Powered by the SRQ Women Who Roar Initiative
As we celebrate ten years of the SRQ Women Who Roar Initiative, we are thrilled to bring back our SMARTgirl Mentorship Summit on March 13, 2026 at Sarasota Art Museum. As the Women Who Roar Program continues to grow, so does our responsibility to give back to the community. At SMARTgirl, belief becomes action. Through curated mentorship, hands-on workshops, and powerful soft-skill training, elementary and middle school girls gain the tools, role models and encouragement they need to see new possibilities for their futures. From financial literacy to leadership, creative problem-solving to career exploration, each activity is designed to show her that she can do anything. Every SMARTgirl leaves with new tools, new friends and a louder roar.
Who attends: Select elementary and middle school girls from Sarasota & Manatee counties, including participants from community youth organizations and partner schools.
Who mentors: Women leaders and professionals from across our region—entrepreneurs, creatives, scientists, public servants, educators and more.
Mentor Meet & Greet: Curated networking that pairs girls with inspiring local women to ask real questions and imagine real futures.
Skill Labs: Bite-size workshops on communication, interviewing, leadership, financial literacy and goal-setting.
Career Discovery: Interactive stations that showcase career pathways—from arts and media to STEM and public service.
Creative Spark Sessions: Team challenges and hands-on activities designed to build confidence, collaboration and joy.
Leadership Luncheon: A mentor at every table, guided conversation prompts and a lineup of women leaders sharing the advice they wish they’d had.
Girls are dreamers—and doers. SMARTgirl connects them to role models, practical skills and a community that says “you can.” With every conversation and workshop, we’re opening doors, building confidence and showing what’s possible right here at home.
2026 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
CLICK BELOW TO APPLY! APPLICATIONS DUE BY FEBRUARY 6, 2026
The SMARTgirl Mentorship Summit hosts 100 elementary and middle school girls, grades 5 to 8, with one-on-one mentorship, soft skills development and career imaginings in collaboration with the Leadership Circle Ambassadors of the Women Who Roar program. Girls will have deep-dive conversations, peer-engagement and an interactive workshop with Blair Bloomston of Leaders United hosted over a delicious boxed lunch.
We’d love your help in underwriting lunches for our SMARTgirls— $30/participant.
.png "SMARTgirl Support Tile")
We are not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Any sponsorships, program support, or payments made to SMARTgirl/SRQ MEDIA are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
Please plan to drop off your SMARTgirl participants at the main building, museum entrance of Sarasota Art Museum starting at 8:30am. Parents and chaperones will drop off their SMARTgirl and then return in the afternoon for pick up at 1:00pm.
SMARTgirl participants have the opportunity to work with our team to identify, cultivate and explore their strengths as a foundation for career exploration.
Take a break for beverages and snacks before heading into the next session.
Work with leading women mentors from our community to explore careers that align with the strengths and interests cultivated in the previous workshop. Mentors share their career pathways with our SMARTgirls in one-on-one conversations.
SMARTgirls work on their soft skills over lunch in conversation with one another and with mentors seated at each table.
During lunchtime, our Interactive Keynote Speaker will share tools, insights and perspectives to help our SMARTgirls stay mentally positive and navigate the world with a strong sense of confidence and courage.
Our SMARTgirls end the day sharing their "a-ha" moments with our documentary team.
Parents and chaperones are invited to pick up their SMARTgirl(s) from the Pre-Event Space starting at 1:30pm. We kindly ask that you pick up your SMARTgirl no later than 2:30pm. Thank you for joining us!
Sarasota Art Museum
1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
Ashley Grant
SVP, Strategic Partnerships and Engagement
ashley.grant@srqme.com
Lauren Sutter
Social Media, Marketing and Events Manager
lauren.sutter@srqme.com
For all other inquiries
Contact Us
Celebrate the sprit of our hometown with SRQ Magazine. Published 10x a year, SRQ Magazine captures the people, tastes, culture, boutiques and philanthropic hearts of Sarasota, Bradenton Area and the Barrier Islands on the West Coast of Florida. We invite you to experience living and loving local - in print and online. Welcome to the SRQ family!
SUBSCRIBESRQ Media transforms what it means to live and love local through its portfolio of hyper-local print and online publications including its flagship city regional SRQ Magazine, its documentary, and video production division Moving Stories and non-profit development division Story Project. The SRQ Media team leverages its strong audience footprint to catalyze visionary community programs such as SB2: Regional Symposia Series, Women in Business, SMARTgirl, SkillSHARE and ProjecThinkby engaging individuals to positively impact their hometown of Sarasota and the Bradenton Area situated on the vibrant West Coast of Florida.
SRQ Media supports regional charitable, cultural and education organizations and not-profits throughout the year with custom programs and sponsorships.
Learn More
