Empower Her Conference Inspires Young Females

Music, laughter, and dancing could be heard throughout the halls of the Education Centre of the Durham District School Board on March 30 as the second annual Empower Her conference took place.

Grade 6 to 9 female students who self-identify as Black were invited to join at the centre to learn from strong female leaders. The event helped to uplift, inspire, and give one another a voice within our community. The students who attended were nominated by their peers and teaching staff across the Board for showing leadership qualities within the classroom.

For a second time, the Empower Her conference was hosted at the DDSB by a group of educators and ambassadors. The Empower Her conference aims to teach the importance of setting goals to help achieve your fullest potential and encourage participants to become leaders and changemakers within the community. Guest speakers at the event come from various walks of life, each with their own story and barriers they have overcome to get to where they are today. 

The event featured signature guests and speakers, each hosting an individual breakout room. Attendees started the day with an opening ceremony and listening to Maryanne Oketch. Maryanne is the second Black woman and second Canadian to win the reality television show Survivor, outsmarting the 17 other contestants to become the sole Survivor. Oketch spoke to the female students about overcoming boundaries and obstacles. The students broke into groups following the opening ceremony and were sent off to explore and learn from the other speakers and mentors.

The breakout rooms were designed to allow these young women to learn from mentors who work in various industries. Some keynote speakers included Constable Melanie Moulton, a Durham Region Police officer currently in her 14th year with the force, and Dr. Sash Black, a Jamaican immigrant who has practiced veterinary medicine for more than 20 years. Each speaker shared their journey and how they got to where they are today, allowing students to learn and ask questions about setting future goals.

After soaking in knowledge from the mentors and engaging with fellow peers, all students gathered to celebrate the day and stretch out their legs with an upbeat and engaging dance workshop. The Empower Her conference showcases the importance of providing future females with role models from various industries and career paths as well as working to inspire their goals and ambitions as they continue their education journey. The Empower Her conference is proud to return to the DDSB in 2024.