Submitted Photo Fredonia Enactus members Noel Allesi (left) and Emily Schepisi (right) worked with local Girl Scouts during a recent gathering.

Fredonia Enactus has combined two of its teams to create Future HER, a team with goals of empowering young females to become successful, confident leaders through skill building and career exploration.

The decision to combine the teams was made in early September, due to the original teams having similar goals of women empowerment through Girl Scouting and working on STEAM skills. The joint effort of the teams would increase the numbers working toward their common goal, while reducing the communication barrier from operating within two separate teams.

Rachel Painter, chief operating officer for Fredonia Enactus noted, “Combining two teams to make Future HER allows the division to have more people working on different projects while simultaneously growing a relationship with our partners.”

FutureHER has upheld its partnership with Chautauqua Striders by actively participating in the “Strides 4 S.T.E.A.M.” program. Enactus members work with middle school girls in order to motivate them in strengthening their science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (S.T.E.A.M) education. They also develop their public speaking skills, confidence in professionalism and learn about entrepreneurship. The schools involved include Fredonia, Dunkirk, Brocton, Westfield, Silver Creek and Forestville. The program was kicked off with the FutureHER members and the middle school girls attending the Mini Maker Faire at SUNY Fredonia in October. The project is supported by grant funding from The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, The Education Coalition, and The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, along with the leadership of Michele Starwalt, North Director for Striders.

FutureHER is also continuing with the Girl Scouts of Western New York by organizing events to help refine their skills in finance, entrepreneurship, and motivate them to consider college as a viable option in the future. Enactus members have already begun working with Donna Banach’s Girl Scout troop in Dunkirk on badges in advocacy and discovering how their voice can make a change in something they believe in. Come spring semester, Future HER will be helping the girl scouts with their annual cookie sales, and hopefully increasing their sales by selling on the Fredonia campus. The Girl Scout FutureHER team is also preparing for its signature event, Ingredients for Success, where troops from Western NY come to campus to learn about financial literacy, selling cookies and college readiness.

Mary Kate Petz and Emily Schepisi lead FutureHER collaboratively realizing the excitement from students happy to work together on girl empowerment. There were also positives that came as a surprise to Fredonia Enactus.

“Something that we didn’t expect was our huge spike in recruitment for FutureHER,” stated Emily Schepisi, vice president of FutureHER. “We increased our numbers this fall by about 20 members. The new name has attracted many new, active students, both male and female, that are dedicated to positively impacting the lives of these young women.”

To discover more about FutureHER, Fredonia Enactus, and the impact they are making on the Fredonia/Dunkirk community, or to express interest in joining Fredonia Enactus, contact Dr. Sue McNamara at susan.mcnamara@fredonia.edu.