Girls' conference wins awards, set for October

MUSCLE SHOALS - Organizers of the Girls Can Do It conference are gearing up for the second event scheduled for Oct. 15 at the Marriott.

"We want to be able to reach more girls. We hope to reach more girls because they've heard about (the conference)," said Liz Anderson, who is involved with the event. "We want the superintendents to know the positive experience the girls had last year, and that it's something that's free for them."

The conference started in 2008 with about 300 high school girls participating. Anderson said this year's event can accommodate as many as 350 because of the addition of $5,000 in grant money.

A total of $30,000 came through a grant from the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development initiative.

"We know what we did worked because the Tennessee group that was here last year decided to have their own conference this year," Anderson said, adding that this year's event will be limited to schools from a five-county area in north Alabama.

Stephanie Newland, of Shoals Chamber of Commerce and a conference organizer, said the goal is to raise girls' expectations for their future and their careers. It's aimed at exposing high school junior and senior girls to nontraditional career paths for women.

"We want them to see that you can be a graduate of a rural high school and still get a job at NASA," she said.

The conference was also recognized by the National Association of Development Organizations with a 2009 Innovation Award.

Zanetta Doyle, communications manager for the association, said the conference was chosen because it provides an array of opportunities for those who attend.

Based in Washington, D.C., the association promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation.

"One of the things we look at, at NADO is how are your programs or projects making an impact," Doyle said. "We look for projects that show some creativity or innovation in how they're bringing about progress in rural and small communities."

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@TimesDaily.com.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.