Be All You Can Be: Leadership Program for Middle School Girls - Nov 20, 2009

In the beginning, the Carl Albert Center at the University of Oklahoma launched a leadership program for undergraduate women called the National Education for Women's Leadership program or N.E.W. Leadership. It continues to be a fabulous leadership development opportunity for Oklahoma women - if I DO say so myself. (Along with Dr. Cindy Rosenthal, I had the joy of designing and running N.E.W. Leadership for the first 3 years.)

Then the Carl Albert Center added "Pipeline to Politics" for adult women interested in running for public office.

And NOW they (Cindy Rosenthal and Katie Fitzgerald along with Cathy Stackpole and lots of other talented women leaders) have announced "Be All You Can Be! A Leadership Program for Middle School Girls." It is co-sponsored by Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma, Carl Albert Center's Women's Leadership Initiative at OU, and Oklahoma City Public Schools. The first program will be held Friday, November 20, 2009 at the Oklahoma History Center and will:

1. Introduce girls to fields where women can be leaders and where women are underrepresented (politics, science, technology and math).

2. Engage girls in reflecting on their own level of leadership among their peers and challenge them to consider how they can be more of a leader in their circle of friends/school/community.

3. Expose girls to mentors (women leaders) who have made strides in STEM fields, politics and community leadership. Ensuring a common message that girls CAN achieve success in these fields and in their community.

4. Introduce and increase student knowledge in STEM and SELF ESTEEM through interactive workshops.

Congratulations to all who have worked to bring this program about. I know it will be a huge success.