Girls Inc. at Youth Empowerment Summit
By Kyle Martin
*Raiders.com
*
Earlier this week, the Oakland Raiders in conjunction with Girls Inc. hosted the Youth Empowerment Summit at the team's Alameda, Calif., facility, an event hosted to work on developing skills and professional characteristics in young women. The event was well attended, with over 100 girls spending time at the facility, absorbing knowledge from professionals in the sports field.
The event consisted of keynote speakers and a panel of four Raiders employees, including Vice President of Premium Seating and Service at the Oakland Raiders, Qiava Martinez. The young women were allowed the chance to convey their passions and goals towards the future, and this was an opportunity for them to learn from women currently in the sports industry.
This event positively influences these girls to pursue greatness and succeed, at whatever it is they aspire to do. The Youth Empowerment Summit panel is designed to provide an example of confidence in the work place and the lifestyle that comes with it.
Odette Nemes – a Girls Inc. employee – has been involved with the agency for ten years and is in charge of raising the funds for the agency. These funds provide the girls with the opportunity to participate in events and interact with professionals business women in their environment.
Raiders Host Youth Empowerment Summit
"You see an incredible growth for the girls: from coming in very shy, barely navigating English, and not reading at grade level to being able to read at grade level, to get interested in science technology, engineering, and math, and going off to college and just being these bold leaders that really come back to the community and give back to make it a better place," said Odette.
Qiava Martinez is one of the role models who has played an influential role in the event the past couple years and truly connects with the girls.
"The end goal for me is to share my story with these young girls and hopefully by me sharing my experiences and where I came from they'll be able to see a little bit of themselves in me," said Martinez.
There are many girls getting involved in their own communities and already trying to make a difference.
"I enjoy being able to go out into my community and spread the word and peace, throughout young girls to get them more involved," said a young woman named Jewell.
The Raiders are proud to partner with corporations like Girls Inc. and are thrilled to see results translate to the real world for these young women.
