Female students in grades 7-9 attending Mineral County schools will have an opportunity to attend a full-day workshop courtesy of Hawthorne and Regional Soroptimist Clubs. Two workshops will be held on Thursday, Sept. 12, beginning at 8 a.m.
Coordination between the Soroptimist clubs and the Mineral County School District began last year when the workshops were introduced to Hawthorne. Local Soroptimist club member Bernie Presnell took a particular interest in the need for this type of information to be available to our local youth. During the summer Soroptimist Club President Priscilla Martin, Presnell and the presenters met to review the curriculum, formulate the day’s agenda and coordinate with the Hawthorne Junior High/Mineral County High School’s Safe School Professional Kathy Trujillo.
The human trafficking prevention and awareness training will last approximately 90 minutes. Nancy Becler will lead the training that will help students identify, report and prevent incidences of human trafficking. Local law enforcement will be invited to assist in helping young women learn how to stay safe. Also, school nurse Holly Pellett and Mineral County Public Health Nurse, Tamiya Ferguson will be available for questions or concerns.
After a short break, the “Dream It Be It” Career Support for Girls workshop will commence. There will be five learning modules facilitated by Becler and Elaine Cassell also a Soroptimist member. The Hawthorne Junior High Dream Team will be on hand to help with the facilitation, lunch (courtesy of the local Soroptimists) and is offering swag bags for each participant. Other local women have been asked to share their stories of success, failure and overcoming obstacles as part of the day’s activities. Catrinna Berginnis, Mineral County School’s Gear Up Coordinator, will be on hand to support this part of the workshop.
Girls in grades 7-9 received the workshop announcement and permission slips last week. Also, each family should have received the same in the mail. Students will only be allowed to participate if a signed permission slip has been received by the Wednesday, Sept. 11, 3:40 p.m. deadline. Individuals who have questions, would like to participate, need access to permission slips, are invited to contact Kathy at 775-316-0388 or her office at Mineral County High School. These workshops have been offered in other Nevada schools with positive feedback and invitations to return annually.
