Kate Bryan

The 1 Girl Revolution story began a few years ago, on New Year’s Eve, when I was frantically trying to decide on a new year’s resolution – before the clock struck midnight. I had become weary of the typical ones, usually a diet or a sacrifice of some kind or a resolve to wake up earlier – and wanted to do something special that year. I wanted to do something that had meaning and power – and that had the capacity to affect more than just me.

So, I began to look online for stories of inspiring women. I thought that if I could find a couple of inspiring women’s stories, that I might also find a good idea for my own new year’s resolution. But, one story led to another, and before I knew it, I had composed a long list of women who inspired me – for all sorts of reasons. These women were everyday women, just like me, who were changing the world in various ways. They were examples of the power that every woman has to change the world through her life, and these were women that I wanted to emulate in the new year. And that’s when my new year’s resolution became – to be a 1 Girl Revolution.

Over the past few years, my list of 1 Girl Revolution stories – women who inspire me – has continued to grow, and I have continued to strive to emulate them in my own life, looking for opportunities to make a difference in the world in any way I could. The idea for this project continued to grow and evolve, and eventually, I created a mantra for this project, that I hoped would one day come to fruition:

Every woman has a story. Every woman has a voice. And every woman has the power to change the world through her life. Every woman is a 1 Girl Revolution!

I didn’t know what this project would look like or what it would become, but I hoped that one day I would find a place for it in the world. And now is that time.

When I look at the world, I see so much division and darkness. I see a world that constantly politicizes women – treating us as political pawns, instead of as people. I see a world that defines women by something that happened to them instead of who they are, and women are taught to define themselves in this same way. I see a world that underestimates the power that women have, and in turn, we underestimate ourselves. And maybe we don’t even estimate ourselves. And I see a world that is more connected than ever, particularly with social media and smartphones, but we have never been more lonely, disconnected, and divided.

But amidst the darkness, I also see so many beacons of light and reasons for hope. These are the 1 Girl Revolution’s of the world – and these are the stories that we are excited to share with you. There are so many women in our neighborhoods, our communities, our cities, and around the country – who are making a difference in the world. Many of these stories are often overlooked or sidelined, but we want to bring them to the forefront. This platform is about focusing on the good and powerful things that women are doing in the world, and we want to focus on our commonalities and power.

When I was a little girl, I was taught that I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up, and that I had the power to change the world through my life. No matter what happened to me or what happened in my life, I was taught to rise above any hardship and struggle – and I was taught to choose joy and be a light in this world. I could do anything, as long as I believed I could do it – and if I had the courage and perseverance to do so. And I believe this is true for every woman.

Women are the strongest, most perseverant, powerful, courageous people in the world. We truly have the power to change the world – but we have to see it, believe it, and choose to be the change we want to see.

I am so excited to share this project with you and I hope that you find courage, strength, passion, perseverance, and inspiration through these women and their stories, just as I have. This project has opened my eyes and my heart in so many ways – and I hope these women and their stories do the same for you. This project has been a journey, but one that I am so excited to continue this year, and hopefully for many years to come.

For more information, check out new the 1 Girl Revolution website!