Antelope Valley Press

Girls Empowermen­t Conference starts Thurs.

- VALLEY PRESS STAFF REPORT

LAKE LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation will kick-off its month-long virtual Girls Empowermen­t Conference, “I Matter,” at 4:40 p.m., Thursday.

This year’s virtual conference theme is “Girls with Dreams Become Women with Vision.” The conference is an annual tradition that encourages girls countywide, ages 11 to 18 years, to turn up the volume on their powerful and diverse voices and believe in a life of possibilit­ies by lifting up their confidence, exploring pathways to college and building a vision for their future life goals.

The Girls Empowermen­t Conference begins with “Women in Leadership in Los Angeles County” — a virtual speaker panel led by LA County Parks and Recreation Director Norma Edith García-González. Panelists include Skye Patrick, LA County Library director; Amy Bodek, director of Regional Planning; Kristin Sakoda, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; and Erika Anzoátegui, Los Angeles County alternate public defender

Throughout the month,

girls will have the opportunit­y participat­e in free virtual workshops and book clubs, join virtual documentar­ies watch parties, listen to inspiring speakers, engage in facilitate­d dialogue and more. All girls are invited to join and participat­e in as many events as they would like. Every day in October will include an activity for girls to participat­e in:

• Monday: Documentar­ies and book clubs

• Tuesday: Live virtual workshops

• Wednesday: Videos related to the week’s theme

• Thursday: Live virtual panels of powerful speakers

• Friday: “Let’s Talk” videos and inspiratio­nal materials

• Saturday: Live virtual keynote speakers

Selected by young girls from the county’s Teen Program, known as Our SPOT, the weekly topics are as follows:

• Week one: Women leading the LA County/Women in leadership

• Week two: She got game/Women in sports

• Week three: Boss-ish/Women in business and entreprene­urs

• Week four: Shine bright like a diamond/Women in entertainm­ent

• Week five: The power of her/Women in politics Registrati­on for the conference has already started.

For details or to register visit parks.lacounty.gov/gec2020

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