12:00pm EST
5th Floor
Women and girls make up half the world’s population. But too often, their access to education, health, and economic prosperity is lacking along with the opportunity to voice their opinions and take an active role in decision-making processes. When we allow the incredible potential that women and girls offer to go untapped, it inhibits our communities’ ability to progress and grow. Join GWP as we explore several of the initiatives in our region that have proven successful in empowering and inspiring girls to overcome challenges and to ensure that our girls are visible, valued and heard.
The Girls Coalition is committed to providing the individuals and organizations who serve, support, or advocate for girls with high quality opportunities for networking, professional development, and access to strategic partnerships. Along with these opportunities for professionals in the region, the Girls Coalition also is focused on elevating youth voices and acknowledging how young people are changing the world, in our region and around the world. Heather Mediate, program director since 2011, will discuss the Community Cinema initiative, mini-conference model, MLK essay contests, and annual Be Inspired event.
The Program for Research and Outreach on Gender Equity in Society (PROGRESS) was established by Dr. Linda C. Babcock in 2006 to improve society by empowering girls and women through the art of negotiation. The tendency for women to negotiate less than men is a current and persisting problem. Targeted programs that seek to educate women and girls about this issue and teach them to negotiate effectively can have a very tangible impact on their well-being. Furthermore, raising awareness of a critical gender biases that create long term inequities can be instrumental in societal change. Ayana Ledford, founding executive director of PROGRESS, will join us to discuss the organization’s work to pass along the art of negotiation and self-sufficiency to all women and girls.
The mission of the Women and Girls Foundation (WGF) is to achieve equality for women and girls, now and for generations to come. Their vision is for women and girls in Pennsylvania to have equal access, opportunity, and influence in all aspects of their public and private lives. WGF staff, Heather Arnet, Tara Simmons, and new program officer Blayre Holmes will join us to discuss WGF’s initiatives for girls, including GirlGov, a program created by teen women for teen women, which is designed to provide local girls with the opportunity to learn, first hand, about government and social change.