This is the day in 1992 when the creative spark that became New Moon Girls lit up my imagination.  Joe & I were driving back to Duluth from Copper Harbor, MI in our trusty old Datsun, talking about what we would like to be doing five years from then.  The idea for a “Junior Ms. – a feminist magazine run by girls,” popped out of my mouth.  Within five minutes I knew: “That’s it!  That’s what I want to do!”

Of course, there were a few details to work out – mainly that I didn’t know anything about publishing – as Mavis & Nia logically pointed out when I excitedly told them about the idea a few days later.  But I believe that what mattered is not my empirical knowledge at that point, but that  I recognized my passion when it appeared, I trusted it, and I threw my heart and soul into working on it.

The spirit of that passion grew and blossomed as Nia & Mavis, Joe, and then many other girls and adults, gave their energy and expertise to what became New Moon.

Those who helped with creating our first issue of the magazine are: @mavis gruver @nia kelly @joe kelly @sarah vokes @amanda sundin @libby sproat mcniven@lindsay glesener @kaitlin erpestad @annalisa eckman rudser @stephanie hanka vandover @marit knutson @emily mari vikre @molly mckinnon @beth niedringhaus @rebecca oachs @marta ostovich @rachel ostovich @kerri sjoblom @marisa sjoblom @margaret tosun @kandace wheeler @lezlie hahn oachs @sherry boyce @kathy marsaa @marian lansky @heidi timm-bijold @lise lunge-larsen @ann boncroft @mary lawton @laurie hertzel @lynette lamb @rebecca sterner @mary maggio @rosalie maggio.

It has taken a village to grow NMG. Thank You All – if I missed anyone please let me know so I can correct.

Now we celebrate June 6 as Luna’s birthday and New Moon Idea Day.  Over these 19 years later, we’ve touched and supported hundreds of thousands of girls and adults with the power of girls’ voices.  Along the way, we’ve successfully challenged assumptions about what girls are capable of and interested in and helped to change society’s expectations of girls.  Still, there’s so much more to be done.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your part in this magical process that has reached so many and is going to reach so many more as we grow.

What’s your idea today that you know in your mind, soul and heart will make the world a better place? How will you get started on it? Who will help you? Please share!