[Archived] Count on Me! Alexandria Professionals Display Character Trait of Dependability on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2017

The City of Alexandria Commission for Women sponsored the 24th Annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on April 27.  Eighty-eight students from T.C. Williams High School and the Minnie Howard Campus were introduced to various career fields. 

Among the 30 mentors were City of Alexandria employees Dana Lawhorne, Sheriff; Shawnda Howard, Chief Human Resources Officer; Vanetta Pledger, Chief Information Officer; and Dr. Steven Haering, Alexandria Health Department Director. Other mentors included Bill Blackburn, owner of Pork Barrel BBQ Restaurant; Brett Libresco, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the World Bank; Maribel Ramos, Virginia Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Governor Terry McAuliffe; and Jane Petty, Burke & Herbert Bank Branch Marketing and Community Relations Director.

This year’s event theme was “Count on Me!” highlighting the value of dependability for successful teams and workplaces.  In addition to workplace experiences, the mentees enjoyed a kick-off reception and luncheon featuring guest speakers TC Williams Principal Dr. Jesse Dingl, Commission for Women Chair Monika Jones and Deputy City Manager Emily Baker.

Baker said to youth, “We as a community are committed to affording you the opportunities that will lead to choosing a path for lifelong career success.”  She encouraged them to fully experience the day to expand their perspectives and see opportunity. “It will be your choice when you return to classes, how you will shape your time at T.C. to help you get where you want to go in the future. You are not alone on your path.”

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is nationally sponsored by the Ms. Foundation. For more information, or to participate next year, contact Jacinta Greene of the Commission for Women at 703.732.5986 or greenejacinta@gmail.com.