Women and girls from around the community gathered on Saturday, March 23, for Boys & Girls Clubs 2nd Annual W/E Women & Girls Conference.  We honored Women's History Month with over 65 female Club members, volunteers, partners and parents.   Women and girls a like celebrated the theme "With confidence you can do anything" and paid homage to the pop-culture phenomenon Mean Girls—participating in the conference was “so fetch”.  "It was a great opportunity to meet new and interesting people" said Aaliyah, age 11, "I learned that you have to be confident to achieve your goals.”  Workshop “Love the Lane you’re In”, presented by Chenoa Lane, Self Esteem Coach and former Miss NJ USA, encouraged just that.

One of the highlights of the day was a “Mr. Potato Head Assembly Line” game, facilitated by Miracle Wallace and Tameka Rittenburg of Trane Technologies. Designed to teach people how to work in a manufacturing environment, the game translated well to a room full of teens, tweens and adults and taught principles like the importance of quality, why on the job training works and the importance of mindful task completion to improve safety, and quality among other things. 

Attendees split into two teams and assembled Potato Heads in an effort to break the job down and ensure everyone was doing the task the same way.  Youth (and their parents) were engaged, focused, and fun was had by all.

“I thought the experience was amazing,” Miracle explained. “We took full advantage of the opportunity to network with other professional women who also volunteered. Our goal was to inspire and encourage our daughters to explore their future options. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this year’s Boys & Girls Club W/E Women & Girls Conference!”

Other presenters included, Violet Marrero, Relationship Empowerment Coach & Educator,  Nancy Allen, Taylor Toms and Katrina Macaro or JZA&D Architects, Council Woman Crystal Feliciano, and

Felicia DeVincenzi, President of Leadership Insights, LLC.  Women and girls also had the opportunity to participate in a question and answers panel.  Women panelist were asked about discrimination and other challenges they faced at work and in life, as well as about their career paths and the roads they took to obtain them.

Full list of panelists included:

Violet Marrero- Relationship Empowerment Coach

Rebecca Haywood-Production Supervisor- Trane Technologies

Diana Altruz- VP Branch Manager- PNC Bank

Nancie Allen-NCIDQ, IIDA

Senior Interior Designer -JZA&D

Kristin Clerico-Environmental Engineer- Trane Technologies

Kelly Astbury-Owner of the Rech Center for Performing Arts

Chenoa Lane -Owner of Chenoa Lane Speaks

Taylor Toms - Associate Program Manager, AIA-JZA&D

Amber Yates- Senior HR Business Partner- Trane Technologies

Glamis Haro- Princeton Federal Credit Union

Felicia DeVincenzi- President of Leadership Insights, LLC

Allison Dublois- RWJ Barnabas Health

Zakiyya Reyes-Diversity Equity & Inclusion Coordinator - Munich Re

Suzanne Elliott - Executive Director, Girls on the Run

Jessica Hallahan-Owner, Stress Management Health Educator, Journey to Yourself

Nathalie Cassion – Branch Manager, The Bank of Princeton

A huge thank you to all of our presenters, volunteers, sponsors, donors and attendees! Although it was a rainy-day cold day outside, there were plenty of warm fuzzies feelings inside the Club.  Stay tuned to our socials for the date of next year’s event!