Texas Women’s Foundation and Dallas Mavericks W.O.M.E.N ERG hosted career event for young women leaders

The Dallas Mavericks W.O.M.E.N ERG and Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) held a joint event last month with the Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) to share networking and career advice with young women. Healthy Futures of Texas, the foundation’s partner, hosted the event in the Wilson Historic District.

The Young Women’s Advisory Council (YWAC) is a program a part of the Young Women’s Initiative (YWI) to empower and affirm young women of color ages 12-24 started by the Texas Women’s Foundation. YWI-Dallas and YWI-Houston work to amplify the collective power of women to identify and address issues and create solutions toward meaningful change.

Kelly Lozano, a YWAC member, said, “I learned the value of networking and women supporting one another. It is important to value each other and help other women so we can all be better.”

The event was compiled into a short video that was played during the March 2nd Dallas Mavericks game against the Philadelphia 76ers to tip off their Women’s History Month celebrations.

Misaki Collins, YWAC alumna and Dallas Mavericks external relations manager. Photo courtesy of Texas Women’s Foundation

The panel included the following: Erica Wilson and Alayjah Lee from Healthy Futures of Texas; Anu Shekar, Ph.D from SMU Center on Research and Evaluation; Misaki Collins, Jessica Sabedra, Angela Nguyen, Bri Mathis, and Desiree Scott from Dallas Mavericks W.O.M.E.N ENG.

Misaki Collins, YWAC alumna and Dallas Mavericks external relations manager, said, “This is a full circle moment for me as a Young Women’s Advisory Council alum and now being a Woman of the Mavs taking the time to teach current YWAC members how to network and prepare for their career journey.”

Miki Woodard, Texas Women’s Foundation president and chief executive officer, added, “Thank you, Women of the Mavs, for investing your time and talents into our YWAC members, who will be the leaders of the next generation. Your words of wisdom, your presence and your encouragement will pay dividends as our YWAC young women prepare to enter the workforce.”