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The UA's Commission on the Status of Women is hosting its third Young Women's Empowerment Academy to inform young women about ways to be responsible to both themselves and their communities.

By University Communications
April 8, 2009

Tucson-area girls and their families will learn about leadership, identity, body image and community service during a University of Arizona academy this month.

The UA's Commission on the Status of Women is hosting its third annual Young Women's Empowerment Academy, which will be held April 18 and is expected to lure about 75 young women between the ages of 12 and 16 years of age. The academy is free.

The commission is an organization and advisory body established by the UA president. The group "advocates for a just, equitable and inclusive campus," according to the commission's Web site.

The event will be held 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the UA's Bear Down Gymnasium, 1428 E. University Blvd., and the theme this year is "Healthy Selves, Healthy Communities."

"It is more and more important to focus on ourselves and on coming together," said Jennifer Ludwig, one of more than 40 commissioners serving on the board.

The academy, she said, is focusing on ways to encourage women to take care of both themselves and their communities.

"This is really empowering for people, especially young women who sometimes get this message, ‘You're just a kid,'" said Ludwig, who is also an access consultant with the UA's Disability Resource Center.

Organizations that will be facilitating workshops and other activities include the UA student-run Women's Resource Center, the Volunteer Organization of Southern Arizona, Tucson Community Food Bank, Kore Press, visionaries filmworks, inc., Planned Parenthood of Southern Arizona and Danza Mexica Cuauhtemoc.

The academy is also collecting non-perishable items for the Tucson Community Food Bank and has also scheduled sessions specifically for parents and caregivers.

"Being an Askable Parent" and "Planning for Academic Success: Moving from Empowerment to Action" will each inform parents and caregivers about ways to speak with their daughters about topics such as sexual responsibility, education, the college-going process, goal setting and ways to encourage self-esteem.

"We want to help them deal with the tough questions in a safe environment," Ludwig said. "We need to give young women the opportunity to be strong. That carries on."