Altrusa, Girls Inc. partner for Make a Difference Day

 

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. Each of the girls had a questionnaire and engaged in conversation with each of the career professionals.

One child has dreams of becoming a baker. When asked what she would like to bake, she explained “cakes, cookies and crème brule.” Other girls were interested in fields such as architecture, nursing, pet care, and coding. One child explained that many girls are interested in coding and being encouraged to go into coding, but she felt that architecture would be a better fit for her. Each girl had big dreams for their futures.

Event organizer Altrusan Jane Palmer commented to the participants: “You are helping each one of these girls look at possible careers in a new way. Your influence will last a lifetime.”

As part of Altrusa’s community service projects, Palmer has been organizing events like this one in a series called In Her Shoes. This project strives to introduce middle school girls to a variety of possible careers. It provides the opportunity to explore career possibilities under the guidance of women of diverse backgrounds and professions that encourage them to think about their futures.

To learn more about Altrusa of Oak Ridge and the women involved with these projects, visit www.oakridge.altrusa.org.