Washington County, OH — The inaugural InfluencHer Leadership Summit took place on August 4th, delivering a day of empowerment, exploration, and growth to middle-school girls aged 9-13 in Washington County, Ohio.

The event was organized by Building Bridges to Careers and Marietta Community Foundation and brought together young minds and enthusiastic mentors for a day of skill-building and inspiration.

Tasha Werry, Executive Director of Building Bridges to Careers, commented, “The summit aimed to provide a safe and supportive environment for young girls to network with local female leaders, and to learn about the wide variety of roles they play in the community. We also wanted them to leave with a sense of confidence and an understanding that their voices matter.”

The young leaders engaged in hands-on workshops alongside dedicated female mentors with shared interests throughout the day. The program featured several fun team-building challenges, a self-defense class led by female police officers, a community service activity, a mindfulness workshop, one-on-one mentoring, and much more.

Additionally, each participant received a copy of "The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, & Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self," a gift from LeeAnn Johnson to serve as an ongoing source of guidance.

Following the Summit, parents soon reported seeing a positive difference, noticing their daughter’s confidence boost and willingness to try new things.

When surveyed about aspects or workshops that stood out as particularly impactful or memorable, one parent anonymously said, “For mine, it was the overall feeling of confidence that came from an encouraging day. She discussed each workshop, but what really came across was the feeling of inclusion and positive expectation.”

“My daughter went into this event nervous and came out with a huge smile,” conveyed another parent. “She loved team building exercises and self defense the most. Also, loved her awesome mentor.”

Reflecting on the day, Heather Allender, President & CEO of Marietta Community Foundation, said “Witnessing the girls engage with accomplished mentors and embrace new challenges was truly rewarding. We are proud to have created an event that will leave a lasting impression on these future community leaders.”

The event organizers attribute the success of the day to the enthusiasm and active engagement of each young leader and mentor.

Additionally, the organizers wish to formally thank several individuals and organizations whose contributions made the Summit an unforgettable experience for all involved:

• The empowering women who volunteered to mentor: Heather Allender, Danielle Bruni, Brittany Casto, Kelsy Eaton, Sally Evans, Sophie Evans, LeeAnn Johnson, Pamela Lankford, Debbie Lazorik, Ashleigh Pennock, Claire Ramsey, Jona Rinard, Maribeth Saleem-Tanner, Carol Schneeberger, Sherry Wagner, Katie Warden, Courtney Wentz, Tasha Werry, Jill Witucky, and Katie Wolfe.

• Chief Katie Warden & Olivia Alloway of the Marietta City Police Department and Marietta College Police Department, respectively: Their leadership of Workshop 2: Self-Defense provided the young leaders with practical verbal and physical tools to enhance personal safety and confidence.

• EVE, Inc.: Their partnership for Workshop 3: Service Activity highlighted the importance of community service and inspired participants to make a positive impact within our community.

• Maribeth Saleem-Tanner: Her guidance during Workshop 4: Mindfulness allowed the girls to explore the benefits of self-awareness, emotional well-being, and the power of being present, nurturing a sense of inner peace and resilience.

• LeeAnn Johnson: Her extremely generous gift of The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, & Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self to each mentee will continue to inspire and guide the young leaders beyond the summit, encouraging them to embrace their unique strengths and potential.

• The Betsey Mills Club: Their facility was the perfect venue for the event, offering a welcoming and versatile space for mentorship and learning.

• Building Bridges to Careers: Their dedication to designing and orchestrating a well-rounded program created an environment that encouraged creativity, learning, and growth among young leaders and mentors alike.

• Marietta Community Foundation: Their commitment to inspiring our community served as the driving force behind creating the summit and bringing it to life, empowering future leaders, and addressing an identified need.

• The Women’s Giving Circle: Their generous financial backing made it possible to offer the summit free of charge to all participants, ensuring that this transformative experience was accessible to young leaders throughout the community.

About the InfluencHer Leadership Summit

The InfluencHer Leadership Summit is a unique gathering that brings together enthusiastic young minds, passionate mentors, and engaging activities, all with the goal of equipping tweens with essential leadership skills. Throughout the day, participants (known as “influencHers”) will embark on an immersive journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and hands-on mentorship.

About Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C)

BB2C offers career mentoring, job shadowing, internships, and career exploration to students. They foster relationships to inspire career choice and work to support successful students, prosperous businesses, and thriving communities.

About Marietta Community Foundation

Marietta Community Foundation is where generous families, businesses, and nonprofits come together to transform lives and strengthen Washington County, Ohio — turning good intentions into great accomplishments. The Foundation has distributed more than $27 Million to charities since its creation in 1974 and currently manages over 350 funds while meeting rigorous national standards in the community foundation sector.