The International Day of the Girl will be celebrated locally, with help from the members of Girls ROC. The group of girls ages 12 to 17 from across Clark County spent this summer reaching out to city council members, identifying barriers to women and girls, and writing proclamations. The cities of Vancouver and Camas adopted proclamations to recognize Day of the Girl on Saturday.
Established by the United Nations in 2011, International Day of the Girl seeks to raise awareness about gender inequality around the world.
“We believe going through the process, the government process, helped teach all the girls that public service is both admirable and achievable,” said Lisa Schauer, chair of H-RoC’s board of directors. H-RoC is a local political action committee aimed at promoting women in leadership positions.
“Helping women find their voice in community leadership, empower and teach women for leadership roles,” Schauer said. “The three pillars of H-RoC: connect, empower and achieve.”
Schauer credits intern Lynette Love with championing the idea of forming a girl council, forming Girls ROC in April. “We can support young girls in middle and high school to take active leadership roles,” Schauer said.
Girls ROC members include Skylar Becerra, Olivia Love, Holly Ta, Emma Nellor, Sarah Wells-Moran, Camryn Cannell, Mina Robinson, Anna Sanchez, Mackenzie Snell and Anna Toshchakova.
“It’s not just the girls, but the entire family commitment to empower young women in the county that’s been amazing,” Schauer said.
The group has also been working on the Day of the Girl reception at Clark College, which includes the screening of the documentary “Miss Representation.” The film examines mainstream media’s limited portrayal of positive women role models. Dr. Caroline Heldman, who participated in the film, will be in attendance and speak of her own story.
“She’s also a local gal who went to Clark College. And she helps support young women to change the paradigm,” Schauer said. A professor at Occidental University, Heldman also works with Common Ground, a New Orleans-based relief organization, and is the co-founder of Critical Response, a group that provides volunteers to help in crises and disasters.
“For me, it helps to remind us that in day-to-day life, it’s my responsibly as a woman leader to empower others and I believe that public service is something to be proud of, it’s not something for a select few, that’s the purpose of democracy,” Schauer said.
The “Miss Representation” film screening will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Foster Auditorium, Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Heldman. Admission is $35, $15 for students. Visit www.h-roc.org/miss-representation-2.
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