9. Creating a safe space - Merida Miller

Board Women

As founder of Project Fearless, Merida Miller has made it her life’s work to empower young girls and gender fluid youth to take on new things, fall, and get back up again. Merida was fortunate enough to grow up in an environment where failing was accepted, and even encouraged. Through Project Fearless, she aims to create that safe space for others to learn and fail, and ultimately to grow. Project Fearless offers a variety of activities, but it’s best known for its skateboarding programme. It’s even come to the attention of big brands like Nike.

Episode highlights:

• The psychology of falling.

• Setting up Project Fearless.

• Before Project Fearless - designing snowboarding clothing.

• Being Hype Girl - cheering people on and creating a ripple effect of impact.

• Boosting confidence through learning how to fall and get back up.

• Role models: more women and gender minority coaches are needed.

• Building teams is an important basis for Project Fearless.

• Merida’s story with board sports - “snow boarding is my first and greatest love”.

• Moving to the Netherlands and getting in to skateboarding - Dorks On Decks.

• Mums want to get involved too.

• Creating safe spaces for girls and gender minorities. “School is not necessarily a safe space, so it’s important to have spaces outside of school.”

• Find your comfort zone and then get a little bit out of it to get in to your growth zone.

More about Merida

@mercatmiller

@project.fearless

projectfearless.org

Places and groups that Merida mentions:

@dorksondecks

@womenskatetheworld

@skateparknoord

Join the Board Women movement:

boardwomen.co

@boardwomen

Host: Caroline Keylock

Producer: Selma Chalabi

Photography - Clare Keylock

Artwork - Rozi Wan Rimli

Music - Brother Brother by Benjamin Caleb Johnson, performed by BENSON

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