More than 200 girls from middle schools across LaPorte County and from New Buffalo, MI, attended a workshop at the A. K. Smith Career Center in Michigan City on October 18th, aimed at introducing them to "NEW" Opportunities (Nontraditional Employment for Women).
The daylong event featured a keynote address from Lennaire Vaughn, CEO of MeForward, a nonprofit organization based in South Bend with a mission of encouraging, equipping, and empowering girls ages 8-17. Among the special guests leading roundtable discussions and demonstrations were female professionals from UPS, NIPSCO, Purdue Northwest, Horizon Bank, LaPorte County EMS, Edward Jones Financial, Friendship Botanic Gardens, the Michigan City Fire Department, Michiana Brick and Building Supply, the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan City Dental, and several others.
Girls also had an opportunity to try some “hands on” activities relating to careers like welding, machining, construction, automotive tech, fire, law enforcement, energy/electronics, logistics, and more.
The N.E.W. Opportunities workshop was supported by the Michigan City Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan City Commission for Women, and Women in Leadership La Porte County.