If asked where I learned the most about feminism, empowerment, and consciousness, I’d give you two answers. The first would be my feminist momma who taught me that speaking up and asking questions were infinitely more important that playing princess. The second would be that wonderful summer where I helped to facilitate workshops for Boston-area middle schoolers, as I learned more about courage, honesty, and relationships than I did in perhaps any other classroom, either as a student or an instructor. Speaking out in middle school remains, I think, one of the most intimidating things one can ever do.

So you can imagine my great excitement when I sat down with Lilly and Juliet Bond — activists, community leaders, and a ...