Last Friday, SRQ MEDIA hosted the second annual SMARTgirl Leadership and Mentorship Summit at the Hyatt Regency engaging over 60 girls from both Sarasota and Manatee Counties with 28 mentors representing our region’s many diverse industries from graphic design, programming and virtual reality to theatre, marine biology and medicine. The luncheon consisted of a curated mentoring program aimed to engage the young women in soft skills training, mentorship and career imaginings. Between bites of decadent alfredo pasta, participants heard from 3 power house speakers including Jennifer Vigne from the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Sarasota YMCA Alumni, India White and child prodigy Ria Persad. All emphasized that we have the power to succeed through empowerment, tenacity and spitfire determination.

We would like to thank the Hyatt Regency, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, New Balance of Sarasota and University Park and PSAV for investing in over 60 futures and creating a dynamic day for each of these young women.

For a full gallery of photos from the SMARTgirl Luncheon click here. 

2017 SMARTgirl Video