their own playlists.


A key component of the hangPROUD message is community service. The website has a Pay It Forward page with links to volunteer organizations and non-profits. The hangPROUD mission continues offline with PROUDgirls on the MOVE, an enrichment program, and workshops. The first PROUDgirls on the Move team has already made 1001 lunches for the hungry, visited and entertained the elderly, prepared and served lunch at a soup kitchen to over 350 people, and most recently bonded with girls their age at a Little Flower Children’s Services, an idea that the girls created and produced themselves.


For more info about hangProud and to see some of the members in action, check out the YouTube video below:

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