NYC Kids Project

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

It was second-wave feminists in the 1970s who first challenged the use of "girl" to refer to a grown woman. They argued that, since no one would reasonably call a grown man "boy," the same should apply to women. Though generally a successful campaign (popular terms like "office girl" became obsolete), it's still relatively common for adult women to hear themselves referred to as such. A "girl" is a child, and using it for adult women is disrespectful, especially in the workplace. Conversely, teenage girls are sometimes inappropriately aged up in popular culture and the news. A general rule, whenever possible, is to avoid using gendered terms entirely. "Office assistant" is a gender-neutral alternative to "office girl," going out with "the girls" swaps smoothly with "my friends," and "teenage girl" can easily be adjusted to simply "teenager."

Especially in New York, community gardens are an amazing way to connect with your neighbors and contribute something tangible back to your community. Many community gardens in the city offer small personal plots or sign ups for specific tasks like caretaking for chickens or leading group classes, so they're a great way to try out a few different skills and see what works best for each individual. Kids who participate in a community garden learn about cooperation, sharing, and patience, as they watch their hard work over many weeks blossom into beautiful flowers or fresh veggies they can share with those around them. Bonus: exposure to nature is proven to have stress-reduction benefits and helps kids maintain their mental health, even when times get tough.

Looking for more ways to help your young folks develop their social-emotional skills at home? Scroll through our profile for more SEL Tips and bring the skills kids learn in our programs outside of the classroom. Empathy, kindness, and community-building are best enjoyed when we share them with everyone!

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

Many of us grow up believing there's a tried and tested method of achieving success in modern America: get good grades, go to college or trade school, get a good job, and settle down. But in 2025, that American dream seems farther and farther from the truth. Not only does this not guarantee success, but many people have found different ways to be successful and to define what success and happiness means to them. Traditionally, especially in academic contexts for advanced-degree careers like law and medicine, the path to achievement has been referred to as a "pipeline." But with only one entry point and one exit point, it no longer accurately describes the many paths to success that students might take. Additionally, with the increase of conflict surrounding water pipeline construction into and through Native land and protected wilderness, the use of the term when referring to BIPOC, particularly Native, students, can be harmful. Next time, try "pathways" or "methods."

Inclusion in the News:
Any big camping fans out there? You're not alone! Campsite-finding app The Dyrt reported this year that camping is growing rapidly in popularity, and that BIPOC campers were the fastest-growing population of new campers in 2025. Getting outside and convening with nature is great for your mental health, so it's great to see lots of new campers of all identities finding their home in the great outdoors. When interviewed , Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt said "It's always been part of The Dyrt's mission to make camping more accessible for everyone. We want this camping community we're all a part of to continue to grow."

BIPOC Campers Driving Growth in Camping Community, Says Data from The Dyrt /PRNewswire/ -- The Dyrt, the app to get the best campsites, built by the largest RVing and camping community in the U.S., has found that BIPOC (Black,...

This week we're reading: The Last Fallen Star by Graci Kim (from Rick Riordan Presents)

At NYC Kids Project, we're big fans of using your privilege to uplift others, and Rick Riordan's project Rick Riordan Presents is a great example! Using his name as leverage, Riordan elevates authors writing modern mythology based in their own cultural histories, like Graci Kim, who draws from Korean mythology to build connections with modern readers. This one is part of a series, so if you love The Last Fallen Star, we encourage you to check out the sequels!

Here's a blurb from the publisher: "Riley Oh can't wait to see her sister get initiated into the Gom clan, a powerful lineage of Korean healing witches their family has belonged to for generations. Although Riley is desperate to follow in her sister's footsteps when she herself turns thirteen, she's a saram - a person without magic. Riley was adopted, and despite having memorized every healing spell she's ever heard, she often feels like the odd one out in her family and the gifted community.
Then Hattie gets an idea: what if the two of them could cast a spell that would allow Riley to share Hattie's magic? Their sleuthing reveals a promising incantation in the family's old spell book, and the sisters decide to perform it at Hattie's initiation ceremony. If it works, no one will ever treat Riley as an outsider again. It's a perfect plan!
Until it isn't. When the sisters attempt to violate the laws of the Godrealm, Hattie's life ends up hanging in the balance, and to save her Riley has to fulfill an impossible task: find the last fallen star. But what even is the star, and how can she find it? And when she uncovers secrets that challenge everything she has been taught to believe, Riley must decide what it means to be a witch, what it means to be family, and what it really means to belong.

As always, NYC Kids Project is a Bookshop.org affiliate and may receive a small portion proceeds from purchases made through this link.

Rick Riordan Presents: The Last Fallen Star-A Gifted Clans Novel Check out Rick Riordan Presents: The Last Fallen Star-A Gifted Clans Novel - A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERBest-selling author Rick Riordan presents Graci Kim's thrilling debut about an adopted Korean-American girl who discovers her heritage and her magic on a per...

Welcome back to Inclusive Language Basics, where we share small things you can do to build your inclusive vocabulary!

You may already know that the term "Gypsy" has historically been used to describe the Romani people - nomadic groups mostly located in eastern Europe who migrated there from Northern India around the 11th century - but as usual, there's more to the story. And of course, as with all words that describe a specific group of people, we discourage using "Gypsy" out of context or to refer to people who are not members of the specific Romani groups that still embrace it. Gypsy is a shortened version of "Gypcian," which in turn is shortened from "Egyptian," because the Romani were falsely assumed to have arrived in Europe from Egypt. Europeans deeply distrusted the Romani people, with whom they traded wood and metalcrafts, among other goods. The term "gypped" emerged, which stereotypes Romani as untrustworthy or criminals, based on their race and culture. Though the term is historical, Romani people still face significant racial profiling today, and are often accused of crimes they did not commit. Next time, skip "gypped" and just use "duped" or "tricked" insted.

Inclusion in the News:
In Chicago, married business partners Whitney LaMora and Zoe Schor are working to build a network of q***r spaces under their first-of-its-kind lesbian-owned hospitality group umbrella. Hotels, bars, restaurants and more will soon open in Chicago and around the country, creating important gathering spaces for the q***r community, still essential even as acceptance and understanding are becoming more and more common. Read more in the article below!

Meet the couple building a mini-empire of q***r-focused spaces. Now open: Fathom Whitney LaMora and Zoe Schor are building the city's first lesbian-owned hospitality group solely focused on creating q***r gathering places. Their ambitions stretch beyond Chicago.