Media Advisory / Photo Opportunity
For Saturday, Feb 16, 2008

Urban girls explore jobs in the trades at YWCA 8th Annual Power Girls
Day-long workshop breaks down stereotypes, exposes girls to nontraditional jobs

WHAT:
Power Girls day-long workshop teaches 60 girls, ages 9-13, about nontraditional jobs and exposes them to the tools of the trades. Girls are given the opportunity to hammer, solder and construct projects under the watchful eye of local Twin Cities' tradeswomen.

Tradeswomen teach the girls the importance of planning and precision as well as plain hard work. The girls build self-confidence and have fun completing projects while learning about career opportunities in the trades.

WHEN:
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.: 8th Annual YWCA Power Girls Event

WHERE:
Dunwoody College of Technology
818 Dunwoody Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55403-1192
Dunwoody Main Building

WHY:
Power Girls is an inspirational annual event. Girls leave with a new sense of confidence about what is possible for themselves and their future. At Power Girls, stereotypes about who has careers in the trades are broken down and girls learn that they can do different types of work.

Power Girls is a partnership between the YWCA of Minneapolis, Construction Careers Coalition and Women in the Trades. The event is sponsored by Dunwoody College of Technology.

The YWCA of Minneapolis is a nonprofit organization striving to achieve the empowerment of women and girls and the elimination of racism. Girl Power® is an all-girl after-school math and science program offered through Girls Inc.® at the YWCA of Minneapolis. Girls strengthen their academic skills, develop their economic literacy, and increase their awareness of non-traditional careers. More information about the YWCA of Minneapolis is available online at www.ywcampls.org.

The Construction Careers Coalition is an organization of construction building trade associations. The Coalition runs a summer high school construction program that introduces youth to the construction trades so that they might consider and explore the possibilities of construction as a career choice.

Women in the Trades is a nonprofit organization dedicated to tradeswomen and women's leadership in the construction trades and related industries.

CONTACTS:
Barb Schubring
YWCA of Minneapolis
bschubring@ywcampls.org