Women Can Do career exploration conference is in Randolph October 5

Vermont Business Magazine Women Can Do – Vermont Works for Women’s signature career exploration conference for high school girls and gender-expansive youth – will be taking place on the Randolph campus of Vermont State University this Thursday, October 5, 2023. 400 high school students from across the state will participate in dozens of hands-on activities designed to expose them to promising careers considered non-traditional for women. These include jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and the skilled trades. The conference is from 8:45am – 1:00pm.

“Representation, exposure and encouragement matter most when it comes to career exploration. Many of us remember moments growing up when we didn’t feel certain careers were meant for us as women or when we were told that pathways shouldn’t be explored because of our gender. Women Can Do is the opportunity to truly explore, build confidence, and learn about the incredible opportunities these careers have for students across Vermont," says Rhoni Basden, Executive Director of Vermont Works for Women. "In addition to trying new things, they’ll also have a chance to meet female and gender-expansive professionals who are building supportive and motivating careers for themselves, reminding us all that anything is possible!”

The absence of role models and lack of exposure to career options are two key factors that prevent women and girls from advancing in career fields where they are currently underrepresented. Additionally, women in Vermont tend to dominate fields where wages are significantly lower than fields dominated by men; women make up 37.1% of workers paid less than $15/hr in Vermont, while men make up 25%. Women Can Do exists because “you can’t be what you can't see” and we know it is more important than ever to introduce girls and gender-expansive youth to the myriad of career options before them and inspire them to dream big about their futures.

At Women Can Do, there are two Action Expos (indoor and outdoor) where students can meet women and gender-expansive professionals and try out a variety of new skills - from operating a flight simulator to using a chainsaw and more!

Women Can Do is generously supported by Greenbacker Capital, the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union, Verizon, the Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, and many additional corporate and individual supporters in the Vermont community.

Vermont Works for Women (VWW) promotes economic justice by advancing gender equity and supporting women and youth at every stage of their career journeys. Its programs include: career education and exploration for middle and high school girls and gender-expansive youth; employment and career coaching and hard skills training for women, including incarcerated women; and gender equity services for schools and businesses to improve educational and workplace cultures for women. Learn more at https://vtworksforwomen.org.

Source: October 2, 2023 Vermont Works for Women