Last Saturday, girls attending Girl Empowerment Day at Memorial Park learned self- defense, financial planning, music, poetry, outdoor skills, online safety and more.
It was the second Girl Empowerment Day, hosted by Z-Club, a program through Zonta International.
We commend our local Z-Club for teaching these life and leadership skills to our next generation of women.
A few generations ago, girls were told their role was limited to the house. Back then, "girl empowerment" events were limited to home economics classes that taught cooking, laundry and other traditional gender roles for women.
As we reported Sunday, 50 people attended the event - more than twice the number of last year's event.
During an outdoor skills breakout, David Stonner, of the Missouri Department of Conservation, taught students how to start fires and roast marshmallows over them.
"We could go on 'Survivor'!" student Shannen Dollar said as her group successfully started a fire.
Some speakers, like Cole County EMT Samantha Craft and paramedic Katy Rarick, spoke last year and asked to represent again this year.
"The girls really connected with them. They said some others volunteered to do it, and they stepped in and said 'I want to come back,'" said Ramona Huckstep, coordinator of the event and Z-Club adviser. "Everybody's a role model - but especially when you have women there in nontraditional positions."
Madalynn Berkey, a Helias Catholic High School senior and president of Z-Club, enjoyed the balance of the breakout sessions - women could learn a variety of skills, as opposed to only skills often associated solely with women.
"I think that embracing your femininity is a very great thing to do - and being appreciative of yourself as both a person and a woman and being proud of that," Berkey said. "Oftentimes, clubs for girls aren't geared toward (self-defense or outdoor skills). I feel like this is a cool opportunity because being a woman doesn't limit your interests."
Organizers hope to continue and expand the event in the future. We hope they succeed. Women have long proved they can find success well beyond their traditional roles. Events like this will give girls the encouragement they need to bring out their potential.
News Tribune