Women of the 21st Century Club Speaker Events
The Impact of Sports on Girls' Self Esteem
June, 2006

DATE:
Wednesday, June 7th from 6 to 8 pm
HOSTED BY: Wind River Systems, Inc.
600 Wind River Way, Building A, Cafeteria
Alameda, CA 94501
DIRECTIONS: As you come through the Webster Tube into Alameda, stay in the left lane and bear to the left onto Constitution Way. Turn left at the second light onto W. Atlantic Avenue. Continue for just under a mile. Turn left onto Wind River Way, then take the second left turn into Wind River's parking lot. Once in the parking lot, go to the left -- the building with the cafeteria is the far left building. The cafeteria is on the ground floor. For complete directions, visit the Wind River Systems web site.

At first glance, the positive impacts of girls playing sports seems obvious. From health benefits to learning life-skills like teamwork, it would seem that girls and sports are a winning combination. However, the reality is that girls face extraordinary challenges in their athletic pursuits.

The Women of the 21st Century Club (a fundraising auxiliary of Girls Inc.) along with the Girls Sports Network (a Team-Up for Youth program) present an evening of dynamic discussion to benefit Girls Inc. of the Island City. Our panelists will look at how sports can affect girls’ self-esteem, body image, social development, assertiveness and other aspects of their lives. We’ll discuss the good and the bad in girls’ sport programming and what can be done to increase girls’ participation. Topics explored:

  • Why do girls leave sports in their teen years?
  • Do good role models keep them involved?
  • Are certain socioeconomic groups more likely to drop out?
  • Are achievement incentives like scholarships influential?
  • Does early sports participation lead to leadership roles later in life?

Our panelists are experts in these issues. First, we’ll hear personal accounts from participants in the Girls Inc. program. They’ll address the impact of participating on athletic teams and in the Adventure Girls program. Next, we’ll hear from coaches, athletes, and thought leaders in the girls’ sports field who will take your questions. Panelists include:

  • Marlene Bjornsrud, CEO Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative, former MD of the CyberRays
  • Ann Kletz, Director of Girls Sports and Coaching Corps at Team-Up for Youth
  • Tanya Haave, Head Coach, Women’s Basketball, USF
  • Kristina G. Hentschel, Executive Director Girl Ventures
  • Robin Bousquet, Sr. Physical Therapist, Children’s Hospital and Research Center of Oakland

Please join us for this special evening and share your point of view. Tickets are $10 at the door for adults, teens are free. For more information, download our June 2006 Speaker Event Flyer [pdf 57kb]. RSVP please contact Kristin Butler at (510) 521-1743 or at kbutler@girlsincislandcity.org. Donations welcome.

sponsored by: additional support from:
Esurance logo Team Up

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