YWCA Mohawk Valley’s Inaugural Sky’s the Limit

A- A A+

YWCA Mohawk Valley’s Inaugural Sky’s the Limit


Sky's the Limit 2022 Group PhotoSummit Seeks to Empower Local Youth

UTICA, N.Y. (February 17, 2021) – YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) held their inaugural Sky’s the Limit event on February 5, presented by M&T Bank.

Sky’s the Limit is a girls’ empowerment summit for students grades 7 through 12 from school districts across Herkimer and Oneida counties. The full-day event provided three unique opportunities for young girls in attendance to learn from local women leaders and foster personal and professional growth.

“Girls have the power to change the world,” says Dianne Stancato, YWCA MV CEO. “We want them to see that. We want Sky’s the Limit to help them see their strength, use their voices, and become the empowered women we know they can be.”

YWCA MV invited local leaders Katie Aiello, Phyillis Breland, Evon M. Ervin, C. Sonia Martinez, and Maria Smith to speak on a panel to discuss their professional experiences as women. Girls led the discussion and ask questions throughout the morning.

The YWCA MV Education Department led two breakout sessions focusing on personal and professional growth. Girls were allowed to select which session they preferred to attend. The summit wrapped up with a discussion on healthy relationships, gender identity, and sexuality hosted by community partner and LGBTQIA+ advocate Erynn Lowery.

###

About YWCA Mohawk Valley
YWCA Mohawk Valley is a nonsectarian organization engaged in the mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. In 2020, YWCA MV provided more than 44,000 instances of service to individuals in Herkimer and Oneida Counties via such programs as domestic and sexual violence crisis services, violence prevention education, residential services for homeless women and children, and emergency shelters and transitional housing for individuals escaping violence. YWCA MV offers free and confidential help 24/7. In Oneida County, call or text 315.797.7740 for domestic and sexual violence crisis services. In Herkimer County, call 315.866.4120 for child advocacy and sexual violence crisis services. Visit ywcamv.org/Chat anytime to directly reach an advocate through a private chat server. More information about YWCA MV can be found by visiting ywcamv.org or by contacting Allison Flanagan at aflanagan@ywcamv.org or 315.732.2159 ext. 245.
YWCA MV receives funding support from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc.