The Westchester County Youth Bureau in conjunction with its International Day of the Girl (IDG) planning committee, has released a video, “My Voice: Shaping our Future Together” in lieu of an in-person conference to celebrate IDG 2020.
You may also go to YouTube to watch the video.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Today is the day of the girl, but really, every day is your day. You are going to go on to do amazing things, you have a voice and we want to hear it. Follow that voice and don’t let anyone silence you. Be heard. As a husband, father and stakeholder who is proud to work alongside brilliant women, I recognize the importance of supporting initiatives and organizations that are dedicated to cultivating and empowering girls and young women.”
Inspired by the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl Child, which is observed each year on Oct. 11, Westchester County convened youth, public and private sector leaders, and elected officials to champion gender equality and female empowerment in the video.
Executive Director of the Youth Bureau Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said: “Last year’s inaugural conference brought more than 450 girls and women together to celebrate their uniqueness, aspirations, challenges, and accomplishments. Although COVID-19 altered our plans, we are thrilled by the response from the local school districts and key community stakeholders who submitted uplifting messages and commitment to female agency.”
The IDG Planning Committee, which works with the Westchester County Youth Bureau to address the structural challenges that youth who identify as female encounter daily, has increased their outreach efforts given the economic, social and psychological interruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. For this virtual event the Committee is proud to have worked with UNA Westchester, Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Sister to Sister International, Inc., Girls Inc., Greater Hudson Valley NY Chapter Links, Inc., the League of Women Voters of Westchester, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, One Love Foundation, the Peekskill Youth Bureau, the White Plains Youth Bureau, Sherohub and the YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester.
“My Voice: Shaping our Future Together” features students from various schools including Alexander Hamilton High School, Peekskill High School, Pleasantville High School, White Plains High School and Woodlands Middle High School. The video also includes a spoken word performance by Bria the Artist.
Other notable video submissions are from the following:
- Westchester County Executive George Latimer
- S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
- S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey
- NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
- NYS Senator Shelley Mayer
- NYS Senator Alessandra Biaggi
- NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin
- Westchester County Legislator Nancy Barr
- Westchester County Legislator Ruth Walter
- Kathie E. Davidson, Administrative Judge -Ninth Judicial District
- Martha Lopez-Hanratty, New Rochelle City Council Member and Assistant to the County Executive for Community and Immigrant Affairs
- Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College
- Angela Gonzalez-Perez, Vice President-Operations, NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
- Lourdes Dominguez MD, Psychiatrist, NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital
- Bhavana Pahwa, Deputy Director, White Plains Youth Bureau
- Raina Kadavil, Communications Vice Chair & Young Professionals Vice Chair, United Nations Association of Westchester
- Ailsa Gilliam, CEO Sherohub
- Ophelia Byers, VP Patient Care & Chief Nursing Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital
- Robin Williams, President Greater Hudson Valley NY Chapter Links, Inc.
- Ariana Quinones, Next Gen & Racial Justice Coordinator, YWCA and Member, Westchester County Youth Board
- Lisa Scott, WJCS Center Lane
- Karen R. Smith, Chair International Trends & Services, Greater Hudson Valley NY Chapter Links, Inc.