“Over the past two years, we've turned away as many young women as we've accepted to this high-impact girls-leadership program.”
That’s from Minerva B.C. CEO Tina Strehlke in a statement from the Learning to Lead program benefitting teenage girls in their quest for stronger confidence, discovering themselves, and leadership potential, which has now expanded into our region to meet the overwhelming demand.
The company is moving to Prince George this summer for the first time in its history, as per an announcement made yesterday (April 29), for a conference at UNBC, which will accept 50 young northern B.C. women in Grade 11 into the program.
The girls-only learning space teaches the students how to expand their capabilities, share experiences, and learn to build networks that will influence them throughout their leadership journey.
''I am so very excited that the Learning to Lead program is being expanded and hosted in Prince George this year,” said Minerva B.C. Northern Committee Member Felicia Magee in the same release. “As a mother of two young daughters, I take great pride in knowing that Minerva is committed to, and invested in, developing and supporting strong women.”
The Learning to Lead program began in 2002 and has been held in Vancouver each year, taking in teen girls from around the province, but the proximity of Prince George to the number of applicants that sign up from the region is what influenced the company’s decision to expand.
“We want to ensure that we’re not just reaching out to students who are the most vocal, already achieving their goals and come to mind as ‘leaders’,” explained Youth Program Manager Ashley Milbury. “We also want to reach the quiet leaders, those who aren’t always the first to speak up, but clearly want to make a difference and help others.”
The UNBC conference is scheduled for June 13 to 16 this year.
Interested girls in Prince George are encouraged to go to Minerva B.C.’s website to sign up.
