The Center
We work to champion the rights of girls and women in public places: schools, hospitals, and the justice system. Our work is directly informed by girls, gender-expansive youth, and women, ensuring that our groundbreaking research and innovative policy recommendations are rooted in lived experiences.
Our Mission
The Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity at Georgetown Law is a national leader in advancing transformative solutions that expand opportunity, dignity, and justice for girls and women—especially girls and women of color. Grounded in the lived experiences of those who are systemically marginalized, the Center elevates their leadership and ensures they are centered in national conversations and policymaking. Through groundbreaking research, field-leading trainings, and innovative law and policy development, the Center drives systemic change to eliminate gender and racial disparities in education, healthcare, and the legal system.
Our Guiding Principles
We are rooted in the values of justice and equity. Guided by Georgetown Law’s justice-focused mission — “Law is but the means, justice is the end” — we are committed to building a just future. We work and lead with consistent and uncompromising adherence to the highest moral and ethical standards. We work to address injustice from its root causes while championing the rights and dignity of girls and women — following an approach that is grounded in recognizing girls’ strengths.
We believe in the power of story. We ground ourselves and our work in the real-world experiences of youth. We believe in the power of personal narrative to compel action and build common ground.
We defend the right to childhood. Treating children in ways that are appropriate for their developmental stages and respecting their individuality is essential. In our work building a world that is free of racism and gender bias for young people, we seek to strengthen girls’ health, education, and wellness and reduce the risk of unjust and uncompassionate treatment.
History
The Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity at Georgetown Law grew out of the Center on Poverty and Inequality’s Project on Marginalized Girls, which began with a grant from The Atlantic Philanthropies in 2011. We became the Center on Poverty’s Initiative on Gender Justice & Opportunity in 2018 in recognition of our standing as a national leader on girls’ issues and a key member of the community.
In 2023, we became an independent Center at Georgetown Law, which allowed us to expand our work and our reach.
Team
The Center’s team comprises dedicated professionals alongside academic experts, alumni, and youth advisors. Our work is enriched by the young people and students who support our work with diverse perspectives and energy. Meet the passionate individuals behind our mission.
Supporters
The generous philanthropic support of our funders fuels our mission to create a more equitable world for girls, gender-expansive youth, and women. Learn more about their unwavering commitment to make our work possible.
