Suzanne Parker, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of the Valley since 2006, works closely with the community, the staff and the Board of Directors, to inspire all youth to be strong, smart, and bold. Girls Inc. of the Valley, founded in 1981, provides school-age, youth development and mentoring programs that give girls and gender expansive youth the opportunity to develop and achieve their full potential. Under Ms. Parker’s leadership, Girls Inc. of the Valley has expanded its geographic reach, serving up to 1,000 youth in Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and the surrounding towns, and has established a new program center and headquarters at 480 Hampden St. in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
A native of western Massachusetts, Ms. Parker earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England University School of Law. Ms. Parker has served nationally on the Girls Inc. Board of Directors and locally on the Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees. She also volunteers on the executive committee of the North Sandwich Community Association. Ms. Parker is married and has an 18-year-old daughter.
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Show notes:
- |01:00| Suzanne’s transition from nonprofit to executive director.
- |04:43| Some kids need extra support to thrive globally.
- |06:41| Promoting health, wellness, and diversity in STEM through educational access.
- |11:25| The importance of the Eureka program at UMass Amherst in providing STEM access to underprivileged youth.
- |16:11| Suzanne reflects on soft skills and stereotypes in education and career choices.
- |19:53| How the Eureka program boosts STEM interest in middle school.
- |21:28| Explaining the need for innovative solutions to global problems, highlighting how essential access to education is in this process.
- |25:11| Eureka focuses on presentations, public speaking, soft skills, college readiness, internships, and job preparedness – equipping kids for the future.
- |27:31| How confident networking leads to internship opportunities.
