After an intensive 5-day orientation, it’s back to the airport for our emerging leaders – back to checking bags and boarding passes and on to meeting their mentors all over the country!

From New York to Los Angeles, and about 12 other cities in between, they’ll be going into work every day, working on projects, learning about their mentor’s work with the company, and experiencing other sports-related activities out of the office.

These ladies have so much to look forward to, and their mentors have done an incredible job planning activities to suit the emerging leaders’ interests and experience. For example, one of our emerging leaders who competed in Dragon Boat racing will be attending a local Dragon Boat race. Another who loves dance and sport will be traveling to the Kellogg’s Tour of Gymnastics Champions, and one who loves dare-devilish adventures will be designing her own snowboard, going skydiving, and hiking several miles in between!

During the next 20 days while these talented and brave women work with their mentors, the team at UT Center for Sport, Peace & Society will be traveling to each of these cities for M&E (monitoring and evaluation) where we will check in on the mentors and emerging leaders, follow them through activities, conduct video interviews, and ensure all of the participants are following through on their responsibilities so that they are equipped to go home and implement strategies that we hope will help shape their communities.

Our first stop? The big apple!

Objective: To visit the WICT (Women in Cable Telecommunication) Conference then meet with Women’s Sports Foundation to learn more about their program that reaches out to girls in the inner city.