Sixteen White Plains students attended the International Day of the Girl conference on October 9, an event focused on empowering female-identifying students while teaching valuable lessons and future skills. The conference was held at Manhattanville College and is the result of a partnership between the Westchester County Youth Bureau and Sister to Sister International, a non-profit dedicated to strengthening women and promoting African culture.

Students who attended had the opportunity to hear from a variety of Westchester County officials and speakers, including Keynote speaker Lauren Morris, a local entrepreneur. Morris created her own brand of designer bags, facing challenges such as rejection from department stores and COVID shutdowns; she spoke about her experience as a rising female business owner, sending a powerful message about the importance of persistence and risk-taking.

In addition to speakers, students had the opportunity to attend two of a variety of workshops. These were interactive small-group activities designed to educate, inspire and prepare students for a future world. Workshops such as AI for Youth, Mirror Magic, Girls4Tech, and Candy Consent taught skills such as digital literacy, self-esteem, business design and consent. Others focused on email etiquette, confidence in a professional world and career readiness.

Thank you to the Youth Bureau and Sister to Sister International for organizing and Manhattanville College for hosting such a valuable conference!