Enlighten – Young Women Exploring Their Futures

[Photo left to right: Carla Taylor & Feeve Wells -Technical Support; Chanterria McGilbra, Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals;  and Charlotte Kobayashi, CVI]

This event, “Enlighten”,  was held in honor of Women’s History Month on March 21^st, 2015 in Marin County, California, where 50 women and 50 young women of high school age, gathered to discuss potential career paths and to network with experienced female professionals.

Felecia Gaston, Executive Director of Performing Stars, an enrichment program for low-income, multicultural children in Marin County, was the primary organizer. [The Performing Stars group were the recipients of the 40 bicycles Corporate Visions donated at CVI January 2015 Napa Kick-Off and at the February 14^th Valentine’s Day in Marin City.]

The young women sat at round tables having lunch with their experienced mentors and listened to stories, poems, and music that focused on the importance of empowering young women to succeed in their personal lives as well as in work.

One of the three keynote panelist was Samantha Ealy, Human Resources Technical Coordinator for Google. She said the pathways to success includes education and the process of discovering your interest.  Three points Ealy emphasized that worked for her to become the best professional in the workforce is to learn from making mistakes – don’t be afraid to make them, follow your passion, and have a network of advisors.

“Your passion should keep you up at night. Start noticing what you spend all your time thinking about,” Ealy said. “We want to help you figure out what’s going to be best for you.”

For keynote speaker Nina Dace, an engineer with Parker Hannifin Corporation’s Veriflo Division in Richmond, California said, “It took time to figure out what career she wanted to pursue.”

“It’s really important to know what you’re good at and what you’re not good at,” Dace said.

After receiving a degree in chemical and bio-molecular engineering, she had a handful of internships and jobs she hated. Dace finally found a job that gives her the ability to be innovative.

“I’m doing everything that I want to be doing,” Dace said. “Stay the course when it gets tough.”

A few other speakers included, KGO-TV news anchor Cheryl Jennings; senior private equity fund manager Joyce Johnson-Miller; and actress Marjorie Crump-Shears, who read the poem “Hey, Black Child” by African American poet Countee Cullen; Deborah Santana, author, philanthropist, advocate for peace and justice; and Chanterria McGilbra of Ultragenyx Pharmaceuticals, as the Mistress of Ceremony

For further details, see article in Marin Independent Journal:

http://www.marinij.com/general-news/20150321/marin-city-event-matches-girls-with-women-career-mentors

[By Charlotte Kobayashi]