Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. works at the intersection of health and education to advance the leadership and well-being of girls and all young people. We collaborate with public schools in high-poverty neighborhoods to expand the capacity of school social workers and strengthen school-family-community partnerships.
Our social-emotional learning program is designed specifically to address the unique developmental needs of middle and high school students. Using evidence-based practices and researchsupported methodologies, our workshops create a supportive environment where students can develop essential life skills, build resilience, and enhance their social-emotional competencies.
Structured SEL Workshops
Age-appropriate and gender-informed activities focusing on five core SEL competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making
Caregiver Academy
Collaborative planning, implementation, and assessment of family engagement initiatives that are tailored to meet the needs of caregivers and adolescents
School Belonging Projects (Options 2 & 3)
Student-driven initiatives to positively impact school culture, belonging, and community-building
SELWORKSHOP STRUCTURE& METHODOLOGY
Our workshops incorporate the "SEL 3 Signature Practices" approach, which includes:
01
WelcomingInclusio Activities
Trauma-informed and hea centered sessions that be community-building exerc at establishing psychologi and connection
02
EngagingStrategie
Interactive learning experi including role-playing, refl activities, and skill-building exercises
Each workshop serves up to 24 students, creating an intimate learning environment while maximizing impact. Our approach emphasizes active participation and practical skill development through age-appropriate activities and discussions
Sample Workshop Topics
Building self-awareness and emotional vocabulary
Developing healthy communication and conflict resolution skills
Managing stress and regulating emotions
Setting goals and fostering personal growth
Cultivating positive relationships and community
Structured session endings that promote forward-thinking and reinforce key learning concepts and relationship-building
As a trusted community partner, we will employ multiple methods to assess program effectiveness across four key domains:
Student Growth and Well-being
Pre/post assessments of SEL competencies
Student self-reflection journals and portfolios
Teacher observation checklists for behavioral changes
Quantitative measures of academic performance and attendance
. Family Engagement
Caregiver Academy attendance and participation rates
Surveys measuring knowledge gained and implementation of engagement strategies
Focus groups to gather qualitative feedback
Self-reported changes in caregiver-child communication
School Belonging
School climate surveys administered before and after program implementation
Student interviews and feedback sessions
Measurements of participation in school activities
Analysis of discipline referrals and positive behavior recognition
Community Health
Partnerships developed to support students and families
Stakeholder surveys and focus groups to assess perceived community value and impact
Assessment of school-family-community model
Our evaluation approach follows best practices for SEL assessment, combining quantitative metrics with qualitative insights to provide a comprehensive understanding of program impact. Research indicates that effective SEL programming yields an 11:1 return on investment through improved student outcomes, making this a valuable investment for your schools.
NEXTSTEPS
We welcome the opportunity to discuss this proposal in greater detail and to customize our approach to meet the specific needs of your students. Please contact us to schedule a follow-up meeting where we can address any questions and finalize program details.
Thank you for considering this partnership opportunity. We look forward to collaborating with your school district to support the development and well-being of your students.
“Live Boldly, Dream Big, Fly High that was my little sister’s vision for all women and girls.” Joy
After losing her younger sister, Kimberly, to gun violence, Joy Lindsay founded Butterfly Dreamz, Inc in 2013 In Kim’s honor, we have served thousands of girls and young women in our community over the past decade With our mentorship and support, over 95% of our girls have gone on to pursue 2-year and 4-year college degrees As we scale our impact, we are partnering with public school districts to ensure our girls have the holistic support they need to be healthy and thrive to be confident, justice-centered leaders who “Live Boldy, Dream Big, and Fly High.”
OUR STORY ABOUT JOY
Joy Lindsay is a Ph.D. Student at the Yale School of Public Health and the Founder and CEO of Butterfly Dreamz, Inc. She is the author and publisher of several young adult books and has worked in consulting, finance, and public education management.
Joy holds a BBA in Finance from Howard University, an MPA in Public & Nonprofit Management & Policy from NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and an Ed M in Human Development & Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Joy is a 2023 Harvard University Cheng Fellow, an AMEX 100 for 100 Founder of Change, an Echoing Green Social Innovation Challenge Awardee, and the recipient of the Impact100 Essex County, NJ Impact Award and the BMe Vanguard Award. Joy is a proud member of the North Jersey Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is passionate about education, social entrepreneurship, and sustainable community development.
Through her research and practice, Joy aims to build impactful community-based organizations that empower marginalized people especially women and girls of color to lead authentically and achieve upward mobility
