LOS ANGELES (May 26, 2020) – Step Up, a leading mentorship organization for teen girls, is set to host its Career Connections Conference virtually, gathering mentors and teen girls for career exploration sessions and activities.
The conference, typically hosted annually for teen girls enrolled in Step Up programming in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, will now take place online, utilizing platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Zoom, and LinkedIn. In addition to the new virtual setting, the conference will welcome any teen girl to participate for the first time.
The conference is just one of many examples of mentorship programs that the organization has shifted to an online format in response to COVID-19. Step Up transitioned to virtual after-school and weekend programming via Zoom and Google Classroom, providing regular touch points that add structure to teen schedules and opportunities for social interaction with peers and mentors.
"Step Up believes that supporting all teens' emotional well-being is more important now than ever," Step Up CEO Delores Druilhet Morton said. "The ability to understand and unpack emotions and experiences, while gaining the skills to self-regulate and create your own structure, are necessary for any individual to navigate academic, professional, and personal lives, but are especially important for teens when external structures are unstable, as they are during a pandemic."
Made possible in part by a grant from Verizon, Step Up's Career Connections Conference kicks off on TikTok with a spin on the viral "Flip the Switch" challenge. In Step Up's version, teen girls and mentors are asked to flip the switch and transform their everyday unique style to a career outfit that reflects their personality.
On May 27 at noon PT, mentors and teens will tune in on Step Up's Instagram Live channel to hear a conversation between a Step Up teen and mentor focused on time management. Viewers will have the opportunity to share additional questions and feedback on the topic.
The conference continues with a mentorship session on Zoom on May 28 at noon PT. The session, themed "Womxn Owning the World: Navigating your W.O.W." will include a panel discussion and mentorship via small breakout groups.
Step Up's Career Connections Conference concludes Friday, May 29, with an afternoon of networking challenges posted to the organization's LinkedIn page. Mentors and teens alike are invited to participate in the challenges on LinkedIn.
For further information on Step Up's Career Connections Conference or to register, please visit www.suwn.org/events. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jessica-C@suwn.org.
ABOUT STEP UP
Step Up believes when all girls have the opportunity to fulfill their potential, our communities will be more just and will flourish. Offering mentorship programs for high school girls, the nonprofit works with the next generation of womxn leaders on becoming confident, college-bound and career-focused. Connect at suwn.org.
