#CatalyzeCourage Summit for Women and Girls Launches in Santa Monica
by Tabby Biddle
What if you were just 1% more courageous? What would you do? What would you say? Who would you say it to?
These questions will be the focus of the #CatalyzeCourage Summit 2015 happening on March 14th in Santa Monica, CA. The conference, hosted by InHerShoes, will bring together high school girls with professional women from diverse industries and backgrounds to provide a safe space and launchpad for the girls' freedom of expression, assertion of passion, and pursuit of possibility in every aspect of their lives.
Most of these girls are first generation students, from underprivileged backgrounds, or are receiving significant amounts of financial aid to pursue their education.
I am so excited to be one of the speakers for this special Summit. You know how much I care about girls' self-expression and believe in the power of young women's voices. I will be speaking on the topic of 'Finding Your Political Voice.'
Judith Martinez, the founder of InHerShoes, which is hosting the #CatalyzeCourage Summit in Santa Monica.
Judith Martinez, the founder of InHerShoes and the #CatalyzeCourage Summit, is such a fantastic young woman. After graduating from Santa Clara University last year, she felt scared and confused about what she wanted to do. She was on the fast track to law school, but then had questions come up like: "Am I ready?" "Am I doing the right thing?" and "Am I good enough?"
After having conversations with friends, peers, and mentors, she realized what she really wanted to do was make a difference by contributing to others — specifically, young girls and women.
She then started to ask herself: What would I do and who would I choose to be if I were just 1% more courageous? She began asking a variety of women from all ages and stages in life this question. From this experience, she got that it's okay to ask questions, explore other possibilities, and feel confused when you think you have to be certain. At that point she knew she wanted each girl to get the same thing and know what it's like "in her shoes."
Her bigger vision is to hold a yearly #CatalyzeCourage Summit in a different city each year in collaboration with local professional women artists, creatives, visionaries, thought leaders, and disrupters of that region.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN SUPPORTING JUDITH'S VISION BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE #CATALYZECOURAGE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN. There are 10 days left to reach the goal.
If you are a high school junior or senior, or are a professional woman who would like to attend the #CatalyzeCourage Summit, contact Judith's team at InHerShoes. I'd love to see you there.
If you can't attend the Summit, why not answer the question anyway: What if you were just 1% more courageous? What would you do? What would you say? Who would you say it to? Please share your comments below. I'd love to support your vision.
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Tabby Biddle, M.S. Ed., is a women’s leadership mentor and coach, specializing in helping women find their voice. She is the author of the bestselling book, Find Your Voice: A Woman’s Call to Action. Learn more at tabbybiddle.com.