Cultivating women leaders is event's goal

The first Cultivating Women Leaders Conference is being organized by students and faculty, with Traci Corey, Olivet College presidential spouse, as the conference chair. This event is being planned in an effort to teach young women how to advocate for themselves and overcome challenges that occur after college.

The conference will be held Friday, March 3, at The Cutler Athletic Center, including breakout sessions around campus. According to Mona Hinamanu, a member of the planning committee, students and faculty have been organizing this event since the beginning of last semester.

The program is open to current students as well as potential students for no charge. Registration ends Thursday, February 23. There are a number of speakers that will be presenting, including keynote speaker Danielle Scott-Arruda, a five-time Olympian and two-time silver medalist.

Dominique Giroux, a member of the planning committee, said that attendees are able to choose three out of five breakout sessions to participate in throughout the day.

The options for the five breakout sessions that students are able to choose from are: “Effective Communication Skills”; “Breaking the Stereotype”; “Recognizing the Dynamic Leader Within”; “Great, I Graduated...Now what!!!”; and “Personal Financial Planning”.

Each of the five sessions have a different focus to try and help young women learn skills that are important for life after college, as well as giving them the opportunity to network. If feedback from the event is positive, there may be plans to launch a year round leadership program for young women.

Corey said, “I believe that it’s important to ensure a better future for young ladies,” and hopes that this event could start a program that would continue to change the lives of young women even after they graduate.

For event information, visit www.Olivetcollege.edu/CWL2017.