Mitch Kloorfain, Boys & Girls Club of St. Lucie County
April 8, 2021.
(ST. LUCIE COUNTY) A group of ‘Smart Girls’ at Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County were introduced to a group of smart women during a ‘Smart Girls Panel Interview’ at the organization’s Chuck Hill Club leaving each group to learn something from the other in celebration of National Women’s History Month.
The panel was created by Amy de los Santos, the Club’s 2020 Youth of the Year who is now employed at the Club she attended as a member. “When ‘Women’s History Month’ came along, I figured this is my time to seize that opportunity for my ‘Smart Girls’ program members. My girls have goals to be a lawyer, a cardiologist, or own a business. I wanted to give them that opportunity to meet some women from different backgrounds and broke through their own glass ceilings to become the successful women they are now.” said De los Santos.
The esteemed panelists, Kasey Blair of the St. Lucie Mets, Angela Hayle of ACCH Insurance, Sabrina Lawton, Evolve to Love author, Lisa Nelson of Nelson Family Farms, Santana Jeffs of Cleveland Clinic – Martin Health, Duanne Andrade of Solar Power Energy Fund and Jenna Taylor of Florida Trail Association introduced themselves to the Smart Girls participants with their life stories before taking questions from them.
The ClubKids did not throw softballs at them. Questions about their lives, how they dealt with failures, success, racism, and gender bias were answered in meaningful ways by the panelists. Duanne Andrade shared a relevant anecdote how she was once passed over for a promotion because women were not permitted (at the time) to attend a conference of people in that job position.
“Our Clubkids know they are in a place where their dreams matter. Hope for these Clubkids has so much value.” concluded De los Santos
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About the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County:
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing youth a path to success for every young person who walks through our doors, and that every Club member graduates from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship and living healthy lifestyles. The Club enables all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
With 21 locations throughout the county, Boys & Girls Clubs programs serve a diverse group of kids from grades K-12. We serve 16,000 youth throughout the year from a variety of backgrounds. Please see for yourself by taking a tour of an area club by calling (772) 460-9918 or visiting www.bgcofslc.org or at www.facebook.com/bgcofslc.